Decision Support for Sustainability: for non-regular students too

In the second semester of the academic year, a course on Decision Support for Sustainability starts at VUB. This is the first course really aimed at an audience outside the university and offers entrepreneurs the chance to learn about sustainable policies. Participants can receive micro-credentials for this, which are expressed as credits on a certificate. Initiator Professor Cathy Macharis: “We are moving towards a more sustainable world. The challenges are clear and there is a lot of willingness to change. But how do we arrive at more sustainable solutions? And how do we know that they are indeed more sustainable?”

This English-language course offers various techniques for sustainability decision-making. They include data-driven techniques, such as External Cost Calculations, and people-oriented methods, such as participatory foresighting. 

The course is interactive, with workshops in which participants experience the different techniques in a hands-on manner, complemented by lectures that can be followed online or in class. The course is suitable for anyone with a professional or personal interest in sustainability. 

Micro-credentials

This course is part of VUB’s regular course offer. It is also offered as a micro-credential, which allows non-regular students to follow it. As a micro-credential, this course is interesting for anyone who is concerned about sustainability and has to deal with it in their organisation or company. The course has a study value of 6 ECTS and delivers a micro-credential certificate.

Registration is under credit contract, which means participants follow a semester-long course consisting of lectures and workshops, expressed in ECTS, and receive a certificate upon completion. 

Vice-rector for Education Jan Danckert: “The world around us is changing rapidly and people are increasingly expected to continuously upgrade their skills. As a university, we can respond to this social demand by offering one or more course units together. We can also validate the acquired knowledge and skills through micro-credentials, which will then also be recognised at a European level. Moreover, we can now offer many classes online, which makes it easier to bridge the gap to people who work and/or have family responsibilities.”

All current micro-credentials at the VUB can be found here