UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Sustainable Real Estate: Creating a Better Built Environment

Discover how sustainable real estate can connect communities, create industry opportunities, and deliver meaningful business value.

Duration

8 weeks, excluding
orientation

Effort

8–10 hours per week,
self-paced learning online

Learning Format

Weekly modules,
flexible learning

This course is for you if:

  • You're an architect, engineer, city planner, or professional working within the built environment and need insight into the latest sustainability trends and planning considerations for real estate
  • You're a real estate investor or developer who would like to better understand industry opportunities and the implications of sustainability on the value of property
  • You work within the public sector or financial market and need to understand the impact of climate change on real estate investments, and how to integrate sustainability across the built environment

This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.

Accreditation Logo

This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 60 hours of learning.

Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.

Course curriculum

Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:

Module 1
Real estate sector challenges and opportunities

Recognise the global trends and associated risks influencing the real estate sector.

Module 2
Frameworks and objectives for a sustainable real estate sector

Understand the key principles driving sustainability in the real estate sector.

Module 3
Systems thinking for resilience

Assess how developing a sustainable built environment connects communities and infrastructure.

Module 4
Redefining the business value for sustainable real estate

Explore how redefining value can reduce business risk and deliver resilient built assets.

Module 5
Design and procurement for sustainable built environment

Introducing the key design strategies and procurement processes that help create an equitable and sustainable built environment.

Module 6
Sustainable operation of the built environment

Explore the importance of incorporating sustainability throughout the life cycle of a built environment asset.

Module 7
Developing a strategy and encouraging action

Explore the methods for developing a sustainable real estate strategy for effective outcomes.

Module 8
Maximising your influence and impact

Reflect on your personal action plan and create a network of your peers.

Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

1

A holistic view of the ecological, social, and governance challenges and opportunities of sustainability within real estate.

2

The systems thinking skills and knowledge to deliver resilient real estate solutions that create social and business value.

3

A personal action plan to contribute to a sustainable future for real estate and the larger built environment.

4

Access to the CISL International Alumni Network, which consists of over 12,000 global leaders and industry professionals who represent business, the public sector, and civil society.

Course Convenors

Kirsten Henson

Director, KLH Sustainability

Henson has been influencing the sustainability of major projects in the built environment for over 15 years. She founded and runs the employee-owned sustainability consultancy KLH Sustainability. She is a technical advisor to the International Olympic Committee and supports host cities in creating long-term positive impacts from hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. She also provides sustainability review of strategically important projects across London through a number of Design Review Panels.

Henson is a guest lecturer at Cambridge and holds two master’s degrees in civil engineering and engineering for sustainable development. As course co-convenor, she provides practical examples and a real-world insight into the delivery of a sustainable built environment.

Martin Roberts

Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Roberts joined CISL as a programme director in 2008. He is an expert in strategic thinking, sustainability, and business leadership, having helped companies across sectors in Africa, Asia, and Europe develop their own solutions to natural resource challenges. Roberts is responsible for digital learning at CISL, and has a keen interest in using technology to create impactful educational opportunities, democratise learning, and promote change. By heading the design and delivery of CISL’s popular portfolio of online courses, Roberts has equipped thousands of business leaders to reshape their organisations and apply the innovative business models of the future.

An online education that sets you apart

This University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) online short course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:

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Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time

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Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step

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Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones

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