Building a Sustainability Strategy Online Course

This interactive webinar course on sustainability is composed of four modules. It is 1.5 hours per week for 4 weeks (October 4, October 11, October 18 and October 25). The course starts at 1:00 pm EST and ends at 2:30 pm EST.

Course Description

An organization's sustainability strategy can have a significant impact upon its reputation with customers, employees and within the supply chain. False starts and poorly integrated efforts are costly, hurt the creditability of the initiative, the implementation team and the company.

This workshop will provide you with experienced advice, proven frameworks, best practices and tools to simplify the sustainability process. You will also have the opportunity to work on your own sustainability planning process and receive coaching during the workshop. Our sustainability workshops are also a great place to build sustainability networks and communities of practice.

Learning Objectives
Using examples, case studies, best practices, hands-on activities and participation through the on-line Community of Practice and "Peer to Peer" dialogue, you will:

• List the steps in developing a sustainability strategy and begin to customize them for your organization.
• Develop a business case for sustainability including drivers, opportunities, risks, issues and challenges.
• Develop a process for a definition, vision and goals for sustainability for your organization.
• Create a plan to assess the impact of sustainability on our organization's economic, environmental and social performance.
• Identify methods for determining sustainability metrics.
• Discuss methods for prioritizing and implementation of sustainability initiatives.
• Understand best practices for integrating sustainability into corporate governance, operations and the culture of the organization.
• Establish a draft plan for tracking progress toward targets; and reporting achievements and progress towards sustainability goals.

Module 1 (October 4, 2011): Understanding Sustainability

Guest Speaker: Kelly Hawke Baxter, Executive Director, The Natural Step (to be confirmed)

In this module participants will:

Understand current definitions of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and related concepts and choose a definition for their company.

Compare and contrast different frameworks for sustainability such as The Natural Step, Triple Bottom Line, ISO 26000 & Corporate Social Responsibility and general practices and protocols such as ISO 14001, Global Reporting Initiative. Choose a framework for their company.
Examine the importance of current worldviews, and the essential nature of systems, futures and critical thinking in sustainability program design and implementation. Discuss the 10 steps and organizational structure for sustainability plan development and implementation.

Module 2 (October 11, 2011): Making the Business Case & Creating a Shared Vision

Guest Speaker: Dave Turnbull, Director, Sustainability & Project Development, Landmark Builders

In this module participants will:

Examine the drivers for sustainability.
Outline and share the business case for their company.
Compare different methods for gaining consensus on a shared vision for sustainability. Develop and share their plan for gaining consensus on a shared vision.

Module 3 (October 18, 2011): Conducting the Gap Assessment & Establishing Sustainability Metrics

Guest Speaker: Kevin Brady, Founder and Senior Associate, Five Winds Strategic Consulting

In this module participants will:

Examine methods for assessing their company's current sustainability position (such as assessment checklists, force field analysis, 5 forces, weighted matrix, process mapping etc).
Understand techniques for developing strategic directions and priorities for sustainability initiatives.
Learn methods for creating metrics for sustainability measures, setting targets and reporting sustainability.

Module 4 (October 25, 2011): Planning Sustainability Strategy Implementation

Guest Speaker: Nadine Gudz, Director Sustainability, Interface Flor

In this module participants will:

Learn tips for choosing the timing and priorities for successful strategy implementation
Compare and contrast different methods for rolling out the strategy.
Examine and modify templates for expressing the plan.
Generate a customized template for plan roll out with essential best practice elements.

Trainer and Subject Matter Expert Workshop Facilitators & Subject Matter Experts

Kathryn A. Cooper, B.Sc., MBA, M.Ed. (Sustainability & Environment) - President, Sustainability Learning Centre. Kathryn Cooper is a committed sustainability practitioner and educator moving companies toward "green" profitability and sustainable competitive advantage by unlocking human creativity and technical innovation. Over the last two years she has had the privilege to work with companies like Dupont, Zerofootprint, WWF Canada, and Partners in Project Green on sustainability issues, best practices and renewable energy.

Kathryn is a graduate of York University with a Master of Education specializing on Sustainability and the Environment. She holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph.

In her spare time Kathryn is a member of the Environmental Advisory Committee for the Town of Erin, the Climate Change Action Group of Erin and an elected School Board Trustee at the Upper Grand District School Board.

