Welcome to the University Wide Module In Sustainability UW0005/CPD1640

UW0005 was created in 2015 against the backdrop of the Sustainable Development Goals; with the theme of Putting Sustainability in its Place : Putting Yourself in the Picture. Based on an integral approach to teaching and learning that views students as participants in their own education cultivating Sustainability citizenship.  

The Sustainability Module is built on:

• A student-led, research-informed and practice focused approach
• Openness to contributions and participation across all of UCC and available to the public
• An institutional ecosystem that supports sustainable development
• A co-created design, with a built-in mechanism for evaluation, review and re-design
• A model for integral learning
• Prior experience of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration

The inclusive, university wide approach has been adopted to develop a university wide module on sustainability, through partnership and collaboration across all sectors of campus and beyond. In 2021 the team delivering UW0005 Sustainability Module were honoured to be awarded the Presidents Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. This awards scheme, the longest-running scheme of its kind in Ireland, recognises the outstanding efforts of teaching staff to ensure that UCC students receive the highest quality learning and teaching experience. 

In 2018 there was an added dimension of streaming to two towns in rural Ireland via local innovation hub network. There were 25 local participants in Dingle, who are now working on group demonstration project in their town – the local context is key, hence the module is not a MOOC. It has been developed freely by all participants involved in course and content development; participants from all schools of UCC, encompassing about 15 different disciplines, as well as numerous members of the Green Forum and the Green Campus committee, and key operations staff from Buildings and Estates. It is also provided freely to all participants enrolling.

The module is open to:

• Students
• Staff of the university
• The general public

The module is available for:

• Additional Academic Credit
• Continuing Professional Development
• UCC Green Campus Digital Badge
• Interest Only

Assessment is via a Learning Diary, Group Project and Reflective Report. The module is run online for 13 weeks from late January, annually.  

A fundamental focus of the development of the module was and is around sustainability citizenship – the course was titled ‘Putting education for sustainability in its place: put yourself in the Picture’. 

For More Details please contact Sandra Barry at sandra.barry@ucc.ie