The Chartered
Institute of Building Academy is launching a new massive open online course
(MOOC) on sustainable development.
This follows the
success of the first ever construction-focused MOOC which the Chartered
Institute of Building (CIOB) ran last year, attracting more than 3000
construction professionals in over 100 countries.
The five-week
interactive course, which opens next month, has been developed in
partnership with London South Bank University, UK.
The course
is free and open to anyone working in the built environment sector
globally. It has been designed specifically for those working in the industry,
and anyone working in or studying construction and the wider built environment
will find it useful as it focuses on what is arguably one of the most important
issues facing construction today – sustainability within construction and
development.
The course will cover:
- The complexities of
sustainability in construction and development of built assets
- The important roles of
innovations, professionalism, ethics, culture and procurement practices and
regulations
- Environmental and
economic sustainability and the roles of effective business cases, dynamics of
networks and integrated delivery; and procurement practices.
- Social sustainability
in construction and the roles of construction processes, outputs and outcomes
on people and society
- Lessons learned from
good and best practices in sustainability, together with challenges and
appropriate guidelines for implementation.
Each week, leadership
skills and critical thinking around sustainability issues will be developed as
course participants reflect on interactive exercises and explore situations
that are relatable to their everyday roles.
Professor Charles
Egbu, Dean of School of the Built Environment and Architecture at London South
Bank University and CIOB Senior Vice President, is among those who helped
developed the new MOOC: "Almost everything we do could be done more
sustainably - it's all about the way we work, the way we live our lives and
what that means for society.
"It's about
responsibility for what we do for now and for the future. I very much encourage
all construction professionals to be part and parcel of this course as you have
the opportunity to learn much more about sustainability from both a theoretical
and practical point of view. It's about you and the society you are part of –
and what you could be part of creating for the future.”
Adrian
Montague, Head of CIOB Academy, added: “The CIOB has
been delighted to be able to work with London South Bank University to open up
the global conversation on sustainability in construction with this free
course. We hope this brings sustainability to the front of the minds of those
involved with the construction or use of buildings.
"Since its inception in 2016, the Academy has provided practical
courses for construction professionals. This new course is another example of
our commitment to developing the future leaders in construction by offering
access to the latest thinking on key topics. The CIOB Academy’s Sustainable
Construction and Development MOOC is the second in our series and is freely
open to professionals across the industry. I would welcome businesses and
industry bodies sharing this course widely, helping to make a powerful,
positive difference to the sustainability standards of constructors.”
The topics are brought
to life through social learning, questionnaires, videos, articles and quizzes.
Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with each other and the
course leader, tutors and contributors will be available online to answer
questions and join discussions.
By the
end of the course, participants should be able to demonstrate an understanding
of the complexities of sustainability from generic and project specific
perspectives and the obligations of stakeholders. They should also be able to
evaluate the economic and social considerations of sustainability and their
implications on construction processes and practices.
