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Module

NES2108 : Sustainable Business Practice

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Albert Boaitey
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

One of the key questions facing businesses is how to meet the rapidly changing stakeholder expectations and transition to new more sustainable models of business. The goal of this module is to introduce students to the concept of sustainable business, changing regulatory environment, the role of state and non-state actors, and current measurement, reporting and verification issues. This module will enable students develop the knowledge and skills to critically evaluate the theoretical and applied aspects of how firms integrate sustainable and ethical approaches into their everyday business practices. Particular emphasis will be placed on agribusiness and food firms.

Outline Of Syllabus

1.       Framework and business modules
2.       Corporate citizenship and legitimacy
3.       Sustainability in food supply chains
4.       Regulatory Issues
5.       Non-business stakeholders
6.       Sustainability measurement, reporting and verification.
7.       Industry case studies

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture121:0012:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion125:0025:00Group sustainability strategy report (60%) and presentation (40%)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion24:008:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading121:0012:00Module lecturer will give students relevant reading to prepare for lectures.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops14:004:00Workshops will provide an opportunity for students to practice their analytical skills and undertake formative assessment exercises.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery21:002:00Drop-in surgeries for students to ask questions and seek guidance on the assessed exercise.
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study136:0036:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00N/A
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will have full access to all reading materials. Class discussion, Q/A sessions, debates will be encouraged during class. Lecture material is comprehensive, extensive and requires substantial student study outside the classroom.
The assignment is set specifically to test learning objectives, and to encourage students to practice their critical analytical skills and extend and apply their knowledge and understanding to be able to achieve these outcomes. Students are given a range of opportunities to critically engage with materials from both the academic and practitioner literature.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report1A60Group case study report outlining sustainability strategy for firm. (2000 words)
Oral Presentation1A40Group presentation of sustainability strategy (15 mins)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The summative assignments will consist of a report and an in-class presentation in which the students will be tested in a range of skills including knowledge and understanding of current sustainable practice issue as well as critical analytical skills and report writing skills.

Reading Lists

Timetable