MOOC Mining and Materials for Sustainable Development Transformations

Enroll for free today!

The underlying transformations needed to achieve climate goals and other sustainable development goals (SDGs) include the rapid decarbonization of our global energy systems and economies, and a scale-up of new technologies to meet the needs of a growing population. Mining and materials are at the heart of these sustainable development transformations. 

Launching February 19, 2024, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Mining and Materials for Sustainable Development Transformations addresses challenges and opportunities for mining and materials value chains in the energy and digital transitions. Enroll now, or watch the trailer to learn more:

The key topics covered by the MOOC will include:

  • the relevance of the energy and technological transformations to mining and materials value chains and their stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, companies, financiers, civil society, local communities, and the general public
  • the roles and responsibilities of mining and materials stakeholders in the sustainable development transformations, including in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience
  • the sustainable development challenges of renewable energy systems and an increasingly urbanized and digital economy
  • security of supply of critical minerals
  • the environmental, climate, social, human rights, and economic impacts of mining and materials value chains
  • the role of national plans, strategies, laws, and policies in addressing these challenges.

The MOOC is a project developed by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI); supported by the African Legal Support Facility, Anglo American, and Ford Foundation; produced by Econ Films; and hosted by SDG Academy.

Frequently Asked Questions

To register for the course on edX.org, visit edX.org by the SDG Academy. The course begins on February 19, 2024. 

This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is being offered self-paced, entirely online, which means you can take it from the comfort of your home or office at a pace that works for you.

The MOOC is free of charge (yes, you read that right!) if you pursue the Audit Track. If you want to pursue an edX Verified Certificate, you can upgrade to the Verified Track for US$49. (See question 8 for more details about certificates.) 

Key topics include: 

  • the relevance of the energy and technological transformations to mining and materials value chains and their stakeholders
  • the roles and responsibilities of mining and materials stakeholders in the sustainable development transformations, including in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience
  • the sustainable development challenges of renewable energy systems and an increasingly urbanized and digital economy
  • the security of supply of critical minerals
  • the environmental, climate, social, human rights, and economic impacts of mining and materials value chains
  • the role of national plans, strategies, laws, and policies in addressing these challenges

Please see the complete syllabus for more details.

No, it does not. But you may also be interested in our MOOC on Natural Resources for Sustainable Development: The Fundamentals of Oil, Gas and Mining Governance.

With experts from all global regions, our lecturers bring in expertise, perspectives, and examples from around the world that are relevant to global mining and materials value chains.

The MOOC is structured in 8 modules, each consisting of 5 lectures of approximately 10 minutes each, plus recommended readings and short quizzes. We suggest that you complete the course over 8 weeks (one lecture and chapter per day, one week per module) to keep the learning momentum, but you may wish to advance faster or spread it out over a longer period. You can design your own learning experience!

There will be short multiple-choice quizzes in each module of the MOOC to challenge your comprehension of the presented material and underline key lessons. No need to worry: if you watch the content and listen closely, you will thrive in the quizzes, and perhaps even enjoy reflecting on your experience!

Learners who have upgraded to the Verified Track must pass a final exam to earn their edX Verified Certificate. The exam will consist of multiple choice questions and reference learnings from the entire course.

Learners have the opportunity to earn an edX Verified Certificate upon successful completion of the course. All you have to do is upgrade for US$49.

Want to pursue the certificate but worried about the cost? edX offers financial assistance for learners who qualify.

Learners completing the course via the free Audit Track will have access to all the content, but will not receive a certificate.

Yes! You are encouraged to use the Discussion Forum to exchange thoughts, questions, and reflections with other learners, as well as the experts. The details will be outlined in the course program when we release the training, but rest assured there will be opportunities to interact with us at CCSI and fellow learners. 

We are also hoping to arrange live engagement with experts via webinars and online Q&As. Details about these opportunities will be sent to enrolled learners in advance.

Absolutely! Feel free to share with colleagues, friends, and family with or without prior experience in mining and materials. Remember: the MOOC is free of charge, so you may invite anyone to join you on this enriching intellectual adventure! 

Want to entice your friends with a particular chapter? Once enrolled, you will be able to share videos directly from the edX platform, or find them in the SDG Academy Library.

If you’re interested in collaborating with CCSI on topics related to mining and materials value chains, or any other of our focus areas, please reach out to us at [email protected].

In addition to this MOOC, CCSI has hosted several other self-paced MOOCs in the past, such as these two that are related and relevant to the topic of our new course:

CCSI also hosts live, virtual trainings annually:

Visit our website for the full catalog of CCSI trainings.

 

 

       Learn more about other CCSI MOOCs