DESignING PRINCIPLES FOR an online course
Empowering Professionals for Sustainable Procurement and Innovation: The DESIGN of PRECIUS Project’s Online Course
As sustainability takes centre stage in modern business and governance, industries across public and private sectors face pressure to integrate eco-friendly practices into procurement processes. Recognising the importance of this shift, the PRECIUS Project has developed an innovative, module-based online course designed to empower professionals in procurement, environmental engineering, and SMEs to meet these demands. This course equips participants with the skills necessary to foster sustainable development and drive impactful change in their organisations.
Course Overview
The PRECIUS online course is structured to address the unique roles and competencies required across three professional communities: public procurement practitioners, environmental engineers, and SME representatives. Each sector brings unique skills to the table, as was observed in the previous intellectual output of the project. This course emphasises the importance of collaboration to bridge sustainability with practical solutions.
The curriculum begins with a Core Module that introduces essential sustainability principles and key tools, like the Green Levers Tool. After laying this foundation, participants can select from specialised modules according to their professional needs:
- Procurement Module: Focuses on advancing creativity, strategic thinking, and communication, with practical exercises in sustainable supply chain management.
- Environmental Engineering Module: Equips engineers with technical expertise in sustainable technologies and life cycle assessment, enabling them to provide scalable solutions.
- SME Module: Prepares entrepreneurs to innovate, adapt, and manage sustainable practices, while understanding market trends and building resilient businesses.
The PRECIUS course will use Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) to turn theoretical knowledge into practical skills. Each module follows a three-stage process — Engage, Investigate, and Act — where participants work on real-world challenges, collaborating with peers to devise actionable solutions.
Additionally, the course features an interactive online forum hosted on Canvas, where participants from all sectors can exchange ideas, solve case studies, and build valuable professional networks. This forum offers a space to explore practical applications of sustainability and encourages collaboration across disciplines.
Benefits of the PRECIUS Course
- Flexibility: Self-paced modules and a ‘cafeteria model’ allow participants to tailor their learning journey to their professional needs.
- Real-World Application: Case studies and exercises prepare participants to implement sustainable practices in real professional contexts.
- Collaboration: By engaging with a cross-sector community, participants gain insights that enrich their expertise and foster new partnerships.