1. How academics in undergraduate business programs at an Australian University view sustainability
- Author
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von der Heidt, Tania and Lamberton, Geoffrey
- Subjects
Universities and colleges -- Australia -- Research ,Sustainable development -- Research ,Education ,Environmental issues - Abstract
This article explores conceptualisations of sustainability and perceptions of its importance in curriculum held by business subject and program leaders. Results are reported from an empirical study of the first-year Bachelor of Business program at an Australian university. Research data was collected in 16 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with subject and program leaders over two teaching periods in 2011. Interview transcripts were analysed through the identification of key themes. The results reveal that teaching academics believe sustainability is something more dynamic and complex than they are able to feature in their subjects, reflecting the difficulty in appropriately conceptualising sustainability, as well as differences between the academics' beliefs, intentions and actions. Few studies explore the conceptualisations of sustainability held by subject and program leaders. If business schools are to produce sustainability-savvy graduates, the teaching academics need to have a clear and, ideally, shared view of sustainability. Keywords: sustainability, education for sustainability, curriculum, management education and development, interview method, While much has been written about the need for education to capture the sustainability imperative (e.g., von der Heidt & Lamberton 2011), there is no clear evidence within business education [...]
- Published
- 2014
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