CDEV3500/ CDEV6500 Future Leader Lab
Collaborate with students from various disciplines to tackle UN Sustainable Development Goals. Enrol now for Summer Term and Term 1 2026.
Future Leader Lab is a leadership development course where students build their leadership skills through learning how technology, innovation and entrepreneurship interact with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Future Leader Lab is offered as an undergraduate curriculum course via CDEV3500 and as a postgraduate course via CDEV6500.
The course aims to address today’s challenges in making our cities and communities sustainable through developing and applying innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to new knowledge in circular economies, clean energy, and renewable transport. A fourth learning theme is digital literacy and the role of technology in supporting innovative and entrepreneurial solutions. Students will have the opportunity to learn about personal and organisational leadership and how these might lead to change in the future, and they will be empowered as future leaders for change in the community, government and industry sectors, by addressing contemporary issues through the lens of circular economies, clean energy, renewable transport and immersive technology solutions.
Course details
- Involves problem-based learning (PBL) whereby students work in interdisciplinary teams (though are assessed individually) to consider how individual and organisational (community, government, and industry) leadership can use technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship to solve challenging, real-world problems for sustainable cities and communities. New knowledge themes include circular economies, clean energy, and sustainable transport while digital literacy will be developed through engaging with immersive technologies.
- Students will learn about theories and applications of leadership, undertake a field trip to see a circular economy in action, and explore immersive technology solutions that contribute to sustainable cities and sustainable transport.
- Students will also explore the economic drivers for innovation and design solutions for recycling and clean energy.
- The course culminates with students pitching a leadership solution to a complex sustainable cities/communities problem.
- This course is 6 UOC as a general education/free elective course.
- Course lecturer: Eitan Bienstock
Summer Term and Term 1 2026
Self-enrolment dates
| Term | Course level self-enrolment date | Class level self-enrolment date | Enrol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term 2026 | 7 October 2025 | From 7 October 2025 | Enrol via MyUNSW |
| Term 1 2026 | 7 October 2025 | From 17 November 2025 | Enrol via MyUNSW |
Schedule and location
Future Leader Lab is a course that is administered in person. Students will be required to attend mandatory seminars and workshops hosted by a UNSW academic team.
| Term | Contact hours |
|---|---|
| Summer Term 2026 |
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| Term 1 2026 |
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Eligibility
| Course code | Undegraduate or postgraduate | Units of credit | Free elective | General education | Final year synthesis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDEV3500 | Undergraduate | 6 | Some degrees | All faculties | Bachelor of Commerce |
| CDEV6500 | Postgraduate | 6 | Some degrees | Not available | Not available |
Course handbook
Please note
Please be advised that WIL Central does not have visibility over individual students’ study progressions. As such, we are unable to confirm your eligibility to enrol in the course.
By self-enrolling, it is the student’s responsibility to consult with their faculty or academic advisor to confirm eligibility and ensure alignment with their study progression and graduation requirements.
Check your eligibility:
- Self-check with myPlan
- Enquire with The Nucleus
No space in your program?
Submit a Course Substitution Request
Students share their experience
Leopold
“I can absolutely say that CDEV6500 Future Leader Lab was a rich and immersive learning experience that significantly enhanced my understanding of leadership paradigms and their applications in complex, real-world contexts.
"A particular strength of the course was its in-depth examination of the Circular Economy, which not only deepened my knowledge of this topic but also revealed the potential for innovative solutions to emerge from reframing traditional problems.
"I highly recommend the Future Leader Lab course to postgraduate students and professionals seeking an engaging learning experience.”
- Leopold, Master in Management and Technology
Lily
“I liked the way CDEV3500 Future Leader Lab was framed across different sectors and contexts to provide a holistic overview of the application of sustainable practices in the real world. I met a range of students, staff, and visitors from around the world, which helped me to challenge my own and others’ understanding of a sustainable future.
“The course opened my eyes to the technology that UNSW is working on with other developers. The visit to the Nowra Recycling Centre and UNSW Smart Hub demonstrated the impact that the university and local actors are having towards creating a more sustainable future in recycled building materials. Discussions with leaders at Sydney’s KPMG offices provided insight into what global corporations are trying to do in assisting local, national, and international sustainable initiatives.”
- Lily, Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences
Natthanan
“In terms of the theoretical aspect and knowledge that we learned in class, Future Leader Lab content was in-depth and will be very beneficial in both my future academic and professional careers. I had a great time with my peers, and surprisingly, the fact that everyone comes from a different background adds diversity and variety to each conversation, giving us different perspectives to work on when working on the project.
"I also enjoyed that we got to hear from different aspects and perspectives, such as corporate, non-government, and governmental backgrounds, to get a grasp of the whole context around sustainability.”
- Natthanan, Bachelor of Commerce
Mazaya
"Future Leader Lab is for anyone who’s ready to be challenged and open to exploring ideas you might not have even heard of before. Though we’ve all probably heard of sustainability, in this course, you’ll learn exactly why it’s so important, its practical applications, and what it means to live on a planet with finite resources.
"Everything I’ve learned has made the future I want so much clearer. Beyond the course content, the teachers were fantastic—so passionate in a way that invigorates you—and every day I was introduced to something new. You get to be really hands-on with your learning, meet a variety of experts in different fields, and grow alongside a cohort of students from diverse backgrounds. I’ve truly never enjoyed a course this much, and I couldn’t recommend it more."
- Mazaya, Bachelor of Sociology