The second plenary to be announced for The 9th Asian Conference on Business & Public Policy (ACBPP2021), held concurrently with The 11th Asian Conference on Sustainability, Energy & the Environment (ACSEE2021) is an keynote presentation titled "Integrating Sustainable Development in Business Curricula: A Tailored Approach”, by Professor Anshuman Khare of Athabasca University, Canada and Dr Patricia MacNeil of Dalhousie University, Canada.
To participate in ACBPP2021 as an audience member, please register for the conference via the conference website.
The presentation will also be available for IAFOR Members to view online. To find out more, please visit the IAFOR Membership page.
Abstract
Integrating Sustainable Development in Business Curricula: A Tailored Approach
Once viewed as a management practice, sustainability is now seen as a concept that can benefit both business and society. There is considerable interest in adding it to business school curricula and/or integrating sustainability-related principles in teachings. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and higher education institutions (HEIs) have a critical role in helping society achieve these goals. However, meaningful implementation has not yet occurred. In practice, most HEIs have put their efforts into advancing sustainable operations such as energy efficiencies, reducing carbon footprints, and recycling policies. Multiple reasons for the slow advance include challenges with fragmented disciplines, a lack of professional development for faculty, and organisational rigidity. We propose that another reason is the debate over how best to do it. The purpose of this study was to identify the optimum model for integrating ESD in an online HEI. We used a systematic literature review to examine ESD approaches. The research uncovered multiple and varied methods that generally reflect one of the following: single mandatory/elective courses, discipline-specific programs, or ESD-integrated across the curriculum. However, these approaches are neither equally effective nor capable of meeting all expectations. Instead, we propose a hybrid solution with multiple components tailored to the respective institution. Key modules included in the approach are broad-based interdisciplinary sustainability curricula, focused electives and/or core courses to build capacity (e.g., strategy), and pedagogical praxes to foster sustainability mindsets. The approach can be adapted by other HEIs with similar interests and requirements.
Speaker Profile
Professor Anshuman Khare
Athabasca University, Canada
Anshuman Khare is Professor in Operations Management at Athabasca University, Canada. He joined Athabasca University in January 2000. He is an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and has completed two post-doctoral terms at The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. He is also a former Monbusho Scholar, having completed a postdoctoral assignment at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan. He has published a number of books and research papers on a wide range of topics. His research focuses on environmental regulation impacts on industry, just-in-time manufacturing, supply chain management, sustainability, cities & climate change, and online business education. He is passionate about online business education. Anshuman served as the Editor of The IAFOR Journal of Business and Management, and is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education published by Emerald and is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Applied Management and Technology.
Dr Patricia MacNeil
Dalhousie University, Canada
Patricia MacNeil is an academic practitioner with extensive public sector experience working within multiple governments in Canada. Throughout her 30-year public sector career she has specialised in public policy, strategic management, and stakeholder relations. An enthusiastic advocate for life-time learning, she returned to university as a mature student to obtain a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). Currently she is a part-time lecturer at Dalhousie University in her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and an Academic Coach at Athabasca University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research interests are corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility, leadership, and ethics.