Special Guest Speakers: Nadine Gudz, Director, Sustainability, Interface Flor, Dave Turnbull, Product Development Manager, Landmark Group of Builders, Kevin Brady, Founder & Senior Associate, Five Winds Strategic Consulting, Kelly Hawke Baxter, Executive Director, The Natural Step

This course will be of value to:

Sustainability Coordinators
Sustainability Team Leaders and Members
Sustainability Coaches and Champions
Anyone planning to lead the development of a sustainability strategy within business, government or the not-for-profit sector.
Bring your entire "green team" and use this workshop as a kick-off or refresher to your sustainability initiative.
Course Price: Early Registration Date $ 325
Course Price: Regular $ 425

Sustainability Learning Centre - Continuing Education Units (contact hours) Certificates of Participation in "Sustainability Education" will be awarded upon participation in the Community of Practice with 6 contact hours for this course.

To register click here (see course code SC 101).

Related Posts
The Green Market's Green Schools Series
Searchable Environmental Education Resources
Sierra's 2011 List of Cool Green Schools Points West
The Princeton Review's 2012 Top Green Schools Honor Role
Fiske's Top 10 Colleges for Environmental Education
Top Five Green Master Degree Programs
Online Green MBA Programs
US Green MBA Program Directory
World's Best Green MBA Programs
Ashridge Masters in Sustainability and Responsibility
Find Sustainable Education at GreenDegreeDirectory
CareerOneStop’s Environmental Education Finder
Green School Census
The Sustainability Education Series from Green Education Online
Green Education Online Training
Green Training Modules From Green Education Online
Social Business at Blue Planet Life
Blue Planet Academy Green Certificate Programs
Blue Planet Academy Environmental Training in the Developing World
Hult International Business School Launches Master in Social Entrepreneurship
Stony Brook University's Sustainability focused BA Degrees
Sustainable Certificates from Irvine Valley College
Harvard Corporate Sustainability Distance Learning Course
Course Descriptions for Green Courses at San Diego State University College of Extended Studies
Green Education at San Diego State University College of Extended Studies
E-Learning Course on the Legal Frameworks of Sustainability
Green Schools are Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Sustainable Education is Key to Accessing the Green Economy
Green Memes and Schools

Read More»

Online Course: Environmental Mechanisms and Impact Assessment Methods

This course explores how the various impact assessment methods are modeling the fate, transport & exposure pathways (causality chain, mechanisms) of emissions. The course allows participants to understand each impact category and why your results change when you use different impact assessment methods.

The course discusses the environmental science of impact categories and is intended for students who have not previously studied environmental science. This course will point out the strengths and weaknesses of the major internationally accepted impact assessment methods, thus allowing you to choose the best method for your LCA study.

The course is split up in to 5 three hour online sessions during the time of Sept 14 through Nov 30. For more details on how the course is split up and and what each session includes see the full course description.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Read More»

Top Five Green Master Degree Programs

In 2010, Master Degree Online.com published their list of the five of the best sustainable schools. (This list has been updated by The Green Market for 2011).

1. Antioch University of New England Antioch University's Green MBA provides the skills for working in the new green economy. The skills help you navigate the changes in business, the economy, the environment, and the global marketplace. Whether you work in nonprofits, small to large corporations, NGOs, government, education or health care, the Antioch University New England MBA will prepare you for the emerging field of sustainability.

Profit is only one measure of an organization's success. The Green MBA recognizes that a company's success is measured by a triple bottom line—people, planet, and profit. The Antioch MBA emphasizes balancing a company's financial health as well as environmental sustainability, quality of work life, ethical practices, and corporate social responsibility. Students become business leaders and managers guided by meaningful purpose and clear values.

AUNE's Green MBA is a forward-thinking business curriculum that integrates sustainability throughout the program. AUNE's MBA features an interdisciplinary approach that better equips students to guide a business to a triple bottom line. Sustainability is woven throughout the curriculum focusing on environmental science, leadership, finance, economics, team development, and marketing. Working together with a cohort group, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to lead and manage in complex and changing environments.

2. University of Maryland University College offers the Master of Science in Environmental Management. This degree is designed to provide the skills, knowledge, and competencies that students need to function effectively in multiple environmental management settings. The courses are interrelated and provide a solid conceptual and applied foundation in environmental management.

This program provides the student with the skills to manage multi-disciplinary programs and projects dealing with the management of waste materials, pollution prevention activities associated with water, air, and soil, and the developing and implementation of effective environmental management systems. In addition, the specialization focuses on identifying options for effectively managing land and water resources for the benefit of all society.

