Shifting Business to Net Zero

Designed for professionals looking to understand the challenges and opportunities involved in reducing the carbon footprint for their organisation or community, this course provides a range of tools for transitioning to net zero. It's particularly valuable if you work in an operations, engineering, or management environment. 

Using the Transition Innovation, Management, and Engineering (InTIME^©) approach, Professor Susan Krumdieck explores a quantitative understanding of climate and resource challenges. She helps you examine the role of energy in your current systems and shows how you can use energy to secure a sustainable future for your organisation and community.

This course provides practical insights and explores possible limitations for transitioning to renewable energy. It also identifies the principles you need to make sure a transition to sustainable energy is economically viable. It will give you a unique perspective on Energy Transition projects.

Please note: UC Online has a minimum enrolment threshold that must be met to enable opportunities for interaction, discussion, and feedback. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course is not met, enrolled students will be given the option to defer their enrolment to the next course date, or receive a refund.

There are no prerequisites for this course. It's ideal for anyone interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities involved in reducing the carbon footprint of their organisation or community.

Technology Requirements
We recommend a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection. For most courses you'll need to download and populate assignments. These are usually available in Microsoft Word.

Optional reading
Transition Engineering, Building a Sustainable Future by Professor Susan Krumdieck, CRC Press, 2019.

Course fees
Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or by contacting info@uconline.ac.nz to request an invoice. Please note: fixed invoice payment dates apply, so we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to request an invoice, as this option is subject to availability.

Our courses are flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. You can choose to study when it suits you during the learning period (29 January – 1 April, with a one-week study break from 26 February - 3 March), followed by a 2-week review period for feedback and grading (2 – 15 April).

We recommend completing around 6 hours of study a week during the learning period (excluding the study break) – you can view the course overview here for more details on assessment timings.

Module 1: Changing the ending
Identify the role of energy in reducing global emissions. Learn the difference between being 'more sustainable' and 'downshifting what's unsustainable'.

Module 2: The economics of transition
Is it worth it? In this module you’ll learn about Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and how you can use it to compare various energy sources. You’ll also become familiar with transition economics and how it differs from traditional economics.

Module 3: Wicked problems
Identify and define what wicked problems are when it comes to energy efficiency. Learn how these problems arise due to incomplete, contradictory, or changing requirements, and be empowered to work through the problems.

Module 4: Putting it into practice
Using the InTIME^© methodology, put what you’ve learnt into practice in a hands-on project and see how the process can lead to innovation and new opportunities.

Assessments

• Module 1 = 20% (module and quiz 10% + forum submission 10%)
• Module 2 = 20% (module and quiz 10% + forum submission 10%)
• Module 3 = 20% (module and quiz 10% + forum submission 10%)
• Module 4 = 40% (module and quiz 10% + forum submission 30%)

Upon successful completion of the course you will be issued a digital badge to recognise your learning achievements. This can take up to 2 months to be delivered after the marking and feedback period.  

Susan Krumdieck

Adjunct Professor | University of Canterbury

Susan Krumdieck is also co-leader of the Global Association for Transition Engineering and Director of the Advanced Energy and Material Systems Lab.

She's interested in the new methods and tools needed to change existing systems and rapidly shift away from fossil fuels.

After researching every type of renewable and alternative energy technology, as well as sustainable energy systems, Professor Krumdieck has developed the Interdisciplinary Transition Management Engineering (InTIME©) Methodology.

She leads an international group in this emerging field where she encourages social responsibility and sound science for delivering projects that reduce exposure to fossil fuel supply and the risks of climate change.

She's worked on the energy transition of buildings, cities, transport, and freight. She's  also worked on sustainable development with rural and remote communities.


Qualifications and Memberships

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering – Arizona State University
• Master of Science – Arizona State University
• Doctor of Philosophy – University of Colorado
• Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) (Professional Organisation): Member (MRSNZ)

Please note: our instructors develop and present video content within their courses, but are not always the course facilitator. The course facilitator will engage with learners in the course forums, answer queries and mark assignments.