Sustainability Education, Upskilling and Capacity Building

CQUniversity is a provider of choice and opportunity that strives to make education, training and research accessible to all – regionally, nationally, and internationally.

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.

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.

Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Development- this course is designed to equip professionals with the expertise to address complex environmental challenges, the course delves into the interconnected social, economic, and governance aspects of sustainability.

Graduate Diploma of Sustainable Development- this postgraduate sustainability degree offers a comprehensive exploration of sustainability principles and practices, equipping you to address complex environmental challenges and promote sustainable development across various sectors.

Master of Sustainable Development- In this postgraduate sustainability degree, you will delve into advanced topics, including sustainable resource management, policy analysis and corporate sustainability strategies. You will build and advance your understanding of sustainability in areas such as emergency and disaster management, community engagement and resource management, climate change, demography, business sustainability, public health and more. This extensive coverage will equip you with a robust and multi-faceted understanding of sustainable development.

Undergraduate Units

Postgraduate Units

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).

CQUniversity’s support for start-up initiatives plays a vital role in addressing poverty by empowering individuals and communities through innovation and entrepreneurship. By fostering a culture of creativity and providing resources such as mentoring, funding, and business development programs, CQU helps transform ideas into viable businesses that generate employment and stimulate local economies. These initiatives are particularly impactful in regional and remote areas, where economic opportunities may be limited. Through its commitment to inclusive growth, CQU not only equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills they need to succeed but also contributes to long-term poverty alleviation by promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable development.

Whanu Binal Indigenous Entrepreneur Program

Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre

Social Innovation

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.

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.

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:

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:

  1. Design your own research trial
  2. Collect your own livestock tracking data and create your own paddock boundary files
  3. Cleaning GPS data
  4. Importing data layers in ArcGIS
  5. Paddock utilisation
  6. Elevation
  7. 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.

Find Out More

Social Innovation

CQUniversity wants to change the world for the better – and through social innovation, our students, staff, academics, and communities are all driving the transformation.