Drive impactful change in urban development as you explore sustainable practices. Designed to equip professionals with the skills and insights needed to shape future cities.

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Urban Sustainability Strategy
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This course is more than a qualification; it's a call to lead. Crafted in partnership with EIT Urban Mobility and Arup, it is designed to help you unlock the latest skills and insights in sustainable practices, developing a mindset to design urban environments that are not only sustainable, but truly regenerative.
Over eight weeks, you'll incorporate a two week specialisation in either Air Quality, Urban Mobility or Green Cities, along with six weeks spent exploring the core course, Urban Sustainability Strategy to empower your team to drive meaningful impact within the build environment. With a blend of hands-on projects and real-world case studies, this course fosters practical application, enabling your team to tackle sustainability challenges head on with your community. Whether you're deepening your existing practice or stepping into a new chapter, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in shaping the cities of tomorrow.
Urban Sustainability Strategy is a future-focused program co-designed with Arup. One of the world’s leading voices in sustainable development. It’s built for those who are ready to reimagine the cities of tomorrow: more liveable, inclusive, and resilient. For people who want to challenge the status quo and help shape how we plan, move, design, and connect in a changing world.
Whether you're an urban planner, architect, transport engineer, policymaker, health expert or environmental designer, this program will help you to elevate your impact. It's for those already driving change in sustainability, and for those looking to pivot into purpose-driven roles that align with their values and the planet’s future.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Recommend opportunities for green urban development within urban sustainability challenges.
- Justify sustainable urban policies and initiatives, considering their mid and long-term environmental, social, and economic impacts.
- Propose initiatives for enhancing urban sustainability.
- Critically review key elements that contribute to sustainable cities.
- Monitor sustainable urban development goals across various specialisations.
- Critically evaluate the holistic value provided by urban development projects and policies.
This eight – week program will incorporate a two – week Sustainable Cities specialisation and six weeks focusing on the core course, Urban Sustainability Strategy. You can choose one of three specialisation options:
- Air Quality
- Green Cities
- Urban Mobility
While you'll select one specialisation for your initial 8-week sprint, you'll have access to all three for 12 months, giving you the flexibility to explore additional areas of interest at your own pace. All three sprints will automatically be added to your cart when you check out.
We’re offering a limited number of merit-based scholarships for this course. If you’re working in, or transitioning into, a sustainability-related field, you may be eligible.
Scholarships are designed to support professionals who are passionate about driving change in their industries or communities.
Want to know if you're eligible?
Give our Enrolment Advisors a call on 1300 145 032 – they’ll walk you through it.
Course Overview
Learn more about our Urban Sustainability Strategy course in the video below.
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Course Structure
Learn more about Urban Sustainability StrategyModule 1: (Specialisation option) Air Quality
+Investigate the factors influencing urban air quality and its impact on city liveability. Develop strategies to address air quality challenges and create healthier, more sustainable urban environments through evidence-based approaches.
By the end of this sprint, you’ll be able to:
- Analyse the casual relationship between mobility and health
- Analyse how air quality data provides information about human health
- Implement strategies to enhance air quality that consider urban mobility
WEEK 1:
- Explore the imperative for urban transformation amidst the complexities of air pollution, urban vulnerability, health, climate, environment, and liveability
- Investigate pollution sources, especially transportation, and their effects on city air quality, mobility, and health, with a focus on EU strategies and urban transport efficiency
- Evaluate the importance of low-cost air quality monitoring, citizen science and community engagement approaches
WEEK 2:
- Review approaches to altering human behaviour and promoting sustainable transportation choices
- Explore innovative solutions for urban logistics and city transport, including policy, planning and infrastructure interventions
- Examine various policy interventions and the impact of electrification on both air quality and mobility
Module 2: (Specialisation option) Green Cities
+Explore the fundamental biological processes behind green corridors and considerations for implementing nature-based solutions to lead transformative change in the development of sustainable urban environments.
By the end of this sprint, you’ll be able to:
- Evaluate the principles of green urban planning and design
- Identify green and grey infrastructure elements within urban development projects
- Develop strategies for urban improvement through green spaces and sustainable design
- Evaluate the principles of green urban planning and design
- Develop strategies for urban improvement through green spaces and sustainable design
WEEK 1:
- Explore approaches to designing and delivering nature-based solutions to address urban challenges
- Analyse the environmental and social impact of nature-positive initiatives
WEEK 2:
- Explain how the ‘green’ and ‘blue’ and ‘grey’ infrastructure elements affect thermal comfort, pollution and airflow
- Identify key considerations associated with green infrastructure at an urban scale
- Explore the connectivity of different types of urban green spaces
Module 3: (Specialisation option) Urban Mobility
+Explore evidence-based approaches to positively influence urban transportation. Gain skills to shape inclusive and sustainable cities by exploring the relationship between human behaviour, climate change, and transport choices.
By the end of this sprint, you’ll be able to:
- Interpret the key determinants of urban travel behaviour and the role of policy in shaping travel choices
- Explain how urban mobility aides in creating economically, socially and environmentally sustainable cities
- Assess the principles of low emission technologies and electric vehicle infrastructure with the context of urban mobility
WEEK 1:
- Engage with the concept of mobility in cities including opportunities and challenges
- Identify the need for policies and adequate governance through the lens of case studies
- Review environmental externalities and initiatives to mitigate their impact – Emissions, Electronic Vehicles, and Electronic Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
- Evaluate the role of micromobility and shared mobility in reducing congestion
- Explore the relationship between liveability, active mobility and human health
WEEK 2:
- Identify the practical, values based and gendered influences of travel behaviour
- Explore challenges, solutions and innovations in city-wide urban logistics
- Reflect on considerations in adopting private and public infrastructure toward carbon neutrality
- Review the role of policy tools and frameworks in shaping urban mobility
Module 4: (Core) Urban Sustainability Strategy
+Delve into the rise of sustainability, social impact, and ESG, exploring contemporary priorities. Tackle problems, analyse risks, and develop initiatives, culminating in the creation of Urban Sustainability Strategy Action Plan tailored to your chosen specialisation, be it Air Quality, Green Cities or Urban Mobility.
Week 1: The rise of sustainability, social impact and ESG
- Explore the rise of sustainability, social impact & ESG.
- Consider contemporary ESG priorities and reflect on UN Sustainable Development goals
- Examine the key components of an Urban Sustainability Strategy Action Plan
Milestone: Define your project focus area and share with your peer.
Week 2: Understanding your challenges
- Assess challenges faced by cities and learn about ‘wicked problems’
- Examine materiality and conduct a materiality assessment for your initiative
- Review tactics for identifying and engaging with your stakeholders
Milestone: Develop your stakeholder engagement plan.
Week 3: Finding opportunities and developing your initiatives
- Consider ways to avoid misleading claims and disinformation such as ‘greenwashing’
- Conduct a PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental) analysis for your opportunity
Milestone: Define your potential initiatives and link them to the high level goals of your strategy.
In this week, you’ll also have a mentor check in.
Week 4: Applying frameworks and standards
- Identify relevant sustainability frameworks or standards to apply to your sustainability strategy
- Learn from industry experts about how frameworks and standards are applied in real-world projects
Milestone: Define standards and align metrics with goals for your project.
Week 5: Influencing stakeholders
- Identify the roles and responsibilities required to resource your initiative
- Develop key messages to promote and progress your strategy
Milestone: Refine your proposed action plan and gather feedback from your mentor.
In this week, you’ll also have a mentor check in.
Week 6: What’s next?
- Finalise your strategic action plan and presentation
- Reflect on how sustainability values might shape your future career
- Gain insights from industry experts about the future of work for sustainability in the built environment
Final project: Present your completed sustainability strategy action plan in a five-minute video, focusing on initiatives from your chosen specialisation (Green Cities, Urban Mobility, Air Quality).
Learn with industry experts

