IBF is starting a new Erasmus+ KA2 project, along with its partners University of Economics from Katowice, University for studies from Florence, University of Maribor, RRiF College for Financial Management from Zagreb and Vilniaus College from Vilniaus.
The purpose of the project is to address core sustainability issues which have been playing an important part in today’s business activity and have immense potential in contributing to the future development of the world.
Its main focus is on identifying areas where sustainability issues are critical followed by suggesting solutions to be practically implemented.
The objective can be achieved by introducing a new subject into the curricula of tertiary education institutions where different aspects of sustainability can be addressed, including cultural and social sustainability, sustainability of businesses, environmental and employment relations, marketing and sustainable production and consumption, psychology and communication for sustainability, sustainable design, tourism, and hospitality industry, sustainable finance and management, etc.
The outcome of the first stage will cater for educational needs of the contemporary societies to tackle core environmental and social problems. In the process of educating students of economics current issues need to be approached both globally as well as locally and to meet this objective cooperation between tertiary education institutions is indispensable. The first stage of the project involves partner's contribution to the development of the joint curriculum for the subject.
The new subject “ Economics of Sustainability”, dealing with general issues of sustainable development should incorporate different areas, including cross-cultural and country specific issues. Such an approach will also stimulate young generations' openness to different cultures, tolerance and responsiveness to different needs, thus strengthening social potential.
International character of the project will provide for stronger ties and unity between HE institutions, their staff and students.
Consequently, sense of belonging to the common world will be developed where issues can be solved commonly.
A coursebook written by researchers following their findings in the first phase of the project will be targeted primarily to students of the partnering institutions as a support material for the new subject introduced into the curricula of partnering institutions. Its secondary functions can be performed as a PDF downloadable open-access resource to be used by students and teachers of other institutions worldwide.
The essence of sustainable development although clear, is hardly ever realised by individuals. Activities towards CSR or sustainability definitely improve the company image while they are not likely to be one of the criteria taken into account by individual consumers. This lack of individuals’ awareness may result in their ignorance of such beneficial actions and simultaneously no positive feedback or support given to them. The objective of the project is to enhance interest and stimulate participation in sustainable develpment of the nations.
Technology diffusion is the root of behavioural changes which, on the one hand, lead to new expectations of product and service providers and, on the other hand, empower consumers to such an extent so as they get involved in co-creating or even creating market offerings themselves. On the other hand, it’s been proved people lack creativity and therefore it should be stimulated and encouraged.
Modern technology proliferation plays the most important role in driving transition to sustainable development by, for example, the emergence of new business models, such as sharing/access economy that reflect social needs resulting from changing demographics and other megatrends. The new developing system is based on re-using, re-cycling and sharing, all activities leading to reduction of environmental impacts and thus contributing to values of CSR and sustainability. The project will be utilised to strengthen and support such positive behavioural trends.
The project's results will be disseminated by creating an open-access platform where ideas for utilising game-dynamics will be entered to be used proactively by business leaders as well as consumers willing to combine fun with socially and environmentally desirable activities. The innovative idea of the platform consists in gathering both novel and tested solutions in one place thus enabling quick and easy access to a variety of ideas that can have potential in creating sustainability - conscious approach of the public. By utilizing game-dynamics, which have been proved effective in encouraging consumers to behave in a certain way, businesses can gain mportant benefits from marketing, relationship building to CSR- related merits. The platform will also be useful for consumers with sustainability- conscius mindset to help them find socially- or eco- friendly solutions, associate them with relevant business and support the intiatives.
