Sustainability Education, Upskilling and Capacity Building
As part of our approach to education, we focus on being innovative and forward-thinking ensuring that we lead market trends in education, upskilling and capacity building. Through our courses, connections and communities, our students are exposed and encouraged to think critically about and address matters that align with the themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leading to a more sustainable future.
How to Study Climate Science and Environmental Sustainability at CQU
Undergraduate Courses
Bachelor of Agriculture - this degree will equip you with the agriculture knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to play important professional roles in improving the productivity and sustainability of modern agriculture.
Bachelor of Science and Environmental - this degree will equip you to solve current and future medical, environmental, industrial and technological problems and launch your dynamic career in this field Enjoy the flexibility to tailor your degree to suit your interests and career goals with a choice of majors in Botany and Zoology, Chemistry, Earth and Climate Science or Environmental Management, and a range of minors available.
Integrated within these degrees are multiple avenues for students to learn and practice theory and skills in land and water ecosystems. This content includes term-long units of study such as Integrated Land and Water Management and Sustainable Landscapes and can cover focused elements within broader units of study. The Bachelor of Environmental Science degree includes a major in "Integrated land and water management", reflecting a strong focus on the interrelationship between land use and aquatic systems, and how best to manage them.
Each of the above-mentioned courses provides opportunities for students to complete Work Integrated Learning relevant to the field of study.
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts- this double degree provides you with a multidisciplinary education that encourages you to gain knowledge in a range of humanities and social science disciplines. A wide range of minors and majors are available to choose from including:
- Geography major which explores Australian geography and climate to extend your knowledge into topics including sustainable environments
- Environmental Management which provides the big picture around why an organisation needs an environmental conscience.
Post Graduate Courses
Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Leadership- this course is a multi-disciplinary course that equips you with a strong foundational knowledge about social innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills.
Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability- this course allows you to acquire academically rigorous knowledge of contemporary sustainable management principles and practices. In addition, you will gain practical, transferable skills that support you in your entrepreneurship and innovation ambitions.
Undergraduate Units
- AGRI13009- Sustainable Agricultural Development: Local and Global
- AVAT13022- Sustainable Aviation
- BOTN13002 - Plants and the environment
- CHEM19085- Environmental Chemistry
- ECON19031- Environmental Economics
- EDCU12041 - Sustainability through active citizenship
- EDEC11030 - Teaching Health and Sustainability in the Early Years
- ENAG11008- Professional and sustainable Engineering Practice
- ENEG11009- Fundamentals of Sustainable Energy
- ENTA13025- Sustainable Energy for Aviation
- ENTC13011 - Environmental Engineering
- ENVH12002- Environmental Health Law
- ENHV12003- Environmental Toxicology
- ENVR11014- Environmental Monitoring
- ENVR12001 - Soil Science and Conservation
- EVST11001 - Development and Environmental Policy
- EVST13016- Catchment to Reef Management
- EVST13018- Environmental Management Systems
- EVST19007 - Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
- EVST19015 - Australian Environmental History
- EVST19020 - Environmental Management Systems
- EVST19021 - Sustainability Issues and Solutions
- EVST19022 - Climate Change : Risk and Assessments
- GEOG11024 - Conservation in Australia
- GEOG12020- Australian Weather and Climate
- GEOG13013 - Sustainable Regions and Cities
- LAWS12067- Environmental Law
- LAWS13024 - Law and the Environment
- PBHL13001 - Public Health and Environmental Sustainability
- SUST11001 - The Changing World and Sustainability
Postgraduate Units
- COIT29223- Blockchain Technologies for Sustainable Business Applications
- EVST28001- Climate Change: Risk and Assessments
- MGMT20132- Innovation and Sustainable Business Development
- MGMT20134 - Business Ethics and Sustainability
- MGMT20142- Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability
- MGMT20148 - Strategic Solutions for Sustainable Organisations
- MGMT29010- Innovation and Sustainable Business Development
- ENEG20003 - Sustainability Studio
Industry, partnerships and communities
Industry, partnerships and our communities are integral to CQUniversity's growth and sustainability. We have an embedded engagement agenda that drives interaction with our many partners, communities and stakeholders to create social, intellectual and cultural capital through education, training, research, and service.
