Integrating Sustainability Educationin to Business Curriculum: An Analysis of Existing Syllabi

Zabihollah Rezaee¹, Saeid Homayoun^2
(1. The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3120, USA; 2. University of Gävle, Gavle, Sweden)

Abstract: This study examines the coverage of business sustainability education (BSE) in the business curriculum and presents pedagogical suggestions for the curriculum design of BSE. A study of 147 syllabi from courses taught at business schools worldwide provides evidence regarding: (1) the scope and nature of BSE; (2) educational approaches to BSE; (3) business sustainability topics that could be taught as part of BSE; and (4) methods of coverage of BSE. Pedagogical issues addressed in this study pertaining to the importance, delivery, and coverage of BSE should help business schools develop and redesign their curriculum to prepare students for the challenges awaiting them in the area of emerging global moves toward business sustainability as well as sustainability reporting and assurance.

Key words: assurance; business sustainability; curriculum design; sustainability education; sustainability guidelines; reporting

JEL codes: M14, M41, M48