* 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.

This course provides the theoretical toolkit to understand and discuss sustainability issues at the organisational level (e.g. consumption, investment, operations, regulation). The students of this course will already know about climate change and rising social inequalities, but probably not so much about how business is 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 are the dominant theories about business and how do they relate to sustainability? What are the dominant theories about the role(s) of business in society? Can a business be sustainable, and what would it mean? What is the relationship between economic growth and business? What does degrowth mean for business and organizations? What are the roles of various stakeholders in business models, and how do stakeholders shape a business and its relationship with its environment?

An electronic reference list wil be available through Key Links. In addition, students may have to download some
additional information as indicated in the descriptions of the lectures and tutorials provided through Canvas.

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.

Degrowth, Capitalism, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Stakeholder theory