Educational Resources Aligned to the SDG's
Our students, academics and teaching teams collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including government and non-governmental organisations (NGO's) to develop educational resources that identify solutions that lead towards a more sustainable and better future.
View a sample of the activities where we have collaborated and engaged with stakeholders in the development of educational resources that align to themes of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Social Innovation Workshop
We hosted several social innovation courses designed to combine creativity, innovation and great ideas to tackle issues from housing to waste plastic, animal welfare and community services.
- iActivate in Toowoomba- social entrepreneurs from the Toowoomba region undertook the iActivate program to build a better future for their region.
- iActivate in Far North Queensland
- iActivate Regional Female Founder Accelerator- this program is curated by women, for women, and addresses specific challenges for driving innovative business and social impact in regional Queensland.
Fight Food Waste
CQUniversity is an active member of the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre which aims to undertake research and develop programs and resources to tackle food waste. Fighting food waste will save Australia $36.6 billion per annum; it will reduce food waste, increase industry profitability, and improve food rescue to deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits for Australia.
10,000 Steps program
We lead the 10,000 Steps program to improve community health and wellbeing. It is a program that started in Rockhampton and is now a national community-based health initiative. There are resources and information available online for free.
Regional Medical Pathway
In partnership with the University of Queensland, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS) and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) we launched the Regional Medical Pathway (RMP). The RMP will help to address the critical issue of ensuring regional health workforces are equipped to meet future needs. The Pathway will see students complete a three-year Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course with our university, before moving into UQ’s four-year MD program that will be offered in full in Bundaberg and Rockhampton. The Hospital and Health Services will then provide student placements, internship opportunities and postgraduate training places within their regional footprints.
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
The mission of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (QCDFVR) is to contribute to the prevention of and response to violence against women and children through research, education and sector support. The QCDFVR held the 18th Annual Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum. The forum featured presentations and workshops on research, prevention, trauma, and healing.
Choices Program
Our University in collaboration with community service entities and other universities has developed the Choices program to educate year 12 school students on safe behaviour in their post Year 12 school celebrations.
iActivate Program
iActivate – Design and Grow Business for Good developed to provide a self-paced and ultra-flexible course to guide aspiring and early career social entrepreneurs from idea to impact. This partnership between Impact Boom and our University is supporting 'business for good' to change the world.
Gladstones STEM Central
Gladstone's STEM Central has partnered with a number of organisations for funding to deliver exciting experiences for students in Central Queensland. More than 600 students, preservice teachers, community members and staff got to explore and expand their STEM knowledge and skills with a series of events:
- Young Engineers Lego Club- CQUniversity hosted workshops in seven regional Queensland towns to school students from Years 1 to 8.
- CQ Junior Robotics Competition – open to school students in years 4 – 12 within the Central Queensland region, we host the CQ Junior Robotics Competition, and it provides a fun environment for students to develop pivotal skills in problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking and teamwork.
- Connecting STEM with Music- over 70 primary school students experienced the connection between STEM and music at the STEM meeting Symphony workshop.
- Young Engineers Summer Holiday Workshops- CQUniversity hosted workshops over school holidays to launch kids into STEM.
RACE – Gippsland
RACE - Gippsland delivers a range of hands-on, interactive, and engaging activities to primary and secondary students focused on raising aspirations in agriculture and building student capacity in STEM, digital technologies, agribusiness, manufacturing and food and fibre concepts.
Safety Circus
The Safety Circus is an engaging theatre production delivered by the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, which imparts important safety messages to children around the areas of road safety (wearing helmets on bikes and scooters), bullying (using bystander behaviours to change the outcome of bullying), and use of a safety network to find a trusted adult.
