Course description

Systems Thinking: Climate Change & Sustainable Decision Making (PGT)

Climate change is the biggest global challenge to the foundations of our society and the health of our planet since humans have inhabited the Earth. It impacts every part of the world and has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which have highlighted how our society, economy, and environment are interconnected. This course is designed to increase your understanding of the complexities of climate change and the ways in which it impacts the world around us. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to make sustainable decisions and take action to reduce your carbon footprint at work and home. In completing this course, you should feel equipped in discussing this pressing global emergency and able to contribute to building a more sustainable future for all.

Suitability - Who should attend?

It is suggested that learners on this course are educated to at least Undergraduate level and have an IELTS equivalent of 6.5. No prior knowledge of climate change or sustainability is required. Learners will not be asked to prove their academic or professional history.

Outcome / Qualification etc.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

Understand tools and theories that help create solutions for a sustainable future;
Reflect on and understand how individual and siloed components of a system in isolation interrelate and interconnect;
Utilise personal and professional skills that enable you to make practical and positive decisions in your personal life and in the workplace;
Describe what systems thinking is and why it is relevant to climate change and sustainability;
Evaluate the potential value and contribution of systems thinking in supporting ESG and CSR (a systems approach will naturally leverage pro-environmental orientation of individuals within organisations to act toward their strengths and interests);
Explore different ways in which systems thinking can be applied in practice by individuals and organisations to support problem-solving, decision-making and organisational learning;
Evaluate a range of case studies of system-orientated responses to climate change;
Understand that due to the complexity and dynamic nature of systems, intuitive decision-making
does not always lead to expected outcomes;
Apply a set of synergistic analytic skills including:
- Systems mapping to enable problem framing and scoping;
- Scenario thinking to support individuals to explore plausible futures.

Training Course Content

This course is designed to help you to shift your mindset away from siloed and compartmentalised thinking to a more holistic view of the system. It will cover the following topics:

Weeks 1 & 2: Introduction to Systems Thinking, Climate Change & Sustainability
Weeks 3-5: Applications of Systems Thinking to Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
Weeks 6-8: Exploration Case Studies That Show Systems Thinking in Practice
Weeks 9 & 10: Making Systems Change: Intervening, Acting & Measuring

Course delivery details

Applications open in February 2024

Continuing Studies

This course is designed to equip learners with skills to progress into the following roles and industries:

All organisations interested in making the necessary changes for the transition to net zero and remaining responsive to new sustainability policies and regulations.

Completion of this course grants potential for: