Griffith University introduced Australia’s first degrees in Environmental Science. In particular, the Schools of Environment and Engineering have offered future-oriented environmental education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Ranked in the top three per cent of universities worldwide, Griffith’s degrees are specifically designed to prepare students for the future, and are developed in consultation with industry, based on cutting-edge research, and taught by Australia’s most awarded teachers. Griffith University remains strongly committed to sustainability through their programmes, their international and national collaborations through research and industry projects.
Sustainable Development (SD) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) activities are mainly hosted within the Griffith Sciences Group and Griffith Business School, and with some contribution from Business, Law and Education.
[School of Engineering] Environmental Engineering: The environmental engineering postgraduate studies comprise Graduate Certificates and Masters coursework in Environmental Pollution and Environmental Management.
[School of Engineering] Civil Engineering: The Nathan campus engineering program has adopted a Minor in Digital Earth to cater for the student demand in connecting spatial and environmental narratives. A postgraduate coursework, to offer a Masters of Digital Earth in collaboration with Chubu University is planned.
[School of Engineering] Electronic and Energy Engineering: As a major within the Bachelor of Electronic Engineering, students learn to develop high technology systems that generate, store, distribute and use power in a highly efficient way.
[School of Environment] Urban and Environmental Planning: The urban and environmental planning programme prepares students to balance environmental issues with human activity in urban and regional planning practices. Students develop specialist knowledge and skills in the areas of land use and environmental planning, biophysical, socio-economic and cultural sciences, statutory planning in the Queensland context and professional and ethical planning practice.
[School of Environment] Environmental Science: Established as one of the foundation programmes, the environmental science program provides majors in ecology and conservation, environmental management, soil and water science and urban environments. The school also hosts an online Sustainability Hub, which provides staff and students with interactive resources on sustainability that engage and deepen understanding of sustainability across transdisciplinary areas of environment, business, health, education, the arts and society.
The newly formed Cities Research Institute (CRI) has approximately 60 academic colleagues and 120 higher-degree-research students. CRI has a strong focus on capacity building for SD and ESD. One platform for engagement and capacity building is a world-first Digital Earth Node (DEN) initiative. The DEN goals include connecting with other universities in Queensland and internationally to demonstrate the potential to undertake live research on disaster and resilience management, including the United Nations SDGs mapping.
Griffith University also hosts the international secretariat for the Sustainable Water Future Programme from 2015-2025. The Sustainable Water Future Programme is a global platform facilitating international scientific collaboration with governments and industry to drive solutions to the world’s water problems. Partners include IWMI, IIASA, UNU and the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.