England
Where do you live?
Key features
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Learn practical skills you can apply straight away -
Insights and case studies featuring pioneering people and organisations -
Create an action plan tailored to your organisation that you can use to make a difference -
Designed by leading sustainability experts and practitioners -
The course has a global focus and delivers transferable skills for diverse sectors and organisations
What you will study
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The climate crisis: global heating and its causes -
What we value, as cultures, organisations and individuals, and the tensions between them -
Connecting with nature and learning from nature to solve human problems -
Five ways of working: holistic, interrelated positive steps that can enable radical and rapid action -
Long-term thinking: how you can help your organisation take a longer-term view -
Prevention: deficit and asset-based approaches to the protection of nature -
Involvement: ways of involving a diversity of stakeholders meaningfully -
Collaboration: the factors for successful collaboration with examples from a range of organisations -
Integration: the integration of sustainability in your organisation -
Applying tools and frameworks to put your ideas into action
You will learn
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explain the scientific facts of the climate and ecological crises -
re-examine your thoughts and feelings on the urgent need for action on sustainability -
distinguish how you and your organisation uniquely contribute to sustainability agendas, including just transition, industrial decarbonisation, the green skills agenda, and the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) -
involve a range of stakeholders to identify potential quick wins for transformative change -
demonstrate your own collaborative leadership skills by engaging and influencing others to effect change -
critique the impact of past and present actions for sustainability to inform future action -
design a sustainability action plan appropriate for your organisation which will effect long-term change.
Skills you will gain
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Explaining the scientific facts of the climate crisis -
Understanding organisational contributions to sustainability agendas -
Designing a sustainability action plan -
Critical thinking and leadership -
Reflective learning -
Collaborative working -
Organisational innovation -
Big picture thinking -
Inclusive communication
Vocational relevance
Created by leading experts and practitioners from The Open University
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Dr Victoria Hands, Director of Sustainability at the OU, has designed this microcredential. She is an experienced sustainability practitioner with a PhD in implementing sustainable development. -
Dr Emma Dewberry is a Senior Lecturer in Design Ecologies at the OU’s School of Engineering and Innovation. Emma’s teaching focuses on Design for Sustainability. -
Professor Carolyn Hayles is a Policy Research and Innovation Fellow at Cardiff Metropolitan University and is currently investigating Climate Change Adaptation Pathways. -
Jane Davidson is Pro Vice-Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. As a former Welsh Minister, Jane proposed legislation in the interest of future generations. Jane is Chair of Wales Net Zero 2035 and holds an honorary doctorate from the OU.
You will gain
Teaching and assessment
Study support
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Learn 100% online on the OU’s learning platform with a mix of video, audio and written materials -
Engage in interactive learning through self-assessment questions, polls, tasks and reflection -
Share ideas and experiences in discussion with other learners, building skills, confidence and knowledge -
Receive support from mentors who guide discussions and answer questions -
Study at a time that suits you with the flexibility to access the course from your desktop, tablet or mobile device
Assessment
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End-of-module assessment
Course length
What's included
Future availability
Regulations
Entry requirements
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The course is relevant to learners in organisations of any size and sector but doesn’t assume learners are currently working. Past experiences will be just as relevant. The weekly sustainability actions and action plan design can be applied at the individual or community level. -
All teaching is in English, and your English proficiency needs to be adequate for undergraduate study. As a guide, this corresponds to Level 5.5 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). However, you won’t need to provide a formal English language score to enrol.
Computing requirements
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Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device. -
Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS. -
Operating systems – Windows 11 or the latest supported macOS. -
Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
If you have a disability
Course fee
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Jul 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 03 Jul 2026 | £550 |
