Questions for Teachers (Unit 1, 2 and 3)

Module 1 / Unit 1: Teacher-Supported Course Participation
Pop-up questions for classroom discussion

• Think about your impact on sustainability as an individual / consumer. Has anything changed in your views or behaviors in the last few years? What do you think you can or you will have to change in the future?
• Can you name some of the global challenges and social developments that have led sustainability to become such an important topic today?
• We need a systemic and collaborative approach to tackle the climate crisis. Why?
• What do you think are the roles of governments and companies in sustainability?
• If you consider the economic growth models which aim at infinite economic growth, what is the problem in the framework of sustainability issues?

Module 1 / Unit 2: Self-Study
Self-study questions presented to students

• Please define sustainability and sustainable management in an organizational context. How can various actors (governments / businesses / individuals) contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals?
• What is a circular economy? Why is it important to shift from linear economy to circular economy for sustainable development?
• What is the European Green Deal and EU Taxonomy? How can they potentially contribute to sustainable development?
• Why should businesses have a sustainability agenda beyond compliance with law?
• What is sustainability reporting and why is it important? Please elaborate on it by referring to the following concepts / initiatives: (i) triple bottom line (ii) GRI (iii) ESG metrics (iv) sustainability balanced scorecard.

Module 1 / Unit 3: Individual Work
Questions asked as part of assessment

[For the practice-oriented individual work, students are asked to choose a company / industry that they want to work on as a case. Alternatively, the course teacher can pick the case for the questions where indicated as (…).]

• Analyze the sustainable strategy / program of the company (…) . What are the positive aspects and what could still be improved?
• Using the sustainability SWOT analysis tool, please analyze the company / business project (…).
• Analyze the impact of a government strategy, which aims to neutralize carbon-emissions by 2050 (e.g. EU’s Green Deal), on the (…) industry. Name 2-3 opportunities and challenges that this strategy may bring about for the industry players.