Diploma of Sustainability

Futureproof your career!

The National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne was pleased to introduce a new sustainability course in 2006. The Diploma of Sustainability introduces students to sustainability concepts and explores how they can be applied effectively across a broad range of industry practices.

Sustainability is increasingly being recognised as a critical topic for society. Both business and government are exploring and implementing new ways in which they can grow and prosper into the future in a manner which protects the interests of society and the natural environment. Sustainability is an important concept that can be applied to a broad range of areas - from managing a business, to helping protect the global environment through more efficient energy and resource use.

The Diploma of Sustainability is designed to be studied concurrently with student's existing degree or diploma studies. It is also designed to be studied in isolation providing participants have an existing diploma or higher qualification and relevant related work experience. The course helps students gain a better understanding of how to apply sustainability concepts to their current stream of studies, and their work environment.

Course Outline

The 4 specialist units will help students to understand:

What sustainability means as a concept and how to apply it
Why sustainability is important for business, society and the environment
How sustainability relates to a broad range of industry practices and study areas
How to develop and implement programs to support behaviour change at the individual and organisational level
How to develop a business plan for responsive and sustainable business practices
How to analyse the long-term outcomes of sustainable production and consumption

Students will be required to support and work on a project that encourages sustainable behaviour change, and develop a plan which a business can implement to become more sustainable, primarily around the issues of waste, water and energy reduction.

Timetable

The 4 specialist units are:

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the acknowledgement of skills and knowledge obtained through learning achieved outside the formal education and training system and includes work and life experience including paid and volunteer work and skills attained through leisure pursuits such as musical, mechanical or linguistic abilities.

RPL recognises any prior knowledge and experience and measures it against the qualification in which students are enrolled. An individual may be granted RPL for part or all of a course if they already have some or all of the competencies taught in the course.

RPL is available for students enrolled in the Diploma of Sustainability. For further information about RPL please view: www.tafe.swinburne.edu.au/cdvetp/rpl.html and contact the National Centre for Sustainability.

Benefits and Opportunities for Students

Sustainability is increasingly becoming an important business objective in both government and industry. In recent times, there has been a strong growth in compliance and in job descriptions that specifically address sustainability issues. Most growth opportunities exist through applying sustainability concepts to traditional disciplines. From business management, engineering, product design and manufacturing, event management, hospitality and tourism, right through to building and construction, finance and information technology, employers are recognising the business benefits of operating in ways that deliver sustainable outcomes for people and the environment.

This course aims at developing the skills and knowledge of both students and professionals seeking a foundation in sustainability. Candidates may be looking to integrate a sustainability lens into their existing roles or be looking to transition into a sustainability related career.

Click here for student profiles

Click here for more information about jobs addressing sustainability issues

Course Structure and Delivery Mode

The Diploma of Sustainability is offered by the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne University of Technology to current Swinburne students and business and community members as a DUAL qualification or one that can follow on from any other completed courses.

It is studied concurrently in a Swinburne student's second year of their existing diploma, advanced diploma, degree or higher qualification.

Other citizens or permanent residents can study the course providing they have an existing diploma or higher qualification and relevant related work experience. These participants will be required to provide evidence of their existing diploma or higher qualification and relevant related work experience in their registration application before being accepted in the program.

The course is delivered within one year during Swinburne's TAFE and Higher Education term dates . Delivery includes face-to-face classes through five campuses. In addition in 2010, we will be offering a newly revised online Diploma.

New

Study the Diploma of Sustainability all online (more information coming)
Complete the Fast Track Diploma of Sustainability (more information coming)

Campuses

Croydon
Hawthorn
Lilydale
Prahran
Wantirna

2010 Intake: March, April, July

Course Details

15 x 3.5 hour sessions timetabled across one calendar year
Online Learning (Use of Web CT)
Research and project work
No text books required
Field Trip (face to face courses only)

Course Fees:

The Victorian Government introduced a new TAFE fee structure from 1 July 2009. Details of the new fee structure and 2010 fees can be found at www.swinburne.edu.au/fees.

Enrolment Procedure

International students need to seek advice from Swinburne International before enrolling in any additional competencies or course as there may be limitations on enrolment due to visa or scholarship program requirements.

Enquiries

Contact the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne:

Telephone: +61 3 9210 1903
Facsimile: +61 3 9210 1913
Email: ncs@swin.edu.au

Please click here for information on the Diploma facilitators