TeacherFX (Teacher Farm Experience)
The Teacher Farm Experience Program aims to increase the knowledge and confidence of STEM, digital technology and agriculture educators to allow them to incorporate food and fibre production into their teaching programs. As part of this partnership with Rabobank, our university has developed innovative and interactive resources for teachers to take back to the classroom and an evaluation framework to determine its success.
Women in Agri-tech Initiative
The 'Women in Agri-tech’ project will create and foster a strong network of females who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas. They will be guided and mentored by female researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop engaging learning resources which will, in turn, inspire girls in the classroom to realise the opportunities available to them.
Project Booyah
Project Booyah in collaboration with Queensland Police, Police Citizen Youth Club and the Queensland Government provides at-risk students with hospitality training.
Whanu Binal Indigenous Entrepreneur Program
We have partnered with Arrow Energy to deliver their Whanu Binal Indigenous Entrepreneur Program. This partnership was established in 2019 and continued to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and individual workers throughout 2022 and is designed for Indigenous Entrepreneurs, executives, managers and Traditional Custodians.
WinTECH STEM Club
WinTech (Women in Technology) STEM club we are committed to improving gender disparity in Science Technology, Engineering and Maths + Computing (STEM+C) education, and in doing so STEM+C workshops and mentoring opportunities are hosted every year for young and mature women across the community. These workshops are conducted in response to bringing change in STEM education, making female students more interested and more confident in taking up STEM+C subjects as their career.
Future Female Conference
The Future Female Conference is an annual event to unite global minds and advance gender equity for international students in Victoria.
Regional Female Founder Accelerator
This 14-week program is designed to propel regional Queensland female founders who are driving social impact.
Women in Agri-Tech
The ‘Women in Agri-tech’ project will create and foster a strong network of females who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas. They will be guided and mentored by female researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop engaging learning resources which will, in turn, inspire girls in the classroom to realise the opportunities available to them.
Ally Program
There is an Ally Program Network on Moodle as a connection point for any student who would like to be involved, with resources, links, and forums. It is a place for students to access support and get in contact with an Ally.
Whanu Binal Indigenous Entrepreneur Program
We have partnered with Arrow Energy to deliver their Whanu Binal Indigenous Entrepreneur Program. This partnership was established in 2019 and continued to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and individual workers throughout 2022 and is designed for Indigenous Entrepreneurs, executives, managers and Traditional Custodians.
iActivate Program
iActivate – Design and Grow Business for Good developed to provide a self-paced and ultra-flexible course to guide aspiring and early career social entrepreneurs from idea to impact. This partnership between Impact Boom and our University is supporting 'business for good' to change the world.
Central Queensland Regional Arts Services Network
The Central Queensland Regional Arts Services Network (CQRASN) is striving to deliver excellent regional arts programs and services to ensure that our Central Queensland communities are connected, creative and cultural communities to live and work. This project leads a series of activities and events across the Wide Bay and Burnett. Delivering workshops and forums, as well as networking and festival events.
Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
The Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music is proud of its reputation for providing a supportive, nurturing and friendly environment for exceptional students to work with award-winning staff.
2022 STEM Expo – Resource of Educators
CMERC Researchers and RHD Students held a stall at the event for Coastal and Marine Science. The STEM Expo is held annually for Gladstone STEM Educators and Community Members with an interest in Citizen Science.
Future Leaders Eco Challenge (FLEC)
The Future Leaders Eco Challenge is an annual reef education event hosted by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) with our university taking part. The event aims to see students, teachers, their communities and local environmental agencies make positive environmental changes for the marine environment.
Girls STEM Camp
We hosted over 40 female high school students from account the region and on Curtis Island, promoting courses and seagrass restoration research. CMERC researchers ran an activity with the Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre.
Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre
Our Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) has been established to work with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for our unique coast and marine environments. Some educational resources developed through CMERC are:
- As part of the Buraligim Weiber (Place of Learning) project which engages Year 3 and 4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from two Gladstone primary schools, CMERC held an educational activity to promote awareness of seagrass, aquatic ecosystems, microplastics
- CMERC hosted a Caring for Oiled Wildlife Course by Incident Response Unit, Environmental Services and Regulation Division, Department of Environment and Science. CMERC staff, major Gladstone industries (including GPC) and community groups attended.