3. Walden University's Masters in Management has the option of a specialization in Sustainable Management which emphasizes the development of management skills that can be applied to business strategies relating to environmental and community awareness. This online program is a thirty six credit hour commitment that can be completed in eighteen months to two years. Two of the interesting course additions to this curriculum that are not always found in environmental management degree programs are in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, and in Initiating and Managing Change. Also included as an elective is Social and Environmental Responsibility in Entrepreneurship.

In Walden University's M.S. in Management program with a specialization in Sustainable Management, students have the opportunity to receive a broad management education with a focus on the social and environmental responsibility of organizations. Program coursework covers business obligations relating to the community and environment, global awareness, and starting a business that addresses economic and social issues. Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in the areas of leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and team building.

4. Ashford University offers an MBA with a specialization in Environmental Management. This degree integrates sustainable business strategies into your education. Environmental Management specialization students learn to meet the challenges of energy, economics, and the environment.

The Environmental Management specialization gives you the strategic planning tools to respond to the next-generation economy. You will study economic forces, business risk, and alternative sources of energy.

This is an online degree that calls for the usual curriculum found in most business schools, supplemented with courses on alternative sources of energy and the economic impact of sustainability. Students are expected to emerge having learned how to use the tools necessary to compete in the next-generation economy.

5. Kaplan University Masters in International Environmental Policy. This Masters of Arts degree provides the next generation of environmental policy professionals with the skills to solve the world's most pressing environmental problems. Their curriculum is informed by top leaders in the environmental field from government, business, and non-governmental organizations. They focus exclusively on master's-level education that produces the best international environmental policy professionals in the world.

Their curriculum is solution oriented. They train students to be the solution - to craft effective, efficient, and just strategies to tackle the world’s toughest environmental challenges. Their courses blend theoretical and practical applications to prepare students for the job market.

The fast-paced policy world demands an evolving curriculum. They regularly create new courses to give students skills and knowledge relevant to today’s pressing environmental policy challenges. For example, in the spring of 2010 they were the first campus in the US to offer a full semester course on carbon markets.

In contrast to other U.S. programs, which still largely focus upon U.S.-policy issues, their curriculum is international in scope. Special programs such as the International Professional Service Semester program and the Development Project Management Institute Plus provide opportunities for immersive professional experiences that often lead directly to job offers.

Faculty from disciplines including economics, business, political science, conservation biology, and energy and resources teach and develop courses together. Their students can choose from a large number of electives in the Graduate School of International Policy and Management in fields as diverse as conflict resolution, development, trade policy, public administration, non-profit management and business. In addition, speaker series, symposia, conferences, and extended one-on-one time with faculty contribute to a rich learning experience outside the classroom.

They offer three tracks at the cutting edge of new career opportunities: Business, Sustainability, & Development, Energy & Climate Change, Marine & Land Conservation. They also offer the option of completing a dual-degree Masters in International Environmental Policy (MAIEP) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in three years.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved

Related Posts
Online Green MBA Programs
US Green MBA Program Directory
World's Best Green MBA Programs
The Green Market's Green Schools Series 2010
Searchable Environmental Education Resources
Green School Census
Find Sustainable Education at GreenDegreeDirectory
CareerOneStop’s Environmental Education Finder
The Sustainability Education Series from Green Education Online
Green Education Online Training
Green Training Modules From Green Education Online
Social Business at Blue Planet Life
Blue Planet Academy Green Certificate Programs
Blue Planet Academy Environmental Training in the Developing World
Conestoga College Post Graduate Environmental Engineering
Ashridge Masters in Sustainability and Responsibility
Hult International Business School Launches Master in Social Entrepreneurship
Stony Brook University's Sustainability focused BA Degrees
Sustainable Certificates from Irvine Valley College
Harvard Corporate Sustainability Distance Learning Course
Course Descriptions for Green Courses at San Diego State University College of Extended Studies
Green Education at San Diego State University College of Extended Studies
E-Learning Course on the Legal Frameworks of Sustainability
Sierra's 2011 List of Cool Green Schools Points West
The Princeton Review's 2012 Top Green Schools Honor Role
Green Schools are Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Sustainable Education is Key to Accessing the Green Economy
Green Memes and Schools

Read More»

CleanEdison's Green Building & Design Courses

Increasing environmental concerns, interest in healthier structures, and increasing regulation from the permitting authorities, are driving the proliferation of green building educational programs.

Green design and building courses are offered in class and online at CleanEdison. They also offer several LEED programs at training centers throughout the US. The green building courses they offer include geothermal, solar, and sustainable design.

