Sustainability Futures Award
Our Sustainability Futures Award (SFA) will provide you with an understanding of a wide range of challenges affecting the sustainability of our planet and some of the promising solutions. It will also connect you with our CIFAL Surrey Academy, accredited by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Why choose this course
This free module is the perfect way to complement your studies, enhance your employability and improve your understanding of the world we live in.
To be eligible, students must:
- Be registered as an Undergraduate/Postgraduate taught (all levels except Foundation and Placement) student of the University and be attending degree modules on campus (Guildford), or be registered as a Postgraduate research student based on campus (Guildford), for the duration of the Sustainability Futures Award (SFA) course
- Be able to attend classes (taught in person - Guildford campus) both semesters
- Apply online.
Any student not meeting the above criteria (e.g. February starters, course suspended students or students on placement), but interested in SFA may not apply online directly, but should contact cifal@surrey.ac.uk to discuss their options.
Upon successful completion of the module, students will receive a CIFAL Surrey certificate of completion, accredited by UNITAR.
What you will study
Our Sustainability Futures Award (SFA) provides students with insights into a wide range of issues that are encompassed within sustainability. These are often thought of as the three pillars of sustainability:
Environmental issues
These include the impacts of our consumption and production systems on the Earth, how to deal with climate disruption; loss of biodiversity, and how to manage vital resources (water, food and energy) sustainably.
Economic issues
These include how economic instruments such as taxes and subsidies can be used to encourage more sustainable practices, the dilemma of economic growth, and how and why companies engage in corporate responsibility strategies.
Social issues
These include the sociology and psychology of sustainability, how our lifestyles can change, and sustainable tourism. Through these, students are introduced to how individuals and society as a whole might move towards more sustainable behaviours.
Additionally, the module will cover a range of “UN skills” that will enhance your understanding of global governance mechanisms for sustainable development, and enable you to engage with our CIFAL Surrey Academy and UNITAR.
All topics are applied to a case study family. On successful completion of this course you will be able to explain and apply the concept of sustainability and breadth of issues it encompasses, and how sustainability underpins every aspect of the economy and people’s lives.
Apply
How to apply
Applications are open online.