30 March 2011 – A bachelor of sustainability degree at the University of New England in NSW, claimed by the university to be the first in Australia, marries environmental and social sciences so students gain knowledge not only about environmental problems, but the solutions as well.
Dr Robyn Bartel is the architect of the new program and the chair of the Talloires Declaration Implementation Committee that aims for sustainability in higher education. “We see sustainability as central to what we are doing and what we will be doing, and need to do, to ensure that rural and regional Australia remains viable,” she said.
“It is forecast that by 2050 there will be 25 million green collar jobs worldwide. By 2025 there will be 3.25 million green collar jobs in Australia if strong environmental practices and policies are deployed,” she said.
The degree includes majors in social resilience and environmental resilience as well as a combined major. The core component of the degree includes study in human population, environmental policy, natural resource economics, environmental law and sustainable development.
Other areas included in the degree are sociology, geography, environmental psychology, water resources, climate change, environmental ethics and philosophy.
For details https://www.une.edu.au/courses/2011/courses/BSUS