ProfDip Foundations of Sustainable Development

The stability of the Earth as a system is currently at risk as five of the nine planetary boundaries - describing the environmental limits within which humanity as a species may continue to thrive - have now been exceeded. The practice of sustainability is crucial to our management of life under water, life on land, the environment, and for societal health and wellbeing now and in the future.

Utilising the digital resources of the SDG Academy and the sustainability expertise of UCD academic staff, the Professional Diploma in Foundations of Sustainable Development is taught through the lens of the SDGS and has the unique ability to address the large range of issues covered by the 2030 agenda. Ultimately, it will equip students to solve some of the most pressing issues of our times.

A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade II (2H2) or equivalent in a relevant subject such as planning, political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law.

The programme is a fully online programme ensuring a flexible learning environment for students. This programme can be completed over 1 trimester (Sept start only) or over 2 Trimesters (Sept & Jan start) giving the student lots of flexibility.

This is a 20-credit programme consisting of two core 10-credit modules:

1. POL42080 Global classroom, a module specifically designed to introduce students to sustainable development issues in developed and developing nations across the globe.
   
2. PLAN40550 Fundamentals of Sustainability, a module comprised of three SDG Academy MOOCs that will be delivered and delivered as an on-demand educational offering via the (opens in a new window)edX platform .

The programme is a fully online programme ensuring a flexible learning environment for students. 

The programme utilises the best available online sustainability education resources from global experts and is delivered in partnership with the UNSDSN SDG Academy, graduates will have excellent career opportunities including:  

• As a sustainability expert in corporate entities
• Almost all NGOs now require expertise in sustainability
• Environmental corporate governance (e.g. ESG)
• Education for sustainable development careers
• Sustainability consultant