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 starting in January 2018, listed by topic, from PRME as well as some non-signatory schools. Click here to view Part 1.
Human Rights and Development: This course explores the topic of development based on human rights and social justice perspectives It looks at the ideology behind international aid programmes and looks at development from both Indigenous and African perspectives. Curtin University – starts April 2 2018.
Human Rights Activism, Advocacy and Change: This course explores the role of social movements, advocacy groups and activism in bringing about social change. Curtin University – starts February 5 2018.
International Human Rights Law: This course explores how an individual’s human rights are protected from both public and private power by international laws. UCL – starts February 1 2018.
Cities The Past, Present and Future of Urban Life: This course explores what makes cities energising, amazing, challenging and perhaps humanity’s greatest invention. Harvard University – starts February 15.
Greening the Economy Sustainable Cities: This course explores sustainable cities as engines for greening the economy. It places cities in the context of sustainable urban transformation and climate change. Lund University – starts January 15 2018.
Re-Enchanting the City-Designing the Human Habitat: This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary nature of city making. It will use the example of central Park in Sydney to explore the interdependencies of the professionals at play: urban design, architecture, construction management, planning, landscape, interior design etc. UNSW – starts
Sustainable Fashion: This course explores the fashion industry which is valued at more than $4 trillion USD and employs over 60 million people. It is also the second most polluting industry in the world. Fordham Gabelli School of Business – available now.
Chocolate and Sustainability: This course provides an overview of sustainability issues across the cocoa supply chain, from the farmers to the consumer. TCHO – available now.
Climate Change: This course explores how climate change will affect us, why we should care about it and what solutions we can employ. The course requires 2-4 hours of study per week depending on the student. Macquarie University – starts January 8th 2018.
Planning for Climate Change in African Cities: This course provides the foundation for understanding a city’s exposure and sensitivity to climate change and how cities manage these impacts in the face of growing uncertainty. Multiple stakeholders – Starts now.
Making Sense of Climate Science Denial: The course explores what the controversy and debate is around climate change denial and helps individuals respond to it. University of Queensland – starts January 9 2018.
Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries: This course challenges learners to consider how one might lift societies out of poverty while also mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It explores the inherent complexity of developing country governments wanting to grow their economics in a climate friendly way. University of Cape Town – starts January 22 2017.
Climate Justice Lessons From the Global South: This course helps learners to understand how we can balance human needs with caring for the planet with a focus on the Global South. UNESCO – starts now.
Contemporary Issues in Ocean Governance: This course considers the nature of how the world’s oceans are regulated. It will go through how ocean governance has evolved through time and how it actually works. University of Wollongong – starts January 8th 2018
Agriculture and the World We Live in: This course explores the world’s populations and the crucial role of agriculture in feeding the steadily increasing number of people. Massey University – starts January 8th 2018.
Discover Best Practice Farming for a Sustainable 2050: This course explores best practice farming for the future, how to start implementing these strategies now wile making sure it is still profitable. University of Western Australia – starts January 8 2018.
Ecosystem Services A Method for Sustainable Development: This course explore ecosystem services, a way of thinking about, and evaluating, the goods and services provided by nature that contribute to the well-being of humans. University of Geneva – starts January 8 2018.
Ethics and Law in Data Analytics: Analytics and AI are powerful tools that have real-world outcomes. Learn how to apply practical, ethical and legal constructs and scenarios so that you can be an effective analytics professional. Seattle University with Microsoft – starts January 1 2018.
Environmental Challenges Scarcity and Conflict in Natural Environment: This course explores war and conflict and how it can severely disrupt the governance of the environment with impacts on both people and the environment. University of Leeds – starts January 10 2018.
Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes: Superheros in movies and comics embrace truth and justice, peace rather than war and combat prejudice. This course uses superhoes as a way of interpreting key philosophical ideas – metaphysical and epistemology, social and political philosophy, ethics, philosophy of mind and much more. Smithsonian – starts January 16 2018.
The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development: This course explores the science and policies that drive sustainable development and how to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. University of Queensland – self paced.
Become a Sustainable Business Change Agent: This series of courses is for anyone who would like to improve how their company or organisation impacts the environment, people and communities. It will introduce them to some of the key concepts and tools of sustainable business and teach them how to be effective change agents. University of Colorado – starts January 1 2018.
Becoming a Changemaker Introduction to Social Innovation: This course is for anyone who is interested in making a difference. It explores the complex problems that surround us and how to start thinking about solutions. University of Cape Town – starts January 8 2018.
And a few extras…
Teaching Historical Inquiry with Objects: Through explanation, demonstration, and dynamic examples, the course offers teachers practical ideas for how to entice students to craft complex and incisive questions: think critically about primary and secondary sources, form and support their opinions with evidence and communicate their conclusions in ways that wil prepare them to be engaged citizens of the world. Although this course is aimed at high school teachers, many of the tools could be of use within some business school courses as a way of introducing sustainability concepts. Smithsonian – self paced.
Selling Ideas: How to Influence Others and Get your Message To Catch On: This course explores how you can use social media and word of mouth to spread your message. It also provides a step-by-step guide on how to get anything to catch on by looking at what makes ideas memorable and messages stick. Wharton – starts January 8 2018.
PRiMEtime 