Sustainability in teaching and studying

Further current projects and seminars

Sustainability in sales and marketing

Civil society expects companies and organisations to treat people, flora, fauna and natural resources responsibly. Students who will be responsible for business management decisions and occupy management positions tomorrow need to be just as aware of their responsibility as of their possibilities for action so that companies can operate sustainably. In both research and teaching, business administration therefore focuses extensively on questions of environmental or sustainability management. Sales and marketing functions are close to the market, and as such they are particularly responsible for acting in a way that is as eco-friendly and socially acceptable as possible.

For more than 10 years, the Chair of Sales and Marketing has therefore offered courses which specifically address sustainability. The Sustainability in Sales and Marketing lecture (formerly: Ecological and Ethical Issues in Marketing) has been offered every winter semester since 2010, currently under the direction of Peter van Dyck and Professor Frank Wimmer (lecturer, former chair). In previous semesters, seminars were also held on environmental aspects of business administration. A seminar on sustainable product management was regularly organised in cooperation with Siemens Healthineers, allowing many students to expand on their interest in sustainability management issues. Today, several of the participants have positions where their responsibilities lie in exactly these areas.

Sustainability in value creation systems as a teaching topic

The Chair of Operations Management and Logistics is also committed to addressing the topic of sustainability within its courses and integrating it into the business administration studies provided.

This includes Dr Björn Asdecker’s decision—based on feedback from students—to redesign his master’s course “Supply Chain Management”. Sustainability is not only to be treated as a marginal aspect, but has instead become the central focus. This also involves incorporating real-world viewpoints and perspectives into teaching.