State first dual diploma delivers skills for sustainability
Thursday, 9 July 2009 2:03PM
Queensland's first dual Diploma of Sustainability is open for enrolment.
Tropical North Queensland TAFE's new online Diploma of Sustainability explores the concepts and principles of sustainability and helps students develop the skills and knowledge to implement sustainable practice in the workplace.
The 16-week, four subject dual diploma is designed to be studied concurrently with another diploma, but also is open to individuals who possess diploma or higher level qualifications and relevant work experience.
Tropical North Queensland TAFE Institute Director Jo Pyne said the diploma was an exciting new course which would help graduates future proof their careers.
"Sustainability is increasingly becoming an important business objective in government and industry," Ms Pyne said.
"As we move forward into the 21st century, issues like climate change, carbon abatement, resource availability, food and water security, land management, pollution and peak oil will have significant impacts on how businesses and industries operate and manage risk.
"With these challenges will come many new opportunities for workplace innovation in response to rapidly moving technological change, compliance issues, corporate social responsibility and more stringent governance requirements."
Ms Pyne said the Diploma of Sustainability introduced students to the concepts of sustainability and explored the relationship between the economy, society and the natural environment.
"Sustainability is about finding ways to continue to improve our quality of life in a way that benefits societies and the natural environment, both now and into the future," Ms Pyne said.
"Creating a sustainable future is everyone's business and courses like the Diploma of Sustainability provide a golden opportunity for people to develop the skills and knowledge they will need to lead change in the workplace and at home."
The Diploma covers four key sustainability areas: sustainability concepts and principles; supporting behaviour change and sustainable practice; business planning, and; sustainable production and consumption.
Ms Pyne said the diploma was a key plank in a strategy to establish Tropical North Queensland TAFE as a leader in sustainability education, training and campus operations.
"The vocational education and training sector has a vital role to play in driving the transition to sustainability at the local, regional and national level," she said.
"We are implementing a range of sustainability initiatives to ensure our students are able to access sustainability training and that we can operate our campuses more sustainably."
Tropical North Queensland TAFE is the only Queensland education and training provider in the National Centre for Sustainability network.
The Institute recently won $10 million in funding through the Federal Government's $200 million 'Training Infrastructure Investment for Tomorrow' (TIIFT) program, the second element of the $500 million 'Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training', to redevelop J Block at the Cairns TAFE Campus into a Health and Sustainability Training Precinct.
In partnership with five other regional TAFE Queensland institutes, TNQT also secured a $96,000 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts grant to build the capacity of TAFE staff to deliver sustainability training and operational capability.
For more information on the Diploma of Sustainability, or to enrol, contact Tropical North Queensland TAFE on 1300 656 959, or visit www.tnqit.tafe.qld.gov.au.
The Institute also offers a range of environmental and planning programs in areas including horticulture, spatial information systems, aquaculture, conservation and land management and outdoor recreation.