The Value of Management Education - Fostering Sustainability Engagement Among Students

Abstract

The following thesis examines how sustainable management education can empower individuals to foster sustainability engagement. While sustainability has been a topic of discussion for several years and has been incorporated into curricula, the focus in previous literature has primarily been on avoiding unsustainability rather than actively pursuing sustainability. Moreover, the emphasis has often revolved around the profitability of sustainability measures. A course called "Green Growth" at BI has gained positive feedback from many students who have experienced increased sustainability engagement. In this thesis, we aim to explore how this course and its participants engage with sustainability. Using a qualitative multiple case study approach, interviews were conducted to gather insights. The thesis identifies five keyways in which the course influenced the students: (1) strengthening their engagement, (2) enabling them to recognize diverse types of challenges, (3) imparting knowledge about various pathways and possibilities for action, (4) highlighting the importance of overcoming silo behavior, and (5) emphasizing the significance of cross-sectional collaboration.