2020-2021 / GEST3763-1

Funding sustainability

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in management (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Sybille Mertens de Wilmars

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

  • Course description
A sustainable economic system respects environmental and social limits. The former mark out the conditions for the sustainability of human life on earth. The latter define the global consensus on what is the foundation of human society.However, understanding this framework is not a sufficient condition to ensure thatour economic activities will fit within it. The course "financing sustainability" analyzes how the sustainability challenge involves financial issues for enterprises. It then explores how (private or public) financial mechanisms can be used as levers towards more sustainability.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students will have been specifically brought to:


  • Understand the concept of sustainability in the context of the economic system as a whole and at the enterprises level
  • Link unsustainable behaviors to market failures
  • Understand the financial issues linked to sustainability ambitions
  • Acquire in-depth knowledge of the main private and public mechanisms for financing sustainability
These learning outcomes are part of the generic LO of the Master in Management Sciences of HEC since they help the student to:


  • Establish a strategy (from a sustainable perspective)
  • Translate the strategy operationally and think about its implementation
  • Implement performance monitoring in a holistic approach
  • Communicate effectively on the business project
  • Adapt its managerial practices to a constantly changing world, developing both its entrepreneurial spirit and its ability to understand economic, social and environmental issues
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

  • Students must be able to express themselves in French or English and must be able to read fluently French and English.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is designed as a seminar in which the participants are asked to adopt a proactive attitude in order to collectively build their knowledge.
Learning activities include


  • Conceptual and theoretical presentations by the teacher (powerpoint)
  • Scientific readings and discussion in class
 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

The teaching method is mixed. The course is mainly based on face-to-face teaching (introduction to the readings, discussion of the readings) and students will also be invited to prepare the discussions sessions through guided home readings (instructions via the lol @ platform).

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

The course is designed as a participatory course. It requires the physical presence of the students. If the health context prevented the participation of the students, the modalities of discussion of the readings will be adapted. In the event of an individual health problem, the student concerned is requested to contact the teacher asap by e-mail.

Recommended or required readings

The course will use the virtual interface Lol @, on which will be mailed:

  • Powerpoint introductions to the different readings
  • Powerpoint summaries of the discussion sessions
  • Compulsory references for each discussion session
  • Additional references (which reading is recommended but not compulsory)

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

The overall assessment will combine three elements:


  • Active participation in discussions (20%)
  • Summary of a discussion (20%)
  • Oral exam (60%).
In the second session, the assessment consists only of an oral exam.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course takes place in the first term, Friday morning at N1 (room 1715) rue Louvrex .

Contacts

Sybille Mertens Cera Chair- Center for Social Economy HEC-Management School - University of Liège - Sart Tilman B33/box 4 - 4000 Liège Tel : + 32(0) 4 366 27 51 - smertens@uliege.be