Type of course

Course content

In 1987, the Brundtland Commission put forth a "global agenda for change" with the purpose of "furthering the common understanding and common spirit of responsibility so clearly needed in a divided world." Since then, the concept of sustainable development has been applied to numerous topics and settings. This is an introductory course designed to get students acquainted with the underlying concepts and theories behind sustainability and sustainable practices in entrepreneurship and business operations. We will define what it means to be a sustainable business in theory and in practice.

Additional Comments and Resources

Research and Electronic Resources Available through UiT Library.

It is expected that student will conduct original research and make significant use of legitimate resources and databases.

Writing Skills

Effective written communication skills are essential. Documents presented by students should, without hindering creativity, be as professional as possible, well written, clear, appropriately concise and adequately proofed. All assignments are to be in English and will be graded accordingly.

Presentation Skills

Your ability to get funding for any project or approval for any initiative, will not only depend on the depth of your analysis, but also on the degree to which you can present your concept in a clear, compelling and inspiring manner.

Networking

Remember that you are representing the Business School when making these contacts and are expected to act professionally at all times. In using these contacts, you should identify yourself as a member of the class and indicate that the information being sought is for educational purposes. However, if you are contemplating relying on this information to build your idea in creating an actual venture, you are morally and legally required to inform your contact of that.

Feedback

We have set aside class times to work with your team on various phases of the project. Additionally we strongly encourage you to discuss individual and team progress with us outside of scheduled meetings. Your input will be appreciated.

The target students for this course are third year bachelor and exchange students from any discipline (not just the Business School) who fit the following criteria:

• Students with an entrepreneurial spirit and interest
• Students who plan to start up a business, have a business idea or plan to manage a start up in the future
• Students who are interested in the sustainability agenda

To practice the theoretical foundations learned in class, students will be connected to local businesses which aim to work on their sustainability strategies. Working in teams, students will develop and improve the sustainability strategies of the case companies. The final outcome of the students work will be presented to the companies at the end of the semester.

Objectives of the course

By the end of the course, students should be able to

Knowledge

• Understand and critically discuss what the term sustainability means in a business context
• Articulate problems and formulate relevant sustainable business solutions
• Understand the challenge of balancing economic, environmental and social sustainability
• Understand how to integrate sustainability into business processes
• Identify and critically access how companies can engage with their stakeholders with regards to developing sustainable strategies and implementing them

Skills

• Develop business models with sustainability as a core process
• Develop recommendations for a company to improve its commitment to sustainability and create shared value for its stakeholders
• Team work and presentation skills

General Competencies

The course will help students grow intellectually, personally and professionally so that they feel enabled, exposed and motivated to make significant contributions to the organization they serve and to society as a whole. In addition to the academic objectives of the course, students will be provided the opportunity to develop the following competencies

• Creativity
• Dealing with ambiguity
• Process management
• Time management
• Managing vision and purpose
• Peer and industry relations

This class is experientially based and will require student's active engagement in the process of entrepreneurial envisioning and analysis in the sustainability context.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Assessment

Portfolio examination.

This portfolio would be submitted at the end of the semester. It would contain both and individual work and a group work that would together give the final grade for the student.

Finale grade A-F, where F equals fail.

There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.

Recommended reading/syllabus