A director with more than 25 years of experience, Susana has a PhD in Architecture, MASc in Civil Engineering, and is LEED AP, WELL AP& Faculty. Susana specialises in sustainability metrics and assessments, combining advisory work with academia, teaching at post-graduate level. Susana brings a systemic approach to problem...
A director with more than 25 years of experience, Susana has a PhD in Architecture, MASc in Civil Engineering, and is LEED AP, WELL AP& Faculty. Susana specialises in sustainability metrics and assessments, combining advisory work with academia, teaching at post-graduate level. Susana brings a systemic approach to problem solving to help clients to transform their sustainability goals into positive outcomes for environment, people and society.

José Luis is an Associate in the Business & Investor Advisory team at Arup’s Madrid office, with over 11 years of experience in infrastructure and transportation advisory across Europe and the Americas. As a civil engineer, he specialises in Transport Economics, Infrastructure Advisory, Transport Modelling, and Business Data Analysis....
José Luis is an Associate in the Business & Investor Advisory team at Arup’s Madrid office, with over 11 years of experience in infrastructure and transportation advisory across Europe and the Americas. As a civil engineer, he specialises in Transport Economics, Infrastructure Advisory, Transport Modelling, and Business Data Analysis. José also lectures on Transport Planning & Management and Advanced Modelling at Universidad Europea.

Olatz is an experienced Sustainability Consultant at Arup in Madrid, specialising in sustainability certifications (LEED, BREEAM, WELL), ESG strategy, and decarbonisation. Her work encompasses sustainable design, lifecycle assessment (LCA), and circular economy strategies, as well as managing the Europe Network for the Human Health and Wellbeing Skills Network. Olatz...
Olatz is an experienced Sustainability Consultant at Arup in Madrid, specialising in sustainability certifications (LEED, BREEAM, WELL), ESG strategy, and decarbonisation. Her work encompasses sustainable design, lifecycle assessment (LCA), and circular economy strategies, as well as managing the Europe Network for the Human Health and Wellbeing Skills Network. Olatz has a PhD in Architecture, and has authored over 12 publications and reviews for respected industry journals.

A landscape architect, Arturo leads Arup’s landscape team in Madrid and the Landscape Europe Skills Network. He is focused on integrating human, technical, and botanical elements into his designs, and has extensive experience on projects across Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and South America. His designs respond to...
A landscape architect, Arturo leads Arup’s landscape team in Madrid and the Landscape Europe Skills Network. He is focused on integrating human, technical, and botanical elements into his designs, and has extensive experience on projects across Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and South America. His designs respond to local, cultural, and environmental conditions, leveraging his expertise to create sustainable and adaptive landscapes.

James is a Chartered Environmentalist with 15 years’ experience in the environmental sector, focusing on Air Quality Impact Assessments. As an Associate Air Quality Consultant at Arup, he manages project delivery and planning applications, with a keen interest in air quality mitigation. Collaborating with clients and stakeholders, he identifies...
James is a Chartered Environmentalist with 15 years’ experience in the environmental sector, focusing on Air Quality Impact Assessments. As an Associate Air Quality Consultant at Arup, he manages project delivery and planning applications, with a keen interest in air quality mitigation. Collaborating with clients and stakeholders, he identifies solutions for local air quality issues. His expertise spans air quality modelling, monitoring, carbon assessments, and ecosystem impacts.
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