“I liked that the course materials varied from videos to text”
Farai Makuyana
Deputy Head at Thornhill Primary School and Mindset Coach at Empact Transformation Coaching
Diploma in Business Sustainability Graduate
Tell me about your professional background
I work in a primary school, currently as a Deputy Head Teacher and my main focus areas are school operations and curriculum. I’m also a Mindset Coach and I work with individuals or groups to facilitate their personal growth past their mindset limitations to greater self-awareness.
Why did you decide to do a business sustainability course?
As my children are moving out of their teenage years, I foresee a time when I will have to redefine myself and transition, possibly, into another career. Teaching afforded me the flexibility to be available when my children were small. In the future, I’m looking to transition into a project management/sustainability role within a corporate or NGO space.Â
I decided to embark on the Diploma in Business Sustainability because when I was completing my Master’s in Project Management at Liverpool John Moores University, sustainability kept coming up in my modules. It made sense to get an accredited certification in sustainability because sustainability is clearly an increasingly important discipline.
How did you find the Institute of Sustainability Studies, and why did you choose us as your educational provider?Â
I reached out to someone on LinkedIn within the Sustainability field and they pointed me towards another institute. In researching that one, I came across the Institute of Sustainability Studies, and it seemed like a more suitable option for me.Â
The Diploma in Business Sustainability course from the Institute of Sustainability Studies was cheaper than the other option I had considered, and the self-paced, online learning experience fits well within my lifestyle.
Can you tell me about your learning experience on the course?
I study better on my own, so I enjoyed being able to pace myself. I really appreciated the varied learning materials from videos to texts to interactive activities to assignments. The course content was fantastic, I found the case studies particularly insightful and relevant.
The course definitely increased my understanding of sustainability, which was a completely new field for me. I was surprised to learn how broad it is. I feel confident, having completed the course, to participate in critical discussions on sustainability. I have committed to delving more into sustainability studies and feel inspired to continue my learning in this field.Â
I also think it’s great that the Institute of Sustainability Studies frequently produces stream content. I am constantly sent out invitations to insightful masterclasses and webinars. While I haven’t attended one yet due to time constraints, I’m looking forward to accessing the recordings in the community channel and hopefully will attend a live one soon.
What were your favourite modules or topics from the course?Â
I found the reporting side very fascinating, in particular the regulations because, in this region of the world, these areas are only now becoming the buzz. I found all aspects of sustainability intriguing, especially the social and governance aspects since I’m in the people business. The call to protect biodiversity was an eye-opener because I have never thought of the planet as providing services to humanity.
What would you say to someone who was on the fence about doing the course?
Having completed the course, I feel my career change will definitely be influenced by sustainability. My experience of the course can be summed up as ‘time well spent’. Initially, I searched for courses, and there were very hardly any accredited courses available. In my search, there were many free courses, but they aren’t the equivalent of an accredited, university-rated Diploma.
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