Every age has a vision that helps make sense of today and shapes our future thinking. In 2015 world leaders agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that represent the achievement of the UN’s ambitious strategy to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. However, achieving the SDGs will require new relationships between governments, businesses, civil society and individual citizens.
The SDGs are game changers in terms of what it means to be a business and determining their role in creating a more sustainable world. SDGs provide a vision that can mobilise business resources to secure their, and our, best possible future. A future where responsible businesses flourish, protecting the resources upon which they depend, creating value while sustaining our planet. This hopeful vision stands in stark contrast to our unsustainable world, plagued with risks and uncertainties, growing social injustice and ecological devastation.
SDGs help define what doing business responsibly means, translating a fuzzy concept into 17 goals to set new strategic priorities, improve decision-making, measure progress and map out a more responsible future. The SDGs redefine success for all organisations, including businesses, and reset our moral compass as to what is valued, valuable and socially acceptable.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Critically evaluate how the SDGs will affect the future of business
Analyse the underlying environmental, social and governance issues surrounding each SDG
Relate theory and practice through the notion of praxis
Critically reflect on the notion of responsibility and what it means for their role in a business, as well as for every business function
Assessment
35921-01 : Group Assignment : Group Assessment - Coursework (30%)
35921-02 : Individual Assignment : Coursework (70%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment: Group poster presentation (30%) and Individual assignment, 2500 words (70%) Reassessment: Individual assignment, 2500 words (100%)