Duration
8h Th, 100h AUTR
Number of credits
| Master in global transition and sustainability management | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
If a student fails an examination during the first term:
- They are permitted to resit the assessed subject during the second term (May-June);
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course unit invites students to undertake a service-learning project focusing on the sustainability and resilience challenges faced by organisations.
Based on a real-world issue or a prospective scenario, students analyse how an organisation can anticipate, manage, or learn from a situation that may affect its sustainability, resilience, or operations. Topics may include the analysis and further development of existing strategies, preparedness for major events (e.g. environmental, climate, energy, health, or geopolitical crises), and the formulation of recommendations aimed at strengthening an organisation's capacity to adapt.
In line with the service-learning approach, students adopt a reflective stance throughout the process.
Conducted throughout the academic year, the project benefits from methodological guidance provided by the teaching team and from interactions with professionals and stakeholders from the professional world.
Seminars (8 hours) complement the project and address, in particular:
- literature review and critical analysis methods;
- project management principles;
- testimonials and lectures by experts from public, private, and non-profit organisations;
- contemporary issues related to transitions and sustainability.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Upon completion of this course unit, students will be able to:
- critically analyse a sustainability-related issue within an organisational context;
- identify the main challenges, risks, opportunities, and stakeholders associated with a given situation;
- search for, select, and use relevant scientific and professional sources to support their analysis;
- adopt a structured methodological approach to carrying out a project;
- identify the factors that may influence an organisation's resilience and adaptive capacity;
- develop well-supported recommendations that take environmental, social, economic, and organisational dimensions into account;
- collaborate effectively within a team;
- engage in reflective practice regarding their learning;
- plan and organise the different stages of a project;
- communicate the results of their work in a clear, structured manner appropriate for a professional audience.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
No specific prerequisites are required.
Students are encouraged to draw on their critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, analytical abilities, knowledge and skills acquired in other course units of the Master's programme, as well as their ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The Capstone Project is carried out in small groups and is based on a Service Learning approach, enabling students to develop their analytical skills, critical thinking, and systemic understanding of the sustainability challenges faced by organisations.
Based on a real-world issue or a prospective scenario, each group conducts research, analysis, and reflection aimed at gaining a better understanding of the challenges faced by an organisation and identifying well-supported courses of action. Throughout the project, students progressively draw on the knowledge and skills developed in the various course units of the Master's programme.
Methodological resources (scientific articles, reports, case studies, guides, videos, and other learning materials) are made available on the course platform to support students throughout the process.
The project is carried out collaboratively, with regular guidance from the teaching team. Students plan their work, allocate responsibilities within their groups, organise the different stages of the project, and receive regular feedback to support the continuous improvement of their analysis and reflection.
Several activities are organised throughout the project:
During the first semester
- an introductory session presenting the objectives, organisational arrangements, and assessment criteria of the Capstone Project;
- presentation of the topics and challenges proposed by partner organisations or by the teaching team;
- formation of small working groups and validation of the selected topics;
- methodological seminars focusing on literature research, critical analysis of sources, the scientific approach, and project management;
- lectures and presentations by experts from academic, business, public-sector, or non-profit organisations;
- preparation of a project scoping document outlining the selected issue, project objectives, proposed methodology, and provisional timeline;
- an interim presentation aimed at gathering feedback from the teaching team and, where possible, from the partner organisation.