Master 2023/2024

Global Challenges, Resources and Opportunities for Sustainable Development

Type: Compulsory course (Sustainable Business Management)

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Department of Strategic and International Management

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 1 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Online hours: 20

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Ekaterina Ivanova

Master’s programme: Management of Corporate Sustainable Development

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 24

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Holistic sustainable development can likely only be achieved when various actors in society engage with the topic. Companies are central actors which can foster or hinder a sustainable development in society, but only when they consider the expectations of their stakeholders. This course aims to introduce students to a scientific approach to the field of sustainability management in the context of global challenges, resources and opportunities for sustainable development from a stakeholder perspective. The focus is on providing students with the extensive knowledge on the most important terms and concepts of sustainable development and sustainability management. The course consists of three interrelated modules supported by the individual mentoring sessions: introduction into sustainable development and sustainability management; stakeholder perspectives on sustainability management; sustainability management in tools and instruments. As a result of taking the course, the students will understand the complexity of sustainability management in companies and the opportunities and challenges of various stakeholder groups in influencing corporate sustainability and sustainable development in general. Students will learn how companies can improve their sustainability performance using different tools of sustainability management. Finally, students will gain an understanding that successful sustainability management is always interdisciplinary and requires efforts throughout a company and potentially even beyond. This course is based on the experiential learning approach, which requires students to come prepared to each class and take an active part in class discussions with peers and guest-speakers. By the end of the course, students can expect to have acquired an appreciation of the sustainability management as a knowledge, art and craft for tackling the 17 Global Goals.