Sasha Alexander
Australia

"The course provided me with global perspectives on local initiatives where I could reflect upon both mine and others’ actions."

While working as a university academic and industrial designer, Sasha participated in the online course Spatial Circularity Strategies for Sustainable Regional Development.

What was your motivation for enrolling in this course/program? 
I was looking for ways of improving and increasing my knowledge of collaborative strategies for better applying the UNSDG. These have provided much needed guidance in building, reflecting and then adjusting approaches to positive societal and planetary imperatives including climate change. Any bridge-building opportunities could see a beneficial increase of the value of my profession in working with others in growing an important collaborative and powerful human resource through collective synergy.

How did/will this course impact your career or life? 
The course provided me with global perspectives on local initiatives where I could reflect upon both mine and others’ actions. This helped provide me with the confidence to raise such questions and suggest scalable collaborative proposals based on the experience of others. The methodological approach and highlighting of scholarly and practical project-based outcomes across many scenarios will be something I plan to continue and blend into my own approach to future work.

How was your experience learning online?
The intensity of my first online course experience with occasional online class meetings was well balanced. I faced extreme challenges at times in dedicating appropriate periods for project work. At other times I was inspired to high levels of motivation from the quality of course content and class tutor enthusiasm.

The online portal was very well structured, professionally administered, and student-friendly with opportunities for discussion and rewards provided by feedback and project outcomes of a very professional quality which could withstand the rigour of criticism if they were to be applied in a professional multi-disciplined environment. It raised my professional credentials in that my project proposals were real-world credible, achievable, mature, professionally informed and catalysts for new directions for future collaboration and team-based growth.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking of taking a similar course?
Embrace the course delivery format, then just try to resolve the compelling challenges presented. But don't forget about your day job as the learning experience is/was professionally addictive.