Join our team!

Maastricht University Green Office is looking for new employees that are passionate about sustainability and would like to shape a green future for Maastricht University.

What do we do?

Green Office is a student-run university department and inhouse-consultancy that coordinates and initiates ecological, social and economic sustainability projects at Maastricht University. With an entrepreneurial spirit we aim to innovate the University in the field of sustainability by empowering students and staff members. Our projects are divided into the fields of Operations (energy, waste, procurement, water etc.), Community (creating awareness/initiating „green“ events), Education & Research and aim to establish Maastricht University amongst leading Universities in the field of sustainability.

What would you do?

Employed by the University, you will work in a dynamic student-run team, which coordinates and supports innovative projects. This gives you the opportunity and responsibility to work independently within a high performing team. Although this is a challenging task, it will provide you with the entrepreneurial type of working experience that no internship offers. Managing your own projects while responsible for all outcomes, will demand not only the immediate application of your knowledge, but also requires your ability to learn fast beyond the university curriculum.

We offer:

• Entrepreneurial working environment
• Working experience (Consulting / Project Management)
• A real impact on sustainability at UM
• Appropriate salary
• Flexible Working hours

We are looking for:

• Entrepreneurial spirit, Drive for change, team spirit
• Availability until at least 15 July 2014
• Availability from 5 to 8 July 2013 for a working weekend.
• Average commitment of 14h/week
• Currently enrolled students

Open positions:

Project Coordinator Operations / ICT

Green Office’s Operations portfolio aims to improve the university’s operational sustainability performance. The ICT coordinator is responsible for managing Maastricht University’s initatives for a greener and more sustainable ICT infrastructure. In the past Green Office has introduced a powermanagent tool that results in significant power savings for university computers. Currently, we are working on public data displays which make it possible for students and staff to publicly view relevant sustainability data from the university (i.e. energy consumption, water consumption, waste disposal)
If you are passionate about ICT, already have relevant insight into ICT systems and would like to contribute to a greener ICT environment at Maastricht University you are the person we are looking for!

Position-specific requirements:

• You have advanced knowledge in ICT
• It is beneficial if you know a programming language (i.e. Java, C++, PHP)

How can you apply?

Please submit a written application as follows. Green Office will select a number of applicants for personal interviews which will take place in the week of 3 – 7 June 2013.

Written application

• Submit your application as one PDF document including the following documents:
  • CV (without photo)
  • Assignment
    • [Download Assignment]
      
  • Recent transcript of grades
  • Letter of Motivation (max. 1 Page)
• Deadline: 28 May 2013 – EXTENDED DEADLINE
• You will be notified about the outcome until 31 May
• Submit your application to: greenoffice@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Your Job at the Green Office will start end of August/September. In order to guarantee a good start you are required to participate in a working weekend with all employees from 5 to 8 July 2013. Please indicate on your application whether you will be able to participate.

Please note you have to be available for work until at least 15 July 2014!

The application deadline is on 28.05.2013 – EXTENDED DEADLINE

Waste separation will allow Maastricht University to increase the share of recyclable waste such as paper and plastic and decrease the amount of residual waste. The pilot project is a result of Maastricht University’s Sustainability Policy 2012-2014 which was adopted by the Executive Board and contributes to the university’s goal to reduce, reuse and recycle 100% of its waste in the long run.

For questions contact Marc Fischer (marc.fischer@maastrichtuniversity.nl), or Maiko Schaffrath (maiko.schaffrath@maastrichtuniversity.nl)

Duurzaam Maastricht (3) The Green Office from RTV Maastricht on Vimeo.

The project was set up under the recommendation of the GreenOffice, in collaboration with the ICTS, as it was mutually recognized that PCs at the University consumed more power than was required. The implementation of PC Power Management puts the computer and monitor, after being idle for more then 30 minutes, into sleep mode. After a year of extensive research we realized that the University could extensively cut the energy usage of PC’s while reducing CO2 emissions by around 80 tons per year.

Currently we are in the first phase of the project. PowerMAN is the software being used instead of Windows 7 settings that you use at home as it enables the ICTS to continuously optimize the settings through its data collection application. The software has already been installed at the FASOS and UCM. By the end of the project PowerMAN will be installed on all University PCs. It is due to the ICTS expertise and cooperation that this project can be realized.

The Green Office´s Green Electricity Project aims at identifying ways, in which Maastricht University could become electricity self-sufficient in the long-term. Producing renewable electricity is highly desirable on the way to becoming a sustainable university and strongly advisable in the context of unpredictable energy prices. The project will gather information on existing technologies and their applicability in the University´s context. Taking into account legal, financial, technical and political factors, scenarios for the transition towards green electricity production will be developed.

For questions on this project, feel free to contact lukas.warning@maastrichtuniversity.nl

To investigate further measures, the Green Office will participate in a project coordinated by Hogeschool Zuyd on the renovation of historical buildings. Master students of the PREMIUM program will develop a high-level business case. “This next step will provide us with deeper insights into general possible measures as well as concrete projects that could be implemented at one of Maastricht University´s historical buildings”, explains Warning. “We will not sit back enjoying our success. On the contrary, we will continue to strive to make this university greener!”

Contact:
Lukas Warning
Project coordinator
Lukas.warning@maastrichtuniversity.nl

The pilot is designed to investigate demand for these products by students. The results will be taken into consideration when deciding to what degree this program can be expanded by Albron, responsible for catering at Maastricht University. For Green Office, this project is a good step in the direction of fulfilling the university´s commitment to sustainable procurement, UCM is happy to be host of this project and for Albron it is a step towards it declared aim of delivering 40% of its products in sustainable quality.

