COURSE DESCRIPTION
A thriving global society relies on the stability of the Earth and its resilience across oceans, forests, waterways, biodiversity, the atmosphere and more. So how do we shape sustainability at a global scale? The boundaries set by the planet’s natural resources, the resilience of those resources, and the human activities that impact sustainability all come into play.
In this massive open online course, see the rapidly evolving trends in global environmental change and the responses aimed at slowing or eliminating these changes. Get an overview of what is seen by some scientists as our current geological epoch – the Anthropocene, or an age of global change driven most significantly by humans. Learn how unsustainable patterns of production, consumption and population growth have challenge planetary resilience, all in support of human activity – and how our societies can develop in a just and safe way within the planet’s boundaries.
This course is for:
* Anyone new to the concept of sustainable development who wants to understand the interplay between human actions and what the planet can support.
* Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students interested in the key concepts and practices of sustainability, environmental science, responsible consumption and related topics
* Sustainable development practitioners – as well as private-sector actors, such as those who work in corporate sustainability and responsibility – who want a concise overview of the latest developments in the field
This is a course for professionals and PhD students seeking a wider understanding of our current global predicaments, how to make sense of them, and how to respond. The first module introduces the Anthropocene, The Great Acceleration, Planetary Boundaries along with causal relationships between energy, technology, economy, values and the human and more-than-human experience. The second module explores how our own cognition, values, norms and emotions guide our responses to the crises of our time, and how we can formulate coherent responses based on our experiences. The third introduces a way of reasoning about the world in terms of interconnected systems instead of independent problems, and explores what such a view means for us. The course is run online with 2h highly interactive seminars connected to each module along with recorded material, readings and exercises.
Målet med kursen är att ge lärare fortbildning inom ämnet djurvälfärd och hållbarhet. Kursens mål är också att ge lärare inspiration att designa sin egen undervisning, att ge lärare möjlighet att ta till sig ny forskning och att dela med sig av läraktiviteter som kan användas av fler.
Miljö, klimat och hälsa Kursen ger en fördjupad förståelse för hur hälsa samspelar med globalisering och miljö- och klimatförändringar, och hur hållbara lösningar kan utvecklas på lokal och global nivå för att möta framtidens utmaningar. Kursens innehåll Globala processer såsom miljö- och klimatförändringarDe globala hållbarhetsmålen / Agenda 2030HälsokonsekvensanalysKlimatanpassningRamverk inom miljö- och klimatpolitik. Vidare behandlar kursen specifikt klimatförändringar och deras effekter på hälsa i vårt nordeuropeiska klimatområde. I det sammanhanget behandlas också särskilt utsatta miljöer respektive känsliga patientgrupper och individer. Även värmens effekter vid arbete samt klimatanpassning och förebyggande av väderrelaterade risker för boende och inom hälso- och sjukvård ingår. Larmkedjor, handlingsplaner och beredskapsfrågor inom vård- och omsorg tas upp, och effektiviteten av förebyggande åtgärder inom vård- och omsorg. Omfattning Kursen är uppdelad i tre delar, med totalt 15 filmade föreläsningar. Medverkande Christofer Åström (Medicine doktor, Folkhälsa och klinisk medicin, Umeå universitet) Maria Nilsson (Professor, Epidemiologi och global hälsa, Umeå universitet) Chris Ebi (Professor, Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington) Eva-Lotta Glader (Docent, överläkare, Folkhälsa och klinisk medicin, Umeå universitet) Gustav Strandberg (Filosofie doktor, SMHI)
Business models that efficiently contribute to reduction of material use and waste are key to successful transition towards sustainability. This course has a particular focus on the interplay between business models, product innovation and production processes. Through this course, you will explore the critical relationship between sustainable practices and business strategies, preparing you to contribute meaningfully to the circular economy and sustainable development initiatives In this course, you will be introduced to systematic working methods for business development in practical contexts, with a specific focus on innovation and creativity. The goal of the course is to provide a deep understanding of the application of various business model practices in different types of development work. The objective is for course participants to enhance their ability to understand and apply business development processes in the manufacturing industry and gain deeper insights into how these processes relate to organizations' innovation and business strategies in order to achieve circular flows, resilience, and sustainability. The teaching consists of self-study using course literature, films, and other materials through an internet-based course platform, as well as scheduled webinars and written reflections. There are no physical meetings; only digital online seminars are included. Study hours 40 hours distributed from week 3, 2025 to week 8, 2025. Webinar 1: January 13thWebinar 2: January 20thWebinar 3: February 3rdWebinar 4: February 17th Target GroupThis course is primarily intended for engineers in management or middle management positions within industry, whether they are recent graduates or individuals with extensive experience. The course is suitable for individuals with backgrounds in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering management, or similar educational background. Entry RequirementsTo be eligible for this course, participants must have completed courses equivalent to at least 120 credits, with a minimum of 90 entry Requirement credits in a technical subject area, with at least a passing grade, or equivalent knowledge. Proficiency in English is also required, equivalent to English Level 6. Educational package in circular economyThe course Product/production and business development for circular flows is an introduction of the educational package starting again spring 2024 and will also run spring 2026. This course: Business development for circular flow together with Product development for circular flows (starting March 3) and Production for cirkular flows (starting April 28) are free standing independent courses that build on knowledge in the field.
