Global Challenges, Local Communities: the Arts of Changing the World (FutureLearn)

Offered by Deakin University,
Global Challenges, Local Communities: the Arts of Changing the World (FutureLearn)

Drive change within local communities by tackling global challenges with newfound critical problem-solving strategies. On this three-week course from Deakin University, discover how you can be a catalyst for change right where you are. Explore practical strategies and gain valuable insights to address pressing global issues at the grassroots level.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Become an innovative change-maker for your community
Resolving complex issues can feel daunting when facing them on a global scale. But often the most impactful way to handle such challenges begins within our local communities.

Utilise systems thinking to organise local change
At the start of this course, learn more about global challenges affecting local communities, from climate change to socioeconomic inequality.
Gain the tools to identify the most pressing problems impacting your organisation or community and respond with innovative strategies. Using holistic approaches to problem-solving, you’ll drive agency and inspire collaborative action towards sustainable solutions.

Empower advocacy and collaborative action to create social and environmental change
In three weeks, you’ll learn to complete organisational analyses and apply collaborative techniques to build (inter)communal and (inter)organisational relationships that facilitate meaningful progress.

Further your learning with Deakin University
This program is a part of the Global Challenges and Collaborative Action programme at Deakin University. You’ll be supported by a team of experts from Deakin’s School of Communication and Creative Arts (SCCA) who’ll guide you through an immersive digital learning experience.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to put your knowledge into action by collaborating with the community to tackle real-world global challenges. You’ll also be able to grow professionally in community and economic development, government services, and organisational management.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to global challenges – and what to do about them
Week 2: How to think (with partners about problems)
Week 3: Identifying an invested community

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Practice systems-thinking techniques
  • Identify implications of global challenges for organisations and organising
  • Create community-based strategies for collaboration
  • Develop (inter)communal and (inter)organisational relationships for collaborative action

Who is the course for?
This course is designed for individuals interested in gaining critical problem-solving and collaboration skills to tackle global challenges from a local perspective and for Deakin University students from the series, The Arts of Changing the World (AGC).

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Working for a sustainable future: concepts and approaches (Coursera) Coursera
Lund University

Working for a sustainable future: concepts and approaches (Coursera)

In this course, participants are introduced to key notions and concepts evolving in sustainability science that are relevant to all, independent to one's work or field of interest. After having completed the course, participants will have a better understanding of the vocabulary used today and should demonstrate the ability to reflect critically to integrate different perspectives of environmental, social, and economic sustainability to their specific area of interest or research.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Customer Relationship Management (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Customer Relationship Management (Coursera)

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a comprehensive course that explores various aspects of CRM, from data-driven strategies to customer segmentation and loyalty programs. The course is designed in three stages, each building upon the previous one, and includes self-paced learning with pre-recorded video lectures, exercises, and interactive quizzes. Real-world case studies and problem-solving exercises are introduced in the Intermediate and Advanced stages to simulate real CRM challenges.

Aug 10th 2026
1 Week
An Introduction to Systems Thinking for Sustainability: SiD Theory I (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Except Integrated Sustainability

An Introduction to Systems Thinking for Sustainability: SiD Theory I (FutureLearn)

Understand how the Symbiosis in Development (SiD) framework helps you create the foundations of a sustainable society. Learn about issues of sustainability and Symbiosis in Development (SiD). To work on building a sustainable society requires learning and applying new, integrated concepts of living, working, and producing. This course will provide you with a renewed understanding of the issues of sustainability, and will introduce you to the framework of Symbiosis in Development (SiD), developed over 20 years.

Available Now
4 Weeks
Understanding Systems Thinking in Healthcare (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Coventry University

Understanding Systems Thinking in Healthcare (FutureLearn)

Consider a systems thinking approach in healthcare and better understand the building blocks of global healthcare systems. Explore what a perfect healthcare system might look like. On this course, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the systems thinking approach for healthcare. You will discover what the building blocks of a healthcare system are and look critically at global healthcare systems.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Playing to Your Strengths by StandOut (Coursera) Coursera
Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

Playing to Your Strengths by StandOut (Coursera)

Playing to Your Strengths is designed for any professional individual striving to be more productive and more focused today than they were yesterday and those who want to make their greatest contributions at work and in life by embracing a strengths-based mindset. Based on the six-part film series Trombone Player Wanted from Marcus Buckingham, this 6-week course includes video demonstrations, practice simulations, a course guide, and reflection activities that will inspire you to identify your strengths and make them a vital and sustainable part of your everyday life.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Game Theory (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University,The University of British Columbia

Game Theory (Coursera)

Popularized by movies such as "A Beautiful Mind," game theory is the mathematical modeling of strategic interaction among rational (and irrational) agents. Beyond what we call `games' in common language, such as chess, poker, soccer, etc., it includes the modeling of conflict among nations, political campaigns, competition among firms, and trading behavior in markets such as the NYSE.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Leadership tools for ethical problem-solving (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Nottingham Trent University

Leadership tools for ethical problem-solving (FutureLearn)

Learn how to lead values-driven action in your organisation and to manage ethical risks systematically and collaboratively. Develop essential leadership skills to manage ethical risks. On this three-week course, you’ll discover how to manage and lead effectively within your organisation. You’ll learn how to identify and overcome ethical dilemmas as you develop your understanding of leadership issues and trends in organisations.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice (Coursera)

Epidemiology is often described as the cornerstone science in public health. Epidemiology in public health practice uses study design and analyses to identify causes in an outbreak situation, guides interventions to improve population health, and evaluates programs and policies. In this course, we'll define the role of the professional epidemiologist as it relates to public health services, functions, and competencies. With that foundation in mind, we'll introduce you to the problem solving methodology and demonstrate how it can be used in a wide variety of settings to identify problems, propose solutions, and evaluate interventions.

Aug 10th 2026
4 Weeks
Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success (Coursera) Coursera
Imperial College London

Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success (Coursera)

In today’s ever-growing and changing world, being able to think creatively and innovatively are essential skills. It can sometimes be challenging to step back and reflect in an environment which is fast paced or when you are required to assimilate large amounts of information. Making sense of or communicating new ideas in an innovative and engaging way, approaching problems from fresh angles, and producing novel solutions are all traits which are highly sought after by employers.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Citizen Science Projects: How to Make a Difference (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Dundee,WeObserve

Citizen Science Projects: How to Make a Difference (FutureLearn)

Discover how to build your own citizen science project to address global challenges and create positive change. Learn to capture and analyse data and use the findings to take action. Would you like to understand the environment and other global challenges to help create change? Citizen science projects and citizen observatories are the ideal way to explore big issues, take action and become a changemaker.

Available now
4 Weeks
Leadership & Organization Design (Coursera) Coursera
Illinois Tech

Leadership & Organization Design (Coursera)

To succeed in today’s knowledge intensive organizations managers need to understand how individual differences in personality, learning style and cultural values, group dynamics, organizational culture, and human resource management policies shape employee attitudes and behaviors. This course teaches managers creative problem-solving and ethical decision-making, change management, leadership techniques for enhancing social capital and influencing other organizational members, and management tools for multicultural and geographically dispersed teams.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Using Creative Problem Solving (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
National Chiao Tung University

Using Creative Problem Solving (FutureLearn)

Learn how to solve everyday problems using creativity with this online course about hands-on Creative Problem Solving. Explore Creative Problem Solving for daily life and in the workplace. In a world that seems to be changing faster than ever, problem-solving skills are essential - but traditional approaches are not always enough. On this course you’ll explore Creative Problem Solving, discovering how creativity and different approaches can help you in daily life and give you a competitive edge in the workplace.

Self Paced
4 Weeks