Global Sustainability Advantage

Become a sustainability advocate at Western Sydney

Western Sydney and the rest of the world is rapidly changing. Successful graduates in this millennium will face urgent global challenges that need new ways of thinking and doing. Employers tell us they value culturally adaptive, flexible, resilient and inter-disciplinary graduates.

Linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Western’s new Global Sustainability sub-major (opens in a new window) is recognised by and cobranded with the Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (opens in a new window) network acknowledged by the United Nations University. This award program is a unique, signature learning experience for any undergraduate students involving local and global partners committed to creating a more equitable and sustainable future.

About

This program is designed to develop you as a work ready global citizen that can demonstrate desirable professional competencies and cope with complexity, uncertainty and change in 3 easy steps.

• STEP 1: Complete the Sustainability Bootcamp online
• STEP 2: Enrol in the Global Sustainability sub-major (opens in a new window)
• STEP 3: Undertake a social action project in Western Sydney or internationally (part of the sub-major)

When you complete these steps you will graduate with a Global Sustainability Award - an additional, cobranded RCE certificate, which is a great addition to your CV. Download the Global Sustainability prospectus (PDF, 585.59 KB) (opens in a new window) for more details.

Sustainability Bootcamp

Why are we talking about sustainability? Why does it matter? What does this mean for you? This trans-disciplinary Curiosity Pod is a ‘taster’ that introduces concepts of Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 through systems awareness, worldviews and futures thinking. It contains up to 8 hours of online interactive learning including lectures, case studies, film clips and resources. The case studies profile inspiring local initiatives and research across Western Sydney that contribute to addressing our global challenges. The Sustainability Bootcamp is open to all students in all disciplines as a standalone activity and or those undertaking the Global Sustainability sub-major. Enrol yourself in to Sustainability Bootcamp. Intakes happens at the start of 1H and 2H semesters annually. The Bootcamp will appear on your vUWS site at the start of semester (depending when you enrol).

Sub-Major Units

By undertaking your choice of units within this offering you will engage with a broader perspective and bring breath to your discipline’s depth and focus. You will have the opportunity to go make a difference by undertaking 60-hour social action internship as part of your learning, either locally or globally. Funded scholarships, including the New Colombo Plan Mobility program, can be available for eligible students to undertake their internship overseas.

Social Action

Students will complete a 60-hour internship or research project as part of the Internship and Community Engagement unit for their social action with local and global partners in small interdisciplinary project teams. Some of these opportunities have funded scholarships (of up to $3,000 per student) available for eligible students through the Australian Government New Colombo Plan. Social action is the process of engaging with partners to work toward a more just and equitable society.

Enrolment

This cross-school, multidisciplinary offering is open to ALL undergraduate students at Western Sydney with elective space in their program. Ready to enrol? Login to My Student Records (MySR) (opens in a new window) and let's get started.