i-week on sustainability

Department

International Program

Course unit code

IFLV6585

Number of ECTS credits allocated

Name of lecturer(s)

Dr. Lichtmannegger Susanne

Mode of delivery

distance learning/e-learning

Recommended optional program components

none

Level of course unit

Bachelor

Year of study

Spring 2025

Semester when the course unit is delivered

Language of instruction

English

Learning outcomes of the course unit

This is a course offered by our partner university - University of Antwerp.

The I-Week takes place in a hybrid learning environment: it can be followed online or on campus, with a few sessions organised online for everyone1. All sessions will be livestreamed for international students participating online, using a central platform. All sessions will also be recorded and made available for everyone.

During the hybrid I-week on Sustainability, in which we welcome many students online as well as on campus, students will participate in many interactive plenary sessions, smaller workshop sessions and an
interdisciplinary day on Wednesday. The lectures and workshops are delivered by speakers from various companies and social/non-profit organizations, such as Umicore and Pairi Daiza, as well as speakers with an
academic background. The interdisciplinary day on Wednesday is one of the highlights of the week, in which business and non-business students and speakers come together to discuss one central topic from different angles.

Learning Goals:
• relate the overarching theme of the international week to the knowledge acquired in the different areas of business administration and business economics
• view the overarching theme and these areas from an international perspective
• apply gained knowledge in an international team with the acquired intercultural skills
• produce a well-structured short report and video or PowerPoint presentation in English, in which creativity and the capacity to synthesize are key
• reflect ethically and critically on your topic within sustainability

Course contents

The I-Week focuses on the topic of sustainability, which refers to the long-term survival chances of a system based on interactions with many other subsystems and a fair distribution of resources and opportunities.
Sustainability can be approached and analysed in different contexts, such as the geographical context (per country, per continent, in EU, in ASEAN , etc.), the industrial context (sector/type of organisation) or the functional context (marketing, finance, production, strategy, etc.). In the different lectures/workshops these different contexts will be illustrated and discussed. In plenary sessions the global issues of sustainability will be presented by international academics as well as (business) managers. These sessions will illustrate how theory is put in practice. Specific themes or contexts can further be discussed in smaller groups. A group work helps students to learn how international organisations set up their sustainability strategy.

This International Week provides a great opportunity for students to acquire a global perspective and intercultural skills in a course specific context. Students will participate in interactive lectures delivered by international visiting professors or business managers with international experience. Moreover, students will have the opportunity to closely and intensely work in international student groups. During an interdisciplinary day, students listen to an interdisciplinary debate and learn how to tackle a “wicked” problem together with students from other faculties. For an optimal learning experience, students should be very fluent in English.

Work placement(s)

none

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