Introduction to Sustainable Development in Business - 2019

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Course Description

The aim of this module is to introduce you to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discuss issues related to sustainable development in business.

Course Contents

  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Challenges, Complexities and Inter-relationship;
  • Corporate Sustainable Strategy;
  • Sustainable Balanced Scorecard;
  • Policies on Sustainable Balanced Scorecard;
  • Economic Growth;
  • Trade as an Engine of Growth;
  • Sustainable Development: Striking a Balance between Sustainability and Economic Growth; 
  • Sustainable Trade and Sustainable Trade Opportunities;
  • Sustainable Production and Consumption: Fundamentals and Trends;
  • Sustainable infrastructure, Sustainable Tourism and Sustainable Waste Management;
  • Industrial Symbiosis.

Target audience

Professionals in the field of sustainability, NGOs, University students.

Background/pre-requisite: This course does not require any prior exposure to sustainable development or business.

Desirable: Awareness of environmental issues and implications for trade, consumption and production.

Expected time investment: There are 4 units in this MOOC, with several topics under each unit. A learner is encouraged to complete a unit per week. The total duration of the module is four (4) weeks.

Mentoring: A tutor /facilitator will be providing support to students.

Outcomes of this Course

On completion of this course, a learner should be able to:

  • Analyse the interrelationships between the SDGs.
  • Discuss the complexities and challenges of achieving the SDGs.
  • Explain the issues relating to the development of a sustainable corporate strategy.
  • Identify the four different perspectives pertaining to the traditional Balanced Scorecard.
  • Discuss the issues which are integrated in the sustainable balanced scored.
  • Define a sustainable business model.
  • Explain the concepts of economic growth, sustainable development and sustainable trade.
  • Discuss about the case for sustainable trade and its drivers.
  • Identify opportunities related to sustainable trade in different sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
  • Apply the concepts of sustainable production and consumption.
  • Apply sustainability to different business areas including infrastructure, waste management and tourism.
  • Explain the concept of industrial symbiosis.

Certificates

Issued by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Open University of Mauritius