Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Sustainable Business Practices

Sustainable Business Practices
3
14934
2
First semester
op
Main language of instruction: English

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish

Teaching staff


Dra. AKHMEDOVA USACHEVA, Anna - a.akhmedova@uic.es

Wednesdays 10:00-11:00

Email a.akhmedova@uic.es

Introduction

This course explores how businesses can operate within planetary boundaries while promoting social equity and long-term value. Students will engage critically with core concepts like the circular economy, doughnut economics, stakeholder engagement, impact measurement, and sustainable business models. Through a mix of case studies, systems thinking tools, and sectoral deep-dives (fashion, food, mobility, tourism, and more), students will analyze the tensions between profitability, sustainability, and justice. They will also develop a practical project proposing a sustainable business concept for the Barcelona context. The course emphasizes participatory learning, critical reflection, and applied creativity.

Pre-course requirements

This course is taught in English. Students should be able to understand and communicate complex ideas in English, both in written assignments and class discussion. A collaborative and open mindset is also encouraged, as the course involves teamwork and reflection.

Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand key frameworks in sustainability, including circular economy, doughnut economics, and systems thinking.

  2. Critically evaluate the environmental and social impact of business models and sectors.

  3. Identify stakeholder dynamics and explore tools for impact assessment and reporting.

  4. Design and communicate sustainable business strategies aligned with ecological and social boundaries.

  5. Apply systems thinking to identify leverage points and anticipate unintended consequences.

  6. Collaborate in teams to develop a sustainability project rooted in a real-world context.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • 54 - To be able to express one’s ideas and formulate arguments in a logical and coherent way, both verbally and in writing.
  • 55 - To adopt good time management skills.
  • 56 - To be able to create arguments which are conducive to critical and self-critical thinking.
  • 63 - To be able to analyse business related behaviour and decisions and evaluate them from an economic, social and ethical point of view.
  • 64 - To be able to plan and organise one's work.
  • 66 - To be able to retrieve and manage information.

Learning outcomes of the subject

  • Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1. Explain key sustainability concepts and frameworks in a business context.

    2. Analyze real-world sustainability challenges using systems thinking tools.

    3. Compare business models in terms of their environmental and social impacts.

    4. Assess stakeholder interests and define material issues in sustainability planning.

    5. Propose viable, context-sensitive sustainable business strategies.

    6. Communicate complex sustainability insights clearly in written and verbal formats.

    7. Collaborate effectively in diverse teams to design, evaluate, and present a sustainability project.

Syllabus

Week-by-Week Outline

Module 1: Foundations & Frameworks

  • Week 1 (08/09) – Sustainability in Business: What, Why, and So What?

  • Week 2 (15/09) – Circular Economy & Doughnut Economics

  • Week 3 (22/09) – Consumer Behavior & Sustainable Consumption

Module 2: Tools & Methods

  • Week 4 (29/09) – Stakeholder Assessment

  • Week 5 (06/10) – Business Models for Sustainability

  • Week 6 (13/10) – Impact Evaluation & Sustainability Reporting

Module 3: Sector Labs

  • Week 7 (20/10) – Lab 1: Hospitality & Mobility

  • Week 8 (27/10) – Checkpoint: Midterm Reflection & Assessment

  • Week 9 (03/11) – Lab 2: Food & Plastics

  • Week 10 (10/11) – Lab 3: Textiles & Fashion

  • Week 11 (17/11) – Lab 4: Construction & Built Environment

Module 4: Integration & Action

  • Week 12 (24/11) – Group Project Presentations

  • Week 13 (01/12) – Case Studies & Guest Panel

  • Week 14 (15/12) – Future Trends & Course Wrap-up

Teaching and learning activities

In person



This course combines a variety of active and participatory learning methods designed to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application of sustainability concepts in the context of the 2030 Agenda.

  • Lectures · Each session opens with a conceptual introduction connecting theoretical frameworks to current development priorities and SDG challenges.
  • Readings · Students engage with a curated selection of academic articles, reports, and policy documents to deepen understanding and support evidence-based discussion.
  • Group work · Every session includes a collaborative activity in which students apply the concepts covered to real-world sustainability challenges. These in-session tasks build progressively towards the capstone group project.
  • Quizzes & Kahoots · Short in-class quizzes reinforce key concepts, encourage attendance, and provide ongoing formative feedback.
  • Case studies · Real-world business cases are analyzed critically to examine the tensions between profitability, sustainability, and justice across sectors.
  • Debates · Structured debates invite students to argue and challenge positions on contested sustainability topics, building analytical rigor and communicative confidence.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



Assessment Breakdown

  • Participation, Discussions & Ongoing Submissions – 20%
    Active participation in class, contribution to discussions, and completion of assigned tasks.

  • Group Project – 20%
    Collaborative development and presentation of a sustainable business concept.

  • Class Quizzes – 10%
    Short assessments to check understanding of key concepts throughout the course.

  • Checkpoint Assignment – 10%
    Mid-semester individual written reflection and open-question test.

  • Final Exam – 40%
    Cumulative assessment covering the entire course, with applied and conceptual questions.

Bibliography and resources

There is no single core textbook for this course. Instead, students will draw on a curated selection of foundational texts, key references, and supplementary materials made available throughout the semester.

Foundational Texts

  • Atkinson, G., Dietz, S. and Neumayer, E. (2014). Handbook of Sustainable Development. Edward Elgar, 2nd ed.
  • Dasgupta, P. (2021). The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review. HM Treasury.
  • Sachs, J.D. (2015). The Age of Sustainable Development. Columbia University Press.
  • Tietenberg, T. and Lewis, L. (2023). Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, 10th ed. Pearson.
  • United Nations Development Programme (2024). The SDGs and the UN Summit of the Future.

Key References

  • Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist.
  • Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business.
  • Rockström, J. et al. (2009). A Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Nature.
  • Brundtland, G.H. (1987). Our Common Future. World Commission on Environment and Development, UN Document A/42/427.

Additional articles, case studies, and policy reports will be made available on the course platform throughout the semester

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