* 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 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 can a business degrow?
* What is a business model, and how does it impact/is impacted by the relationships between a business and the system in which it operates?

At the end of this course, you will be able to:
* Understand the changes necessary in organisational functions (such as longer-term strategy, lower return of investment, alternative business models, degrowth) for the transition to sustainability.
* Evaluate the roles of business, finance and 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.
* Apply systems thinking in a specific case study to evaluate possible pathways to sustainability in a production-consumption system.

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