Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Sustainable Business Practices
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Wednesdays 10:00-11:00
Email ethornberg@uic.es to confirm beforehand about meeting.
Introduction
In a world facing unprecedented environmental, social, and economic challenges, the importance of sustainability in business cannot be overstated. This comprehensive course, "SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES," is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to champion sustainability within organizations and contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous future for our planet and society.
Pre-course requirements
Must be able to speak, read, and write in English.
Objectives
● To understand the concept of sustainability and its relevance in the context of business and management.
● To develop an understanding of the principles of sustainable development.
● To explore the impact of business practices on the environment and society.
● To examine the role of businesses in promoting sustainable development.
● To evaluate the challenges and opportunities of implementing sustainable practices
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 54 - To be able to express one’s ideas and formulate arguments in a logical and coherent way, both verbally and in writing.
- 55 - To adopt good time management skills.
- 56 - To be able to create arguments which are conducive to critical and self-critical thinking.
- 63 - To be able to analyse business related behaviour and decisions and evaluate them from an economic, social and ethical point of view.
- 64 - To be able to plan and organise one's work.
- 66 - To be able to retrieve and manage information.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Understanding Sustainability Concepts
- Understanding of Environmental Responsibility
- Understanding of Social Responsibility
- Understanding of Economic Sustainability
- Understanding of Sustainability Frameworks and Tools
- Case Studies and Real-World Application
Syllabus
Week 1 (September 6): Introduction to Sustainability
Week 2 (September 13): Principles of Sustainability
Week 3 (September 20): Corporate Social Responsibility
Week 4 (September 27): The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Week 5 (October 4): SDGs Continued
Week 6 (October 11): The Sustainability Transition
Week 7 (October 18): Sustainable Business Models and Economies
Week 8 (October 25): Sustainable Finance and Investing
Week 9 (November 8): Sustainability Practices and Strategies - l
Week 10 (November 15): Sustainability Practices and Strategies - ll
Week 11 (November 22): Sustainability Practices and Strategies - lll
Week 12 (November 29): Sustainability for the 21st Century Corporation
Teaching and learning activities
In person
PDFs can be found under each course topic in Moodle once the activity is announced in class.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Class Attendance (10%): Students are expected to attend each class session and a record will be kept. I recognize that unforeseen circumstances may arise. Students should communicate with me in advance if they have a valid reason for missing a class, such as illness or a family emergency.
Participation (10%) Students are encouraged to engage actively in discussions by offering comments, posing questions, and demonstrating familiarity with the course material. Feel free to ask me for a periodic performance appraisal if you would like feedback on participation standing.
Project and Assignments (30%): Instructions and grading scales will be found on Moodle when the project and assignments are announced.
Final Exam (50%): The scope of the exam will span the full semester.
Bibliography and resources
Brundtland, G.H. (1987) Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Geneva, UN-Dokument A/42/427.
Jacobus A. Du Pisani Professor of History (2006) Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept, Environmental Sciences, 3:2, 83-96, DOI: 10.1080/15693430600688831
Additional resources will be announced throughout the semester. All resources can be found as PDFs under each course topic before/after the pertaining class.