Every year there is an increase in the number of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) available on sustainability topics. These courses are available for free online and open to anyone with an interest in the topic, lasting between three and fourteen weeks and taking three to eight hours per week to complete. Below is a selection of such courses offered this Summer 2016, listed by topic, from PRME signatory schools.
The following courses relate to the different Sustainable Development Goals:
Elements of Renewable Energy: This course explores renewable energy using the four Greek elements as weekly themes: Earth, Air (wind), Fire (solar) and Water (hydropower). From The Open University – starts September 5.
Climate Change: This course explores how climate change will affect us, why we should care about it, and what solutions we can employ. From Macquarie University – starts May 30.
Agriculture and the World We Live in: This course looks at the world’s population and the crucial role of agriculture in feeding the steadily increasing number of people. It also looks at how climate and soils dictate the types of farms we see in different regions and countries. From Massey University – starts May 30.
Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries: This course challenges you to consider how one might lift societies out of poverty while also mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. We explore the inherent complexity of developing country governments wanting to grow their economies in a climate friendly way. From University of Cape Town – starts now.
Innovating Solutions for Aging Populations: This course will introduce you to health care innovation within the theme of ‘healthy living and active aging,’ covering both the medical and the commercial aspects of innovations. This interdisciplinary course will present the key theories, tools, and concepts within health care innovation, and teach you to analyse and develop solutions to some of the great healthcare challenges of our time. From Copenhagen Business School – starts June 1.
Our Hungry Planet: Agriculture, People and Food Security: Food security is a complex, global issue, in which we all play a part. This course investigates our relationship with agriculture and your own food habits. It takes students on a journey around the world, from Europe to Africa to Asia, to find out more about the challenges of growing crops and managing livestock at the regional, national, community, and household level. From University of Reading – just started May 16.
The Right to Education: Breaking Down the Barriers: Does Education for All, mean all? What are the barriers to participating in education? How do you include “all” in the classroom. This course explores some answers to these questions and focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 4, which urges us to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.”From the University of Glasgow – starts June 6.
Indigenous Studies: Australia and New Zealand: This course builds the distinctive stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia and Maori people in Aotearoa, New Zealand over four modules. The aim is to provide students with an understanding of their past and present realities. From Massey University and the University of Tasmania – starts May 5.
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