incorporating sustainability into curriculum: how to engage faculty, and meet accreditation...
TRANSCRIPT
THE INS AND OUTS OF INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY
INTO CURRICULUM
TRACS CONFERENCE 2016
Kevin WilhelmSustainable Business Consulting
@kevinatsbc
Who am I?
World-leading consultant – 110+ companies in 37 industries
Author of 3 books Taught 12 different sustainable business courses
at the graduate level Creator of over 20 sustainability-focused video
modules for the academic space
Agenda for Wednesday – Small Group
• Introductions, who’s in room (20 mins)
• Presentation (20 mins)
• Gaps/Solutions (1 hour)
• Report out (20 mins)
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Common Obstacles to Integrating Sustainability into Curriculum
DefinitionSustainability needs to be defined for each institution. Different perspectives and divergent ideas exist.
Leadership• Often No mandate from Leadership• Communications are not reinforced. Too often
initiatives/events are “one-offs”• Lack of Sustainability/Training for Admin and Faculty
@KevinWilhelmSBC
How do we think
differently?
How do we reinforce
our collective message?
Make it easy for faculty to do
so?
This is our brand.
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Obstacles Faculty Face
• Resistance to change
• Time constraints. Instructors are already maxed out and
believe they don’t have time to incorporate
• Lack of case studies
• Time constraints. Instructors already maxed out
• Already have their syllabi. Sustainability isn’t in it
• No accountability. No harm, no foul
• Lack of coordination across faculty/disciplines
@KevinWilhelmSBC
AASHE STARS Curriculum
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Common Obstacles for Students
• Lack of specific skills in curriculum
• They don’t know where they jobs are
• Not inlcuded in training/orientation
• Lack of interest/enthusiasm across campus
• Culture – Difference in perspectives on issues
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Where the Jobs Are
Department Things you could do
Environmental ScienceUnderstanding the science. Connecting biz and science. How to take on water, land use issues
Engineering Design. Facilities and transportation. De
Business Demonstrating biz case for CSR or sustainability
Poli-Sci, Law Environmental policy and social justice
Communications Marketing sustainability, brand differentiation
Agriculture Sustainable farming, land preservation, organics
Humanities/Social Sciences
Ask questions through entire value chains, use social sciences/research to support change
Psychology Training in behavior/org change around CSR
Accounting /Finance Tracking sustainability and financial performance
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Skills Employers are Seeking(for faculty to teach, and students to learn)
Data Analytics Metrics, measurement (financial & environmental)
Systems Thinking Correlation and relationships
Research Policy drivers, global market trends
Communications Internal/external, variety of audiences
Leadership and Facilitation Stakeholder engagement
Organizational Change Ability to influence without authority
Project Management Ability to get things done
Sourcing Fair Trade, supply chain
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Specific Sustainability-Focused Skills
1 Carbon Footprinting/GHG Inventory
2 Sustainable Procurement Policies
3 External Reporting (GRI, CDP)
4 Stakeholder Engagement
5 Communicating Sustainability
6 Sustainability Change Management
7 Employee Engagement
8 Social Return on Investment (SROI)
9 Social Enterprise & Social Justice
10 Creating Sustainability Vision/ Goals
11 Sustainable Business Planning
12 Institutionalizing Sustainability
13 How to be a Sustainability Consultant
14 Global Reporting G4 Guidelines
@KevinWilhelmSBC
Course Sustainability Topics
Arts Art and artists for social justice and environmental movements.
Environmental Sciences
Social justice: impact of disasters and climate change on society
Biology Impact of climate change on species (thrive/endangered)
Chemistry Ocean acidification, climate change
Add Sustainability to Existing Courses
Economics Environmental Economics, Ecosystem Service Valuation.
Accounting Finance, Accounting, Carbon Footprinting.
Geology Impacts from fracking.
History Major environmental laws, issues, labor movement on society – workplace, enviro and health safety laws.
Community and Global Health
Social consequences of disease changes from climate change.Environmental justice impacts from extreme weather events.
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Add Sustainability to Existing Courses
Philosophy Mill versus Kant social justice issues
Political Science Policy implications: sustainability, climate, zero waste, etc
Psychology Behavior around sustainability: Influencers and reasons to take action while others do not engage
Sociology Organizational change within a company
Dept. of Athletics Student Athletes: focus on ways to be more sustainable (Admin, Facilities, Equipment, Home Games, and Travel)
Course Sustainability Topics
Humanities Civil and Human Rights reporting globally large organizations.
Languages Major social/environmental issues within specific country – German, Spain, French, Mandarin, etc.
Legal Impacts of regulations, public policy on business and society.
Mathematics Advanced environmental modeling, carbon footprinting.
Music Songs from Civil Rights Struggle
@KevinWilhelmSBC
LETS BREAK INTO SOLUTIONS
Kevin WilhelmSustainable Business
Consulting
Education Modules at sustainablebizconsulting.com/education/
@KevinWilhelmSBC