UWS Curriculum

The University has a wide range of units of study, majors and submajors which focus on issues of social, economic and environmental sustainability. For example there are units of study and submajors which focus on Islamic Studies, corporate social responsibility, environmental law, green agriculture. For more information, please see UWS Course Units Focused on Sustainability (PDF, 220Kb). 

Also, as the key areas of research focus at UWS indicate, there are many opportunities for research students to explore these issues. For more information, please see Research Directions.  

Energy Efficiency Matters Project

The project, funded by the Office of Environment & Heritage NSW as part of their Energy Efficiency Training Program, represents a significant contribution to the development of skills to support business in the transition towards a low carbon future. The program helps practicing accountants and managers wrestle energy costs and boost business efficiencies.

As the UWS 'Energy Efficiency Matters' project leader, Anne Abraham was presented with an award from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, recognising the outstanding environmental achievements of businesses in Western Sydney. 

SURF Projects

The Sustainable UWS Rolling Fund (surf) program funds sustainability projects that are developed, managed and implemented by UWS staff and students.

SURF Sustainability "PHOTOVOICE" Exhibition – School Of Natural Science
Student and staff sustainability workshops using "photovoice" a community engagement tool to create a travelling photo exhibition and discussion on sustainability at UWS.

Student Initiatives

Landcare and Bushcare groups

The University of Western Sydney have two landcare/bushcare groups at Hawkesbury and Kingswood. The Hawkesbury Remnants Landcare Group has been nominated for an ACTS award in 2011 for Student initiatives and campaigns, and has won the Excellence in University Sustainability (Student) category of the VC's Excellence Awards.

For more information regarding the UWS Hawkesbury Landcare and Kingswood Bushcare Groups, including volunteering, please contact the Office of Sustainability.  

Social Engagement and Leadership Program (SELP)

SELP is a fantastic social engagement and leadership program open to UWS students, giving you a chance to build skills that will help jump start your global career. The program involves an orientation session will introduce you to what you will be doing over the five week program, as well as giving you the opportunity to meet with class colleagues from around the world.

For more information, visit the SELP website for workshop and program details.

Action for Community and the Environment

ACE is a sustainability group based at UWS Milperra that is looking to further build a community of students and staff on campus. To learn more about Action for Community and the Environment, please visit the Action for the Community and Environment at UWS Milperra website (opens in a new window) or contact Dany Boulos via email. 

Mapping Milperra - Centre for Citzenship and Public Policy

The Mapping Milperra Project is an initiative of graduate students in the Doctoral Program 'Political and Social Thought' (School of Humanities and Communications Arts). This project began as part of a course on 'Rethinking the Economy for the Anthropocene' taught by Professor Katherine Gibson and Dr Gerda Roelvink from the Community Economies Research Initiative, SHCA. 

Students take photographs and map 'diverse economies', particularly looking for the places and the ways we can satisfy needs and wants that differ from the standard procedure of exchange in an enterprise based on profit. The students were asked to imagine possibilities for diverse economies in the future - resulting in a variety of maps created.

Australian Learning and Teaching Council Turnaround Leadership for Sustainability in Higher Education project

UWS is the lead institution in an international study of successful leaders of Education for Sustainability (EfS). Read more about the ALTC Turnaround Leadership for EfS project.

Curriculum & Student initiatives at other universities and colleges

• The Australian government is currently commissioning a national stocktake of sustainability in the curriculum of Australian universities - for further details see Sustainable Education in Australian Universities (PDF, 316Kb)
• Double degrees (example environmental law) - for example see University of Queensland (opens in a new window)
• Units of study available as electives - for example see Monash University (opens in a new window)
• Degrees focused specifically on sustainability - for example see Arizona State University (opens in a new window)
• Sustainable design - for example see Harvard University (opens in a new window)
• Sustainable business - for example see Illinois State University (opens in a new window)
• The involvement of students in community service projects in the area of sustainability - for example see Australian Youth Climate Coalition (opens in a new window)
• Providing students with training in alternative energy methods - for example see Southeast Community College (opens in a new window)
• Green Job training - for example see Illinois Government News Network (opens in a new window)
• The University of Gloucestershire (opens in a new window) has an institutional commitment to sustainability and embedding sustainability in the curriculum. The University of Gloucestershire was ranked number 1 in the Green People and Planet League of UK Universities in 2008 and strives for continuous improvement.

If your area of UWS is addressing any of these areas or additional ones, please let us know by emailing sustainability@uws.edu.au