Computing for Sustainability

Policy Statement on Computing Education for Sustainability

Computing and IT underpins every sector of society as a pervasive and influential discipline with global impact. The vision is that our graduates, our practitioners and our academics understand the concepts of social, environmental and economic sustainability in order for them to evaluate, question and discuss their role in the world and to enable them to make changes where and when appropriate.

Moreover, computing educators must take a lead in sustainability so that computing practitioners can be encouraged and supported to promote sustainable use of technology. This can primarily be achieved by the fostering of sustainability as a core value of computing education.

Creating a philosophy of Computer Education for Sustainability will be enhanced if undertaken within a context of institutional operational practice. We will then be seen to be modelling good practice.

The National Advisory Committee for Computing Qualifications in New Zealand (NACCQ) adopted this policy in July 2008.

The subsequent agenda starts:

Work with the wider community to envisage and articulate a role for computing and computing practitioners for a sustainable future…
 

Draft version for ACM SIGCSE (ACM SIGCSE Bulletin 40(4):183-193 Digital Library)

Computing and IT underpins every sector of society as a  pervasive and influential discipline with global impact. As a result, computing influences the environment and society either positively or negatively. While we have seen positive benefit from incremental changes such as reductions in energy usage and recycling components, more comprehensive and transformative changes are needed to meet contemporary challenges. Therefore, our vision is that our graduates, practitioners and academics understand the concepts of social, environmental and economic sustainability in order for them to evaluate, question and discuss their role in the world and to enable them to make changes where and when appropriate. Our goal is that every graduate think and act as a “sustainable practitioner”.  This way computing will be a driving influence in the creation of a sustainable future in every sector it touches. 

Moreover, computing educators must take a lead in sustainability so that computing practitioners can be encouraged and supported to promote sustainable practice in every sector where computing plays a role. This can primarily be achieved by the fostering of sustainability as a core value of computing education.

Creating a philosophy of Computer Education for Sustainability will be enhanced if undertaken within a context of institutional operational practice. We will then be seen to be modeling good practice.