Sustainable entrepreneurship
MGT-203 / 2 credits
Teacher: Bergamini Enrico
Language: English
Remark: Une seule inscription à un cours SHS+MGT autorisée. En cas d'inscriptions multiples elles seront toutes supprimées sans notification
Summary
This class is designed for Bachelor students who want to understand the interrelated economic, social and ecological challenges society is facing, and who want to acquire the knowledge and skills to re-frame problems into opportunities and establish entrepreneurial ventures tackling the problems.
Content
This course provides an introduction to the topic of sustainable entrepreneurship. Throughout the course, students will learn about the impact of sustainability on the economy, society, and the environment and gain knowledge of how entrepreneurship may constitute a powerful means to tackle such challenges.
This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and evaluate sustainable business opportunities and develop sustainable business models. The course will also include guest speakers, case studies, group work, a sustainable venture project, and presentations in class, which will provide students with hands-on experience in developing and implementing sustainable business strategies.
Given the increasing importance of sustainability in today's business world, this course is extremely important for students who wish to pursue a career in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship or who want to make a positive impact on the world through their future business endeavors.
Keywords
Sustainability, grand societal challenges, social, environmental, entrepreneurship, new venture creation, business model
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
none
Recommended courses
none
Important concepts to start the course
Sustainable entrepreneurship: The process of identifying and exploiting opportunities to bring into existence innovative products, processes or services that aim at generating gains to individuals, the economy, society, and the planet.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Discuss the multiple, interrelated challenges our society is facing
- Explain how entrepreneurship can be used to tackle societal challenges
- Analyze entrepreneurial opportunities and their potential to address societal challenges
- Assess / Evaluate different sustainable business strategies
- Develop buiness models that address societal challenges
Transversal skills
- Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
- Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
- Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.
- Make an oral presentation.
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Teaching methods
Given the systemic nature of many sustainability-related challenges, this course combines insights from various theoretical approaches, including entrepreneurship, management, marketing, and psychology. The concepts from these theories are taught through interactive lectures and workshops that will allow you to come away with a strong theoretical and practical understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship across different industries. In addition to learning theoretical concepts, you will work in groups on a sustainable venture project.
Expected student activities
This is a process-based course where each session builds on concepts from the previous ones. Staying current with the coursework each week is important to ensure a solid understanding of the core concepts, which are essential for contributing effectively to your team's new venture proposal (a significant part of your grade). Note that student teams will be formed in Session 3, so attendance on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, from 3:15 to 5:00 pm is required. If you have any issues, please discuss them with the Teaching Assistant.
Assessment methods
Your grade for the course will be composed of both group and individual assignments with the following weighting:
- Group Assignment: The new sustainable venture project (overall 60%)
(Venture ideas and their evaluation: 15%, Midterm business model presentation: 20%, Final venture project presentation: 25%)
Your task is to develop a new sustainable venture project from the idea stage to the prototype stage. You will be assessed as a group for your performance and progress at each pitch.
- Individual Assignment: Peer-to-peer feedback (overall 25%)
(Venture ideas and their evaluation: 8.33%, Midterm business model presentation: 8.33%, Final venture project presentation: 8.33%)
Your task is to engage in a peer-to-peer evaluation of other students' pitches. During each of the three pitches, each student will be assigned another team to evaluate their content and performance in the pitch presentation. Feedback should not only be critical (pointing out opportunities for improvement) but also developmental (suggesting alternative approaches, solutions, etc.). We will provide you with feedback forms.
- Class participation (overall 15%)
Active engagement is crucial for a productive learning environment. Your participation grade will be based on your ability to ask relevant questions and express your opinions thoughtfully and respectfully during discussions.
Supervision
| Office hours | No |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | Yes |
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Number of places: 40
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Sustainable entrepreneurship
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory