SIGMA Global
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Course syllabus

Course description

United Nations, 2015

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in 2015, showcase universally applicable targets intended to mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities, and tackle climate change.

While the SDGs are not legally binding, countries are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks aimed to accomplish the goals. Furthermore, all stakeholders including governments, civil society, the private sector, and others are demanded to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Consequently, businesses are supposed to play an integral part in contributing to the Agenda 2030. However, these developments imply radical rethinking of established business practices, models, approaches, and paradigms.

Under the theme of the SDGs, this course encourages students to rethink international management from various perspectives: Students become familiar with business approaches addressing the SDGs, related players and stakeholders involved, and their roles and responsibilities. They are introduced into solution approaches by organizations that contribute to achieving the SDGs and to mechanisms to ensure compliance. 

Online Modules

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

Module 7

Module 8

The Case Cast

  • The Case Cast is the outcome of the group work. It comprises a written analysis and a short video pitch presented in a screencast PowerPoint presentation that explains the group's analysis concisely.

  • Students work in cross-university teams to elaborate a case analysis of a self-chosen example of sustainable business practice.

  • This challenging task requires students to research, review and critically evaluate an organization's strategy that addresses one or more SDGs.

  • The group members need to organize their time by the others' schedules and manage the steps of the project in a limited period.

  • Find more information on the group work in the section group assignment and group work


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Reflection paper

The reflection paper is elaborated in individual work. It is handed in and graded by the lecturer of the home university. For questions on the reflection paper, please refer to the lecturer of your home university.

Course assessment

Online modules

Case Cast

Course grading

The SIGMA Global Virtual Course will be graded based on three elements: The online quizzes, the CaseCast and a reflection paper.

Grading key:

Online Quizzes (individual work)20% (8 modules, 3 points each)
CaseCast (group work)50% (60 points)
Reflection paper (individual work)30% (36 points)

  • Since the participating institutions have different grading systems, you might also have additional tasks (e.g. homework essays,...). If this is the case, the lecturer(s) of your home university will let you know.

Contact

Questions regarding course administration

Claudia Böck, M.A.

Claudia Böck, M.A.

claudia.boeck@wu.ac.at