Residential Green Building: Design, Construction, and Accreditation is a four hour interactive online course that starts by debunking many green building myths and then moves into a comprehensive discussion of its elements. The course takes a close look at green building in relation to many aspects of design and construction including issues dealing with sites, landscaping, foundations, frames, exterior finishes, plumbing, appliances, insulation, ventilation, windows, finishes, and flooring. The course wraps up with information on testing, certification, and accreditation, including a look at the LEED program and the NAHB Green Home Certification Program.

This course covers green building principles and practices, green energy management and optimization, sustainable concepts design concepts, green building design principles, green construction techniques, and certification options. To see more information on this and other distance learning courses go to CleanEdison - Online.

Clean Edison is the leading provider of LEED education programs and exam preparation training. LEED provides standards for environmentally sustainable green building practices and construction. LEED accredited professionals increase their marketability in green building design and business sustainability. CleanEdison's LEED Green Associate exam prep includes a complete review of the LEED rating system and proven strategies for taking and passing the exam.

CleanEdison offers an expedient starting point for those who wish to become green energy consultants. CleanEdison's LEED Green Associate intensive course is one of the fastest ways to prepare you for the Green Associate exam. In just one day instructors review the credit rating system, the general guidelines for that system, and various tips and tricks for passing the exam. To see more information go to Leed Green Associate Training.

CleanEdison is part of the USGBC's Education Provider Program and an approved BPI Affiliate. For more information go to CleanEdison.
___________________________________

Related Posts
2010 Green Schools Summit Workshop & Conference
USGBC's Green School Building Resources
Top 10 Green Building Trends for 2010
Green Buildings Combat Climate Change
The Implications of the Growth of Green Buildings
Green School Buildings Health and Performance Benefits Part 1
Green School Buildings Health and Performance Benefits Part 2
Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Natural Lighting
Green School Buildings: The Many Benefits of Ventilation
The Future of Green School Buildings
New York's Leed Certified Universities
Da Vinci Arts Middle School in Portland
Green School Rejuvenates Dying Town
Green Building Environmental Benefits
Green Building Economic Benefits
Green Building Social Benefits
Top 10 Green Building Trends for 2010
China Turns to International Community to Learn about Green Buildings
CleanEdison Building and Design Courses
The Green Building Focus Conference and Expo
Environmental Revolution: Building and Operations
Green Stimulus Part 2: Basic Elements
Oakland's Green Jobs and Energy Initiatives

Read More»

Commonground University's Online Environmental Classes

Many busy professionals would like to increase their knowledge and skills but it is sometimes hard to find the time. For those who would rather not commit to pursuing a degree, taking courses online affords a certain flexibility with a limited investment of time, making it easier to manage a busy schedule.

Here are a couple examples of environmentally oriented online courses offered by Commonground University.

ASTM E1527 Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
This is the online version of ASTM's popular in-person course. The course is facilitated by the same ASTM instructors who have trained thousands of environmental professionals. Learn why the ASTM Environmental Site Assessment Standard Practices for the Phase I Site Assessment was developed, how to use the standard, and how the standard affects the way you do business. You will gain an understanding of the "Innocent Landowner Defense" under the CERCLA, and why due diligence is necessary. The course reflects the ASTM E1527-05 standard and discusses EPA's AAI rule.

Environmental Due Diligence: Principles & Practices
This course will help you handle the broad range of issues that arise when performing any type of environmental due diligence. You will learn the most current procedures for conducting investigations and acquire skills for interpreting and communicating your findings. Also, you will learn best practices from sharing insights and experiences with peers and experts in interactive forums. By taking this course, you will be up-to-date on current trends in environmental due diligence.

For more information go to the Commonground University site.
___________________________________

Related Posts
Green School Census
Commonground University's Online Environmental Classes
Walden University's PhD in Sustainability Online Degree
West Michigan's Green Academic Offerings
CleanEdison Building and Design Courses
UBC`s PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Studies
Prescott College`s Ph.D in Sustainability
PhD in Innovation and Governance for Sustainable Development
Columbia University's PhD in Sustainable Development
Leading the Green Job Market with a Sustainable MBA
Sustainable Education is Key to Accessing the Green Economy
Green Schools are Bridging the Knowledge Gap
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
Sierra's Top 100 Cool Schools
The Princeton Review Green Colleges Honor Role 2010
Sierra Magazine's Green Schools (2009)
The Princeton Review Green Schools Honor Role (2009)
Top 10 College Environmental Programs (2009)
The Shining Stars of Green Schools (2009)
Green Schools are Cool (2009)
Back to School Environmental Tool Kit (2009)

Read More»