 Organic farming. Good for nature, good for you.

 strict limits on pesticides and synthetic fertiliser use, antibiotics, food additives and processing aids

• prohibition of genetically modified organisms
• free-range and organic feed
• animal husbandry standards

More information on: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/home_en.

Paying a fair price for what is good and just.

Key objectives:

• tackle poverty
• cover costs and give extra premium for investment in business or community
• Encourage farmers to protect their environment or go organic.
• Signal corporations and governments that consumers demand justice in all trade.

More information on: http://www.fairtrade.net/.

A project by GECCO, in cooperation with Maastricht University Green Office and Albron.

…or you just want to have a relaxed afternoon with more than 300 students from Maastricht? Join us for the BBQ and kick-off your academic year with the famous food of Volkskeuken in a relaxed atmosphere.

A range of delicious local, organic and vegetarian BBQ items, salads and drinks will be served…

When: 14 September, 17.00 – 22.00

Where: Landbouwbelang, Biesenwal 3

More info on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/473500682669930/

This reward presents the highest international award for sustainability student activism. “This year’s award winners truly raise the bar on campus sustainability projects” said Dr. Matthew Gardner in the name of the international Jury selecting the Green Office. “Each winner represents a best practice and a lighthouse-type of project that campuses around the world can learn from.”

Maastricht University Green Office is the sustainability change agency of Maastricht University, initiated and run by students. The Green Office was established in September 2010 and has developed into an integral part and driver of Maastricht University’s sustainability strategy. Students have already successfully implemented several sustainability projects through the Green Office, such as the first sustainability baseline analysis of Maastricht University, the new sustainability policy 2012-2014, business cases for a more energy efficient computer infrastructure and light system, as well as several conferences and networking events.

Already in March 2012, Maastricht University was awarded with the Sustainabul Award, as the Dutch university with the most transparent sustainability efforts. Back then, Jeanine Gregersen – Director of Marketing and Communications – already acknowledged that “we owe this award to the driving force of our students at the Green Office.” With the Student Leadership Award, the achievements of the Green Office are recognized worldwide.

The award also comes at the right time for a key spin-off project of four founders and former student employees of Maastricht University Green Office. Just a couple of weeks ago, they have founded Green Office Europe, a NGO to promote and create more student-driven Green Offices at European Universities. “The Green Office is unique and very powerful project, in the sense that it provides practical sustainability education for the students engaged in the office, and creates a positive impact on the university sustainability efforts. Through Green Office Europe we want to bring this lighthouse project to more universities”, explain the four founders of Green Office Europe Arian Meyer, Ulrich Scharf, Valentin Tappeser and Felix Spira.

For more information about the award and the Green Office please contact Ragnar Martens: ragnar.martens@maastrichtuniversity.nl 

For more information about the export of the Green Office project through Green Office Europe, please visit www.greenoffice-europe.eu or contact info@greenoffice-europe.eu

Well, you start it late and you head for the beach!

Six Germans, fully loaded, (for the first time not overdressed) headed for the bus-ride of their life!

Honestly, try line 433 to Ipanema – you won’t regret it.

Yet, going to the bus remained difficult as loads of rain poured down the sky (at least it was warm).

Having sent a scout in the morning, five people embarked on their journey to reunite with the fearless warrior who was chosen to discover the beaches in advance.

beaches of Ipanema!

However, to our astonishment, they were deserted, despite it being a national holiday. (lots of surfer though enjoying the impressive waves.)

This posed no challenge to our experienced Maastrichter Sustainability junkies! We went on doing what we can do best – care for the environment!

still facing the sea and hoping for a sunny tan not being aware of our destiny.

fully acknowleding our newest mission: Making Ipanema and Copacabana beach more sustainable. Please cheer for our newest addition to the team: Biny – the intelligent, speaking and rolling Brazilian trash bin!

A word and a blow – we where in our element. Rejoicing to contribute to a global cause, the Green Office team embarked on a meaningful journey across the beaches of Ipanema. Please be assured that it was only due to the fact that we were so subsumed in our destiny that we forgot to take more pictures.

well deserved break after strolling the beach. Lil’ known things: Coconuts can be green! Yes.

Despite the lack of pictures, there are two stories to tell and one warning to be conveyed.

Once upon a time, a group of five Green Office Germans, stranded in Rio, looked for a cheap restaurant on a national holiday at copacabana beach (insert: heavy laughter). Four of them finally went to a local restaurant, enjoying steak, beans and the finest coffee; the old fool among them had to visit Mc Donalds (a feeling of home in the foreign. Be advised: Mc Donalds does not equal Mc Donalds!

Finally, that poor individual embarked on the journey to collect the scout at meeting point 10. Meanwhile the scout waited at meeting point 9. Frustrated, both searched for each other (while the wise four enjoyed a meal of decent quality and inviting atmosphere).

However, on the way back, a spectacle unfolded. The Brazilian coast guard shot a promotion video in real life action. Two persons were in distress at sea. Then! A whistle blew and two Hercules-like men ran and jumped into the ravaging sea – swimming to the poor fellows. Once they arrived, a helicopter entered the scene and two men jumped out of the chopper into Poseidon’s wrath in order to deliver further life-saving material to those in need.

But not enough! no. The coastguard helicopter persevered in the storm and threw out a fishnet only to catch the strangling humans from the sea and to bring them safe and secure to the shore. What a spectacle.

Back at the hostel, the whole team firmly went to get their electronic equipment in order to do nothing less than to blog so that the keen reader back home receives this update.

- end day 4 -