Undergraduate Course: Global Business and the Sustainable Development Goals (BUST10148)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | According to the United Nations, 'The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
The aim of this module is to critically explore how transnational corporations can profitably contribute to harnessing the opportunities and addressing the risks inherent in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This module will contribute to mainstreaming Ethics, Responsiblity and Sustainability (ERS) in the curriculum. |
| Course description |
Academic Description:
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are very critical global goals. They hold both significant opportunities, if creatively harnessed, and enormous risks, if not addressed. The aim of this module is to critically explore how different businesses can profitably contribute to harnessing the opportunities and addressing the risks inherent in the Sustainable Development Goals. It will draw immensely from the literature on Business as a Development Actor.
At the end of the module, the students are expected to:
- Understand the sustainable development goals and crtitically examine their implications for transnational corporations.
- Understand and critically discuss the theoretical foundations of business as a development and policy actor in the global economy.
- Critically evaluate various approaches to achieving the SDGs.
- Understand, theorise, and critically discuss how the sustainable development goals are redefining business society relations.
- Critically appraise the importance of sustainability thinking as a core managerial capability in coping with the challenges of and exploring the opportunties in the sustainable development goals.
Outline Content:
The course content will be structured to draw from the list of The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world with a focus on how transnational corporations can contribute to meeting the following:
GOAL 1: No Poverty
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 14: Life Below Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Course Outline:
Introduction: Global Challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Theme #1: Foundations
Sustainable Development: Theoretical Foundations
Transnational Corporations as Sustainable Development and Policy Actors
Africapitalism and the Changing Role of Business in Africa
Theme #2: Transnational Corporations and the SDGs in Multiple Spaces
Transnational Corporations and the SDGs in the Community (Goals 1, 2, 6, 11)
Transnational Corporations and the SDGs in the Workplace (Goals 3, 4, 5, 8, 10)
Transnational Corporations and the SDGs in the Marketplace (Goals 9, 12)
Transnational Corporations and the SDGs in the Ecological Environment (Goals 7, 13, 14, 15)
Theme #3: Extension, Integration, and Evaluation
Business Coalitions and Cooperative Strategies for Sustainable Development (Goals 16, 17)
Guest Lecture/ Class Discussion/ Revision
Student Learning Experience
The course will comprise ten sessions of two hours duration to be held each week in Semester 1. The course will combine lectures and discussion and will require class participation. In addition to the normal requirements of academic study, students will be expected to keep up to date with developments in the area through newspaper and journal reports.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students must have at least 4 Business courses at grade B or above. This course cannot be taken alongside BUST08008 International Business: Globalisation and Trade 2A; BUST08009 International Business and the Multinational Enterprise 2B; or BUST08037 Organising for Social Change: Creating Value and Impact. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 50 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 4,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
169 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Individual Essay 60%
Students will complete an Individual Essay of not more than 3000 words covering one of four topics.
Group presentation 30% (including 20% peer assessment)
Students will be divided into groups in the third week of the course, and assigned their different presentation topics. Students will deliver two group presentations. The group presentations will be graded and will constitute 30% (equally weighted at 15% each) of the overall course grade. Peer Assessment will make up 20% of the overall group mark.
Personal Reflection 10%
Each student will submit 200-word-limit personal reflections on the 8 sessions of the course (maximum 1600 words in total). The personal reflections will constitute 10% of the overall course grade. |
| Feedback |
Summative: Feedback and marks for any summative in-course assessments are posted on the course Learn site within 15 working days of the submission deadline, or in time to be of use in subsequent assessments within the course, whichever is sooner.
Feedback on your Group Presentation will be provided by email to your Group within 48 hours of presentation delivery.
Examinations: Generic feedback is added to the course Learn site after results are released. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the sustainable development goals and crtitically examine their implications for transnational corporations.
- Understand and critically discuss the theoretical foundations of business as a development actor in the global economy.
- Critically evaluate various approaches to achieving the SDGs.
- Understand, theorise, and critically discuss how the sustainable development goals are redefining business society relations.
- Critically appraise the importance of sustainability thinking as a core managerial capability in coping with the challenges of and exploring the opportunties in the sustainable development goals.
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Reading List
Crane, A., Matten, D., and Spence, L. (2013). Corporate Social Responsibility: Readings and Cases in a global context. Routledge Publishers
Blowfield, M. (2016). Business and Sustainability. Oxford University Press |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Cognitive Skills
On completion of the course students should:
a) demonstrate that they understand the theoretical foundations of business as a development actor
b) demonstrate that they can present material on the business of the SDGs
Key Skills
On completion of the course students should:
a) demonstrate their ability to evaluate the different opportunities and risks inherent in the SDGs
b) demonstrate their ability to analyse the business opportunities and risks presented by the SDGs from different perspectives
c) demonstrate their ability to work in teams to address complex global challenges
Subject Specific Skills
On completion of the course students should:
a) understand how the sustainable development goals are redefining business society relations
b) display an awareness of the importance of sustainability thinking as a core managerial capability in coping with the challenges of sustainable development |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Kenneth Amaeshi
Tel: (0131 6)50 2146
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Helen Tweedale
Tel: (0131 6)50 3827
Email: |
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