• Deakin University
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Getting Started with Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Master sustainability essentials and gain insights into strategies to impact your organisation and community positively.

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Getting Started with Sustainability and the Circular Economy

  • 2 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Delve into sustainability solutions and create new pathways for the future

This two-week course will help develop your sustainability knowledge to understand and incorporate key principles and techniques in your organisation or community.

You’ll learn how to effectively engage with stakeholders and navigate sustainability challenges and strategies to ensure you have a positive impact.

Gain expertise on how a circular economy can address environmental challenges

On the first week of the course, you’ll gain insights into the history and fundamentals of sustainability, allowing you to appreciate the bigger picture of environmental issues.

Next, you’ll explore the principles and benefits of a circular economy, including waste management hierarchy, to understand how these can be applied to address environmental challenges.

By the end of the week, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding that connects course concepts to your personal and professional contexts.

Understand how to navigate sustainability and stakeholder engagement

On week two, you’ll learn to navigate the complexities of sustainability and stakeholder engagement.

You’ll explore the current state of sustainability and how it relates to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to appreciate its scope and impact.

As you delve deeper, you’ll explore sustainability practices and foresight, and you will develop skills to identify and effectively engage with stakeholders.

Learn from the experts at Deakin University

Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by sustainability specialists from Deakin University.

With their expertise and through interactive course materials, you’ll finish the course with the sustainability knowledge to contribute positively to your community or organisation.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 1 second SPEAKER: There are many definitions and meanings to sustainability. But sustainability isn’t just about systems and strategies. It’s about people. Welcome to a journey that could change the way you see the world and your place in it.

Skip to 0 minutes and 23 seconds My name is Trevor Thornton, and I’m a senior lecturer here at Deakin University. And in this course, we’ll introduce you to the history, complexities, and future directions of sustainability practises. You’ll dive into the concept of the circular economy and how looking at something differently might just reduce waste and reduce the environmental impacts of the products and services we use and enjoy. You’ll reflect on the importance of stakeholder and community engagement and hear from experts and community leaders about how collaboration and communication are key to driving meaningful change.

Skip to 1 minute and 1 second If you want to take your learning further and want to learn more technical professional skills in this area, we’ve also created credit bearing courses in effective reporting for sustainability and recycling and waste in a circular economy. So join us on this exciting journey, and be part of the movement towards a brighter, greener future.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Introduction to sustainability and circular economy

    • Hand pressing power button on blue digital background

      Let’s get started

      Meet your teaching team and other learners, and find essential information about this course, including valuable tips and links to help you get the most out of your learning.

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      What is sustainability?

      An introduction to the meaning and history of sustainability.

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      Circular economy to address environmental challenges

      Discover some of today’s biggest environmental challenges and how the circular economy offers solutions.

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      Weekly wrap

      Meet some LCA practitioners and a summary of the week.

  • Week 2

    Navigating sustainability and stakeholder engagement

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      Sustainability now and in the future

      How sustainability is being implemented today and its influence on the future.

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      It's all about people!

      Stakeholder engagement in sustainability

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      Course wrap

      Reflect on the key ideas presented throughout this course.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate an awareness of the history, complexities and future directions of sustainability practices
  • Evaluate circular economy hierarchy and strategies
  • Reflect on the importance of stakeholder engagement in improving sustainability

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for learners who are interested in gaining awareness and insights into sustainability principles to enhance their impact within their organisations and communities.

Who will you learn with?

Belinda Christie

Dr Belinda Christie is an environmental social scientist, sustainability and environmental science lecturer, at Deakin University.

Trevor Thornton

A Senior Lecturer in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Trevor Thornton focuses on waste management strategies, circular economy and sustainability for industry and other sectors.

Who developed the course?

Deakin University

Deakin University

Deakin University is one of Australia’s largest universities with more than 61,000 students and over 15,000 online.

  • Established

    1974
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 280Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 25 Feb 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

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  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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