- CMERC researchers represented our University at Oceanfest 2022 with displays about seagrass restorations and microplastics research activities.
- CMERC researcher was one of three guest scientists to talk to over 880 school students and teachers at the World Science Festival Gladstone Student Day, about “Cool jobs”. The session also included the students visiting the CQU STEM Mission to Mars and Q and A with science celebrity Dr KarlMicroplastics pollution presentation for the Milbi Festival in Bundaberg
- Energy, Environment and Our Sustainable Future CQ Showcase, Gladstone Marina Campus, CQUniversity.
- Emma Jackson presented the Restoring Seagrass Resilience in the Whitsundays Project to 70 Year 4 students at Canonvale School.
- Public Seagrass Flower collecting event at Cannonvale Bay, Airlie Beach.
Be Different - Professional Development Platform
Free Agricultural educational programs are available via CQUniversity's professional development platform - Be Different.
Listed below are some of the examples of free workshops available for students, teachers and community members to access to learn more about environmental ecosystems and technology and initiatives available to manage this sustainably.
Agri-tech Education
Agri-tech Education is a collection of projects aimed to showcase the scientific and digital skills required in the agricultural industry to upskill the current agricultural workforce and attract the next generation to work in the food and fibre production sector.
Women in Agri-tech
The ‘Women in Agri-tech’ project will create and foster a strong network of female teachers who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas.
RACE - Gippsland
This online RACE - Gippsland resource includes three learning modules:
- Traceability of Gippsland Produce Module
- Diving into Dairy Data Module
- Potato Fries and Food Waste Module
Prawn Farmers Digital Skills Hub
Prawn Farmers Digital Skills Hub
GPS Cows
This online GPS Cow resource provides has been co-designed by the NSW Department of Education and CQUniversity Australia for the NSW Stage 5 Agriculture Syllabus. It incorporates content from the Agriculture and Food Technologies and the Digital Technologies contexts. The course investigates the use of GPS data to improve the management of animal welfare.
There are seven (7) modules in this resource:
- Design your own research trial
- Collect your own livestock tracking data and create your own paddock boundary files
- Cleaning GPS data
- Importing data layers in ArcGIS
- Paddock utilisation
- Elevation
- Soil
Future Learn
CQUniversity is a partner of Future Learn. This program provides short courses from around the world for free or low cost. CQUniversity provides 18 courses via this platform, including A Beginner's Guide to Environmental Science: Wicked Problems and Possible Solutions. Students will be learning about the nature of environmental science, resources, the basis of the world’s ecosystem, and the concept of the triple bottom line for sustainability.
Social Innovation and the SDGs
Our commitment to social innovation education means that its graduates have the capabilities and mindset to positively shape their world. It also means that they are equipped with ‘future of work' skills, such as creativity, innovation and collaborative leadership.
At the end of 2023, more than 85 per cent of undergraduate courses included social innovation components and initiatives embedded into the curriculum. We have continuously expanded the activities and opportunities available, to develop this social innovation mindset. For example, many courses include iChange as an introduction to social innovation during the first year of study (such as the Bachelor of Psychology and the Bachelor of Criminology).
CQUniversity offers the Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Leadership which prepares students to lead positive social change through design thinking, entrepreneurship, and disruptive innovation.
Students across many courses also have opportunities to think about entrenched social issues, explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and learn how to creatively and effectively problem-solve with their peers. The Office of Social Innovation (OSI) supported the development of extra-curricular activities such as the Festival of Change (FoC), a virtual event held over three days, to engage staff and students in social innovation-related activities.
Other Social Innovation work undertaken in 2023 included:
- the annual Festival of Change
- a dedicated page of Social Innovation resources on the University’s StaffNet site
- a human-centred Design session at the Student Leadership Conference
- a Social Innovation Education Community of Practice
- the iActivate short course delivered through the Centre for Professional Development
Learn more about Social Innovation at our University or view the Social Innovation brochure.