Electives - Bachelor

The BW43 module, “Sustainability Management,” provides a broad overview of the sustainability-related behavior of various economic actors, the implications for corporate sustainability management, and key sustainability management tools across various corporate functional areas. The module is generally offered every year. The two associated courses are held concurrently during the same semester. The module concludes with a written exam in the summer semester.

Course 1: Basics of Sustainability Management (4 hours per week, 6 ECTS):

The course begins with a general introduction to the current state of affairs, various concepts, the rationale for, and strategies of sustainability and sustainability management. It then adopts a stakeholder-oriented perspective and discusses the opportunities and limitations of sustainability management from the viewpoint of—and with regard to—various stakeholder groups, such as employees, consumers, investors, civil society, and regulators. The course is structured as an interactive lecture. The course is taught in German with English-language readings.

Course 2: Instruments in Sustainability Management (2 hours per week, 6 ECTS):

The course focuses on sustainability management tools and measures from the perspective of various business functions (e.g., marketing or accounting) as well as several overarching topics (e.g., digitalization). The course centers on discussing the practicality and application of these tools, as well as their challenges and limitations. As a result, participants gain a broad understanding of various approaches and methods in sustainability management. The course is conducted as a “flipped classroom” session. Students work through the course material independently in advance of each session, based on assigned readings. During the session itself, open questions are first addressed, and the material is then explored in greater depth through case studies and discussion questions. The course is conducted entirely in English.