New courses aim to raise awareness of the environment

Michael Morris and Jon Sadler are starting up two environmental awareness courses in Tauranga. Photo / George Novak

Two new environmental awareness courses are being introduced in Tauranga for individuals and businesses.

Environmental Education is an organisation based in Tauranga which aims to raise awareness and appreciation of the environment, run by Dr Michael Morris and Jon Sadler.

Two courses - Award in Environmental Awareness and Award in Resource Efficiency - will be run by the organisation this year.

The first course was a 20-hour course involving mostly theory and a bit of field work at Envirohub and the nearby wetlands, Dr Morris said.

"It gives an introduction to environmental issues like global warming. We don't want it to be all doom and gloom so it will also be about how we can help.

"It will be good for those people in business who want to be sustainable as well."

The second course would be more workplace based, Dr Morris said.

"Students do some work in the classroom and some at work. We will do audits of water, transport and solid waste. The businesses will be able to use that information."

The second course would be four hours a week for 32 weeks.

Both courses will be credited through City and Guilds, an international vocational education and training organisation.

Dr Morris said he and Mr Sadler had taken this route as it was much easier than gaining accreditation through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

"One advantage City and Guilds has is there is no age limit, so we can run the courses in secondary schools."

Interest for the courses had been shown by a national food supplier and by some local schools.

Costs for the courses would start from $420, although Dr Morris said there would be discounts for group bookings and people with Community Services Cards.

Discounts would also be given to school groups.

City and Guilds
*A vocational education and training organisation providing services to training providers, employers, and trainees across a variety of sectors.
*Its qualifications are delivered through more than 10,000 training centres across the world.