Sustainable Development: Principles and Practice - Professional course

Program Overview

This professional development course in Sustainable Development provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles and practices. It covers key concepts, frameworks, and tools for implementing sustainable solutions, preparing participants for careers in sustainability consulting, environmental management, and other related fields. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical exercises and projects, ensuring a hands-on learning experience.

Program Outline

Outline:

This professional development course delves into the principles and practice of sustainable development. It is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in sustainability, as well as career changers and recent graduates aiming to strengthen their CVs in this competitive field.

Content:

The course explores the fundamental nature, causes, and consequences of both sustainable and unsustainable development. Participants engage in practical exercises and projects that provide hands-on experience in applying key concepts, frameworks, and tools for implementing sustainable development.

Structure:

The course is structured around three key themes:

• Sustainable development - key concepts, frameworks, and tools: This theme introduces essential sustainability concepts, including systems thinking, environmental limits, and the interconnectedness of human health and well-being with environmental sustainability.
Through interactive lectures and workshops, participants apply and analyze commonly used sustainability frameworks and strategies, such as The Natural Step, Five Capitals, One Planet Living, Permaculture Design, and Cradle to Cradle.
• Sustainable design: This theme examines the role of design thinking and tools for sustainability through examples and case studies.
• Alternative socio-economic systems: This theme investigates the shortcomings of the existing economic system and explores potential alternative models.
Participants consider how the economic system affects social and eco-systems and contemplate whether sustainability is best pursued through the reform of capitalism or the establishment of entirely different systems. Each theme is taught by a team of expert practitioners, ensuring that participants benefit from both theoretical and practical insights.

Assessment:

Participants who wish to receive credit for their learning can undertake an assessed project at the end of the course. Upon successful completion, the module credits can be used towards the MSc qualification in Sustainable Development in Practice or UWE's range of postgraduate qualifications in Integrated Professional Development. The assessment involves a project where participants apply key sustainability concepts and tools to a real-world challenge, such as developing a strategy for making a product or service sustainable. Formative assessment is conducted throughout the module through regular tasks that evaluate participants' understanding of the covered material. These tasks are reviewed as part of the sessions.

Teaching:

The course utilizes a blend of face-to-face and independent learning, comprising weekly lectures, workshops, and group discussions. The pattern of contact sessions (five consecutive Thursdays, all-day) caters to those who wish to study part-time. The course is highly interactive and adopts a participant-centered approach, engaging students in practical exercises, personal study, and critical reflection on the relationship between theory and practice.

Careers:

This course equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to pursue various sustainability-related careers. Potential opportunities include:

• Sustainability consultant
• Environmental manager
• CSR specialist
• Policy advisor
• Sustainability educator
• Social entrepreneur

Other:

The course provides participants with:

• A critical understanding of the nature, causes, and consequences of sustainable and unsustainable development.
• The ability to explain and critique key sustainability definitions and frameworks and utilize them to address real-world challenges.
• The ability to analyze and apply theories regarding the relationship between humans and the environment.