Courses Master Display 2025-2026
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| Course title | Dynamics of Business in the Anthropocene | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course code | SSP2053 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS credits | 5,0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessment | Whole/Half Grades | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period |
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| Level | Introductory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinator |
Clarence Bluntz, Frank Boons For more information: c.bluntz@maastrichtuniversity.nl; f.boons@maastrichtuniversity.nl |
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| Language of instruction | English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goals |
* Students understand the changes necessary in organisational functions (such as longer-term strategy, lower return on investment, alternative business models, etc.) for the transition to sustainability.
* Students apply the learned concepts and theories in controversy mapping of specific sustainability and business issues. * Students evaluate the roles of business, and of finance and of global markets, in social and environmental degradations, with the help of theoretical concepts such as stakeholder theory, ethical consumption, ESG integration and degrowth; as well as evaluate solutions for a sustainable role of business in society. |
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| Description |
This course provides the theoretical foundations to understand, discuss and tackle transitions challenges in relation to production-consumption systems. The students of this course will already know about climate change and rising social inequalities, but probably not so much about how business and economic activities are tied to these issues. The goal of this course is, therefore, to introduce students to the challenges of business in sustainability transitions. This will enable them to start their journeys toward future transformative occupations, whatever and wherever these may be.
We’ll address such questions as: * What is a business, actually? * What are the links between production-consumption systems, economic growth, social and environmental impacts? * What are the dominant theories about the role(s) of business in society? * Can a business be sustainable? * What is degrowth, and what does it mean for business? |
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| Literature |
The course is based on a number of academic books and papers. Students who want to know more can have a look at Fanning, A. L., O’Neill, D. W., & Büchs, M. (2020). Provisioning systems for a good life within planetary boundaries. Global Environmental Change, 64, 102135; and Brand, U., & Wissen, M. (2021). The imperial mode of living: Everyday life and the ecological crisis of capitalism. Verso Books.
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| Prerequisites |
Exchange students should refer to the International Relations Office via email in case they would like to register for this course: iro-incoming-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl. Only limited spots available, first-come first-serve principle.
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| Keywords |
Degrowth, Capitalism, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Stakeholder theory
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| Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) | Lecture / Groupwork / Coaching | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) | Written Exam / Portfolio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Evaluation in previous academic year | For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations |
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