• University of Bristol

Unleash Your Potential: Sustainable Futures

Make a positive contribution to society as you learn how to overcome sustainability challenges whilst maintaining your wellbeing.

19,810 enrolled on this course

Hands holding the world

Unleash Your Potential: Sustainable Futures

19,810 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Find out how to deal with world sustainability issues

United Nations (UN) countries have adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

On this four-week course, you’ll learn about these UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the different roles people can play in creating a sustainable future.

You’ll get an introduction to sustainability challenges and gain the skills to play a part in solving them.

The course will also help you learn how to protect and enhance your wellbeing to ensure you can change the world for the better.

Understand individual, local, and global roles in sustainability challenges

You’ll learn how to make a positive contribution to society on an individual, local, and global scale to create a fulfilling sustainable future for everyone.

Exploring what makes you happy and gives you a sense of purpose, you’ll look at the many ways you can make a difference. You’ll also look at what can be done on a local level as you investigate case studies relating to food, energy, and homelessness.

Next, you’ll explore global challenges such as microplastics, greenhouse gases, and industry contributors to climate change.

Develop your mental resilience when facing the climate crisis

Facing the climate crisis can be daunting. On this course, you’ll be encouraged to consider your own mental health and wellbeing. You will explore case studies to see how others have built up their mental resilience while striving to build a better world.

Learn from the experts at the University of Bristol

Throughout the course, you’ll hear stories from inspirational people who are making changes worldwide.

With these motivational case studies, and the guidance of the academics at the University of Bristol, you’ll have the tools you need to influence the world around you with a resilient mindset.

Skip to 0 minutes and 13 seconds We all want to live happy and fulfilling lives, and we have a duty care towards humanity and to our environment, both on a local and a global scale. However, this course isn’t just a lesson about global warming, or just about recycling, nor is it meant to be a guilt trip. This course was made to help you think about what motivates you. In what ways do you enjoy working? What makes you happy? What gives you a sense of purpose? And in what ways can you make a contribution? This course will also explore the many ways in which people can change the world around them, both in small and in large ways.

Skip to 0 minutes and 47 seconds We will hear stories from people who are doing exactly this, from promoting positive mental health and happy communities to tackling local homelessness and working with large corporations to reduce microplastics, and in doing so inspire you to learn more or even become involved yourself. But even if this isn’t what you’re into, our exploration of motivation, purpose, and ways of influencing the world around us will be useful, whatever you choose to do.

Skip to 1 minute and 11 seconds Whoever you are, life has its ups and downs, both personally and professionally, and our aim throughout our four weeks together is to motivate and inspire you, to look after your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around you, whilst trying to live life with a greater purpose and make a difference.

What topics will you cover?

  • Happiness and Purpose, and their links to Sustainable Development.
  • Responsibility, Purpose and Foresight in response to Sustainability challenges.
  • How different individuals and organisations take different roles, and work together, to tackle sustainability challenges, explored through a number of case studies.
  • Making a difference at the local and regional level: Case studies in Food Waste, Energy and Homelessness.
  • Making a difference at the global level: Case studies in Microplastics, Industrial Greenhouse Gas emissions and Sustainable Tourism.
  • Understanding the challenges and obstacles those ‘making a difference’ face, and how they find support.
  • Approaches to personal self reflection on the path to ‘make a difference.’

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify diverse ways to achieving a sense of purpose.
  • Explore different approaches to making an impact at a local scale.
  • Explore different approaches to making an impact at a global scale.
  • Reflect on an individual's role in a big system.
  • Identify ways to make a difference.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in sustainability.

It may be of particular interest to you if you are looking to develop transferable skills for the workplace or even for general day-to-day life.

Who will you learn with?

Lecturer, University of Bristol

Lecturer, Cultural Heritage Institute, Royal Agriculture University

Lead Assessor, Office for Students

Research: archaeology (Albania), sustainability, higher education

Chris is Academic Head of Sustainability, and Professor of Sustainability and Computer Systems in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bristol.

Eleni is a Research Associate with the Stockholm Environment Institute of the University of York and is a member of the Cabot Institute and the Department of Geography of the University of Bristol.

Who developed the course?

University of Bristol

University of Bristol is one of the leading institutions among the UK’s Russell Group of universities and is recognised for its research and academic excellence.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 16 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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