Global Business and Sustainability Management

Businesses’ responsibility to safeguard the environment and ensure decent working conditions along their global supply chains is increasingly being formalized. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting, accounting and measurement, as well as supply chain due diligence regulations are contributing to this development. This is accompanied by rising consumer demand for sustainable products and experiences, which creates new markets and incentives for the greening of business. In response, businesses are adopting a range of strategies to manage sustainability concerns, both in their own operations and in their supply chains. They design and implement private sustainability standards and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. They also develop new product lines and eco-brands, form partnerships with conservation and humanitarian NGOs, and strategically invest in carbon markets and energy transitions.

In the Global Business and Sustainability Management course, students learn about this diverse set of corporate and inter-firm strategies, and assess how they can contribute to building liveable and just futures. The course adopts a teaching approach that emphasizes research-led teaching. In-class exercises and discussions are grounded in case study research from different industry contexts, such as agri- and aquaculture, fisheries, energy, extractive or wellness industries, and span both Global South and Global North settings. Guest lectures, as well as site visits to local companies (where feasible), provide insights and opportunities to reflect together with practitioners and academics in the field. Students interested in conducting their master thesis research in a business context will benefit from an introduction to theories and research methods in business and development studies. Exercises will also involve training in formulating actionable recommendations to businesses and public sector actors in relation to sustainability concerns.