In the era of shift towards green transition, industries face unique challenges and generates numerous opportunities. This course, "Intelligent Asset Management and Industrial AI" is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to support advanced technologies in achieving environmental sustainability. Industries play a major role in contributing to the global economy that is accompanied with a significant share towards environmental degradation. The growing climatic concerns and degradation of natural resources has urged the need to reduce carbon footprints, minimize waste, and optimize resource utilization such that a green transition is achieved. Intelligent Asset Management and Industrial AI are at the forefront of this transformation offering innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact and support the industry’s commitment to sustainability. Furthermore, the course can help a professional to optimize the usage of resources, look for energy efficient systems, consider environmental changes, develop sustainable solutions, and integrate advanced technologies towards green transition. This is a problem-based course specific to an industrial sector. The problems can be provided by the course supervisor, or the participants can bring their own problems from their work. Common problems include e.g. asset management by balancing cost against performance, identifying, detecting, predicting, and planning for unexpected outages, disruptions or failures, exploring challenges and opportunities with AI and digitisation, monitoring the condition of industrial assets, and achieving sustainability goals. Target groupThe target group includes individuals working in various industries such as railway, mining, transportation, construction, manufacturing, logistics, energy, and other organizations that are or planning to implement asset management systems. This course can be suitable for professionals ranging from asset managers, maintenance and reliability professionals, operation managers, engineers, project managers, and asset management consultants. Online seminarsDecember 10th at 14.00 to 15.00January 14th at 14.00 to 15.00January 31st at 14.00 to 15.00February 13th at 14.00 to 15.00February 28th at 14.00 to 15.00 Entry requirements Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 ECTS or equivalent, which includes courses of at least 60 ECTS in for example one of the following areas: Maintenance Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Data Science, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering or equivalent. Or professional experience requirements four to five years of experience in relevant industries.
This course has flexible start and you may join until December 8, 2024. The course is designed for you who wants to learn more about functional safety of battery management systems. The course will also cover other aspects of safety such as fire safety in relation to Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (RESS) and associated battery management systems. In the course you will be able to develop skills in principles of Battery Management Systems, Functional Safety as well as of other aspects of safety such as Fire Safety, hazard identification, hazard analysis and risk assessment in relation to battery management systems. It also aims to provide a broader understanding of the multifaceted nature of safety. The course takes about 80 hours to complete and you can do it at your own pace. There are two scheduled meetings: One after five weeks to resolve any queries and another at the end of the course for the course evaluation. The date and time will be provided within a week of starting of course. Target GroupThis course is primarily intended for engineers that need to ensure that battery management systems are safe, reliable, and compliant with industry standards. The course is suitable for individuals with backgrounds in for example functional safety, battery systems, automotive or risk assessment. Entry requirements120 university credits of which at least 7.5 credits in software engineering and 7.5 credits in safety-critical systems engineering or 60 university credits in engineering/technology and at least 2 years of full-time professional experience from a relevant area within industry or working life experience regarding application of functional safety standards in the automotive domain or in other domains. The experience could be validated via a recommendation letter of a manager stating the involvement of the student in the development of functional safety artefacts. Proficiency in English is also required, equivalent to English Level 6.