Grand Green Plan
Swinburne TAFE, through the National Centre for Sustainability (NCS) is commencing a series of projects, under the broad title of the Grand Green Plan (GGP), to effectively position Swinburne to meet the emerging needs of the green economy. The GGP has been developed to acknowledge and address the challenges faced by Swinburne TAFE in responding rapidly to the education and training implications of sustainability - and in particular the urgency of climate change. Fundamentally, this Plan is about how we are going to make our planet Earth a better place for the next generation - at both the individual and institutional levels.
During 2008, the Australian skills’ landscape changed fundamentally to orient to the challenge of skilling for the ‘green collar economy’, with Australia now committed to a transition to a low carbon economy. The release of the CSIRO/Dusseldorp report ‘Growing the green collar economy’ in June this year identified the massive mobilisation of skills and training and change of work practices that will be required in existing workers in key sectors as well as new jobs and new skills. The Prime Minister’s December 2008 announcement of targets for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme further underscores the magnitude of the workforce and societal task in reducing our carbon footprint.
Central to the GGP in 2009 is the importance of communicating with our greatest asset in facing this challenge – our staff – and the importance of strategically communicating with our external partners and markets. Many Swinburne TAFE staff have already been addressing this sustainability challenge at the individual and course levels and this project starts by acknowledging this significant contribution and valuing these and all staff to assist in the institutional sustainability response.
Briefly, the 'Grand Green Plan will develop the institutional capability to respond strategically to the education and training challenge of sustainability and climate change.' This proposal has three inter-connected components:
- the establishment of the first Australian ‘teaching in sustainability’ accredited courses and professional development modules for internal and external markets;
- a collaborative approach to identifying strategic Green Skill Gaps and supporting integration of sustainability and new green skills into appropriate courses across the Schools;
- the development of a number of qualifications, courses and shared resources across the Division that reflect the needs of emerging and existing Environmental Industries;
- the development of a feasibility plan for a ‘Green Technology Park’, and
- the establishment of a ’Green Tick’ rating scheme to identify and assess courses for sustainability content, providing recognition for sustainability related knowledge and skills by marketing courses with a ‘Green Tick’.
To achieve this, NCS will be collaborating with Swinburne TAFE’s Strategic Development Group (SDG) which will be launching an exciting New Product Development initiative in Environmental Industries.
The development of these ‘Australian first’ projects within Swinburne in 2009 will provide the necessary skills and experience for Swinburne to pragmatically address the challenge. The NCS will create synergy and work collaboratively with Management, Schools, Departments and committed individuals to implement these ‘backbone’ projects during 2009 and 2010. We believe that this approach will ensure that Swinburne grows its reputation as a leading Green TAFE.
