BUSINESS BRIEFING
All the latest updates from across AMBA’s global network
Featured among the latest updates from AMBA-accredited schools is a look at one university’s initiative that involves sharing its sustainability teaching materials, how conspiracy theories can create a community bond and the perils of CEOs underestimating their CMOs. Tim Banerjee Dhoul and Ellen Buchan report
SCHOOL : University of St Gallen, Switzerland NEW PLATFORM OFFERS FREE TEACHING RESOURCES ON SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
The University of St Gallen (HSG) has made a collection of around 300 teaching materials freely available with the launch of a new platform called Sustainability in Academia (SiA). “Surveys at HSG showed that lecturers want support in integrating sustainability topics into their teaching,” revealed Anna Diaz, project manager of the platform and an expert in circular economy at the school. Among the materials currently available through the platform are a simulation for developing climate solutions, explanatory videos about a new currency system and research articles on green investments. Launched in collaboration with WWF Switzerland and the Network for Business Sustainability (NBS), the collection has concentrated on HSG’s expertise in economics, management, finance and marketing to date, but will soon extend its remit to incorporate other subjects, such as computer science and natural sciences.
To ensure quality, admission of any material in the platform comes only after evaluation from a pool of around 50 experts from WWF, NBS, HSG and other universities. There is also an emphasis on promoting “innovative formats such as project work with industry partners, podcasts or ‘serious games’” according to Fabio Allegrini, who forms part of HSG’s Responsibility & Sustainability Team, together with Diaz. “Issues of sustainability affect all industries,” Allegrini added. “With SiA content, students learn how to tackle complex challenges, such as climate change, inequality and resource scarcity.” However, SiA is not intended solely as a repository for teaching materials, sources and ideas; it also aims to be a growing network for sustainability. More than 400 lecturers took part in workshops and webinars related to the platform’s development and the expectation is that this number could rise to 1,000 by 2027, with conferences and partnerships involving universities and academic networks also in the pipeline. TBD
8 Ambition • ISSUE 5 • 2025
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