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International Business Administration

Viadrina at the Crossroad – A Sustainability Check: Management and Marketing Approaches towards more Sustainability in higher Education (R-Module)

Exam number: 6819

Semester: from 1st semester

Duration of the module: One semester

Form of the module (i.e. obligatory, elective etc.): Elective

Frequency of module offer: Summer semester 2019

Prerequisites: - The number of students that can participate in the seminar is limited.
- Successful application requires a transcript of records (“Notenausdruck” for bachelor and master) and a 1-sided meaningful letter of motivation answering the following questions:
1) What challenges do you see for the European-University Viadrina in terms of sustainability?
2) What approaches can you think of to solve those problems?
- Registration deadlines and application modalities will be announced on the homepage of the Chair of International Management and the Chair of Marketing.

Applicability of module for other study programmes:
Obligatory or elective in other study programmes. For further information check regulations of the study programme.

Person responsible for module: Prof. Dr. Albrecht Söllner, Prof. Dr. Martin Eisend

Name of the professor: Anna Rößner, Franziska Lichter

Language of teaching: English

ECTS-Credits (based on the workload): 6

Workload and its composition (self-study, contact time):
Contact time (lecture, tutorials, seminar etc.) 50 h; self-study: 130 h

Contact hours (per week in semester): 4

Methods and duration of examination:
Successful preparation and presentation of a project paper (in groups).

Emphasis of the grade for the final grade: Please check regulations of the study programme

Aim of the module (expected learning outcomes and competencies to be acquired):
Professional skills/competencies:
Participants will:
- gain knowledge of the current "status quo" in the fields of sustainability, sustainable development
- identify and analyze impacts of non and sustainable development
- realize a change of perspective from theory to practice; from a student to a multidirectional view while applying participative methods
- implement interdisciplinary discourse analyzes
- develop a scientific point of view in the field of action and related topics
- apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to address the problem
- develop and apply a systematic research process along the “research canvas”
- design possible solutions by outlining a set of achievable measures and objectives accompanied by specific indicators
- qualitatively prepare, compile and edit the research process and results
Generic skills/competencies:
- interconnected, foresighted and critical thinking as well as dealing with complexity
- competences in the field of participatory methods and sustainability communication
- evaluation skills
- integrated problem-solving skills
- competence to reflect on complex subject areas
- interdisciplinary work
- independent and solution-oriented acting in coordination with the team
- individual and group-oriented learning and working strategies
- work and write in a scientific manner
- presentation techniques
- transferring research results into the scientific and social discussion
 

Contents of the module:
Global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and migration etc. call for a transformation of our previous non-sustainable production and consumption patterns and a change in our value systems and lifestyles. This requires questioning existing matters of facts and finding new ways and mindsets that offer fair and equal access to resources and development opportunities for all people.
Especially universities are places of education, research and socialization and are a role model for education for sustainable development. They are intended to provide knowledge and skills for coping with the global problems, to advance the social discourse and to play a pioneering role. Many universities have already started this journey and set out a sustainability agenda.
In this seminar, we will deal with the following questions:
1. How can a complex organization such as the Viadrina succeed in initiating, maintaining and making the process of sustainable development within its own institution a permanent task for all?
2. How can we achieve in the long-term that many actors stay committed and actively involved in the process of sustainable development?

Objectives of the seminar:
Basically, the topic of sustainability and sustainable development should on the one hand be profoundly conveyed, and on the other hand be applied to the Viadrina University. For this purpose, the university is analyzed from different perspectives (status quo and stakeholder analysis). Strengths and weaknesses (SWOT analysis) are worked out to define management and marketing strategies for a specific field of action.
In addition, the seminar will provide first steps towards potential actions with relevant objectives and indicators to measure the sustainability impact. Finally, a “board proposal” and the project report will be presented by the students to interested stakeholders. The aim is to promote participation and, if possible, to establish a network for sustainability at the university.

Teaching and learning methods:
Interactive seminar with guest lecturers aiming at exchanging experiences and building a network. The concept requires a high willingness to actively shape transformation. Most of the work will be done in groups. Therefore, a high ability to work in teams is necessary in order to contribute to a successful outcome of the seminar.

Literature (compulsory reading, recommended literature):
Required: Latham, John R.: The Research Canvas: A Framework for Designing and Aligning the DNA of your Research Study, 2016.
Recommended: (see moodle)

Further information:
Registration in Moodle Viadrina required.
With the participation in the seminar participants agree to the further use of the content created in the context of the seminar (texts, pictures, videos, photographic material about the seminar etc.) by the European-University Viadrina in original or adapted form. This agreement also includes the digitalization.