Program Overview

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that the green economy might generate 24 million jobs globally by 2030.

• We live in a dynamic world where the impact of human activity on the environment and society is now recognised as needing urgent attention.
• In 2015 the UN launched its 17 Sustainable Development Goals which have quickly become adopted as the framework by which nations and organisations are measuring their progress.
• This course is designed to reflect the needs of the profession as well as the research interests and commercial background of current lecturing staff. As such, it is evolving to try to meet the needs of this important discipline.
• The course focuses on the environmental, technological, political, and social issues associated with environmental management and sustainability issues that face organisations.
• You will have the option to apply for a ‘work placement’ opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.

Why you should study this course

The world is changing because of continued pressures from our activities. Every week, news stories present new or updated challenges from across the world, whether the use and disposal of coffee cups, the growing spread of plastic wastes in our oceans or the threat to endangered species. We need to create and maintain a world which is fit for future generations. No longer is it enough for environmentalists to ‘save the planet’. Sustainability professionals must be able to work within the human and natural frameworks which underpin everything we do to create change.

• The course is currently made up of eight taught modules which all students must take. Although the world is complex and full of uncertainty, there are a common set of skills and attributes needed by the modern practitioner. These cover environmental, social, and economic aspects of the sustainability agenda.
• Key to sustainability is the ability to work with and through stakeholders, who have interests in or are affected by our activities. The combination of scientific understanding and evaluation with social science techniques is becoming vital to the delivery of successful programmes such as those aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to use and evaluate a huge variety of information to meet challenges of this century. While climate change remains a clear and present threat, we must also consider our resilience and ability to adapt. And while energy and CO2 continue to drive many decisions, we must remember the vital importance of water, both quality and quantity; the waste we create and discard; the pollution from our economic endeavours; and the role of natural systems to support our species.
• The course aims to align and recognise the importance of both people and the planet in the delivery of sustainable development goals, both in the UK/EU and across the globe.