Employers and students have celebrated the launch of the University of Salford’s new Foundation Degree in Sustainable Communities.

The part-time, one afternoon a week course covers a range of issues including regeneration, community safety, local economies and worklessness, sustainable design, governance and community engagement.

It also emphasises the values and practical skills necessary for success in delivering regeneration and sustainable communities. Those who complete the Foundation Degree can go on to pursue a BSc (Hons) Sustainable Communities.

About half the course is co-taught with students on the Housing Practice Foundation Degree: this helps enhance their understanding of the different agencies and professions involved in developing and helping to maintain sustainable communities.

At the event, the new Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Martin Hall, told the audience he was very pleased that the first year of the course had attracted over twenty students from a wide range of disciplines and organisations. He went on to say “several of the students are very active in the voluntary sector, so this highly topical course supports our aim for the University of Salford to build a closer relationship with the local community.”

The event also marked the launch of a new short film to raise awareness about the degree and help the HCA Academy move closer to achieving its aim to ensure the Foundation Degree in Sustainable Communities is available in every English region by 2011. The film can be viewed on this page  skills.homesandcommunities.co.uk/courses/foundation-degree