Richard Rowe
Graduate Certificate in Sustainability
What made you decide to undertake this course?
A need for a career change with a focus on sustainability led me to consider returning to study. I was attracted to this specific course because the syllabus didn't solely focus on technical fixes to complex sustainable challenges but on developing personal and societal capacity for change.
Why did you choose Swinburne?
I chose Swinburne for a number of reasons including the syllabus, the reputation of the Centre for Sustainability, the quality of the teaching staff and also the online component of the course (recognising that online delivery is not perfect) which provided me with the flexibility I needed to balance family, professional and study demands.
What are you doing now? I have completed the course.
I am about to transfer into a new role within the Innovation department and I will be focussing on how innovation can help in solving sustainability challenges.
What have you gained from the course?
I have gained a new appreciation for the complexity of the problem, access to new frameworks and processes to assist in understanding the issues at a deeper level, and a passion to take personal responsibility for my own actions and to help others where I can.
What has your favourite aspect of the course been?
Interaction with the teachers and other students during the contact sessions and diving into the content of the course. My favourite subject was Energy for the Future which has opened to me a whole new dimension on the world and the sustainability challenges we face. Before we can solve the problems, we must better understand them and this subject has helped me understand Energy and its role in our lives.
How do you foresee your qualification helping you in the future? What are your plans for the future?
From a career perspective the course has provided some academic credibility to back up my personal desire to change career path. It has further cemented my belief that I can make a difference and combine a passion and a career. My future plans are to combine my interest in Sustainability and Innovation.
