Driving business towards the Sustainable Development Goals
- 4.8
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Approx. 15 hours to complete
Course Summary
This course teaches you the fundamentals of sustainable development and how to integrate sustainability into a business strategy. It covers topics such as environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.Key Learning Points
- Learn how to integrate sustainability into a business strategy
- Understand the principles of sustainable development
- Explore the impact of sustainability on business operations
- Discover strategies for measuring and reporting on sustainability performance
Related Topics for further study
- Sustainable Development
- Environmental Sustainability
- Social Responsibility
- Sustainability Reporting
- Business Strategy
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the principles of sustainable development and its impact on business
- Develop strategies for integrating sustainability into business operations
- Learn how to measure and report on sustainability performance
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic understanding of business operations
- Interest in sustainable development and its impact on business
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Greening the Economy: Sustainable Cities
- Sustainable Tourism: Rethinking the Future
Related Education Paths
- Certificate in Sustainable Business
- MBA in Sustainability
- Master of Science in Sustainable Development
Related Books
Description
Extreme weather events, wars, famine and environmental destruction are just a few of the wicked problems faced by humanity.
Knowledge
- Know what the SDGs are, why they are important and how each individual can be an agent for positive change in the world
- Develop a positive, critical, aware and courageous attitude towards the SDGs
- Be able to identify interconnectedness of the SDGs and the challenges behind solving them
- Understand the role of business in the transition to sustainable development to create a prosperous future for all
Outline
- Week 1: Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Welcome, general introduction to the MOOC and practicalities (Lauren Verheijen)
- A Systematic Hierarchy of the SDGs and the MOOC structure (Lauren Verheijen)
- Sustainable development: a wicked opportunity for business? (Professor Rob van Tulder)
- Positive change starts with I WILL – the hummingbird (Eva Rood)
- Summary of Week 1 (Lauren Verheijen)
- Week 1: Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Introduction to the Hummingbird Challenges
- Hummingbird Challenge 1: Calculate your footprint
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- What do you know about the SDGs?
- Week 2: The Biosphere
- Introduction to the Biosphere SDGs, with a focus on SDG 13 (Lauren Verheijen)
- The business case for Climate Action (Dr Steve Kennedy)
- Floor covering company learns from nature to bring positive change (Geanne van Arkel, Interface)
- Life below Water (SDG 14) and Life on Land (SDG 15) (Lauren Verheijen)
- How business can mitigate externalities that impact oceans and contribute to SDG 14: Life below Water (Dr Mallory Flowers)
- The WWF/Rabobank partnership to work towards sustainable salmon production in Chile (Brenda de Swart, Cristina Torres and other stakeholders involved, WWF and Rabobank Chile).
- How to design and enforce effective sustainability standards to contribute to SDG 15: Life on Land (Dr Frank Wijen)
- The B Corps Assessment for companies that balance purpose and profit (Marcello Palazzi, B Corporations)
- How business schools can contribute to ecosystem restoration (Willem Ferwerda, Commonland)
- Clean Water and Sanitation – SDG 6 (Lauren Verheijen)
- How the finance industry can drive sustainable solutions (Professor Dirk Schoenmaker)
- Achieving responsible long-term returns with global investments (Frank Roeters van Lennep, PGGM)
- Summary of Week 2 (Lauren Verheijen)
- Introduction to the Biosphere
- Hummingbird Challenge 2: Reduce your footprint
- Challenges related to water
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- What is the progress on SDG 15?
- What do you know about SDGs 6, 13, 14, and 15?
- Week 3: Society I
- Introduction to Society I (Lauren Verheijen)
- Sustainable development begins with respecting human rights (Professor Cees van Dam)
- How can businesses contribute to human rights and to SDG 1: No Poverty? (Heleen Tiemersma)
- Tony’s Chocolonely, working towards a slave-free chocolate industry and contributing to SDG 1: No Poverty (Arjen Boekhold)
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being for People (Lauren Verheijen)
- The role of finance in meeting SDG 2: Zero Hunger (Dr Marta Szymanowska)
- Driving sustainable development and tackling SDG 2: Zero Hunger through finance – FMO the Dutch Development Bank (Pieternel Boogaard, Joanita Wartemberg, and Toghrul Khalilli)
- How value-based healthcare contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being for People (Professor Erik van Raaij)
- A business case for value-based care of patients with Type 1 diabetes (Dr Henk-Jan Aanstoot, Diabeter)
- Introducing SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Lauren Verheijen)
- Reaching SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Dr Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal)
- How the Port of Rotterdam is contributing to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Caroline Kroes)
- Summary of Week 3 (Lauren Verheijen)
- Introduction to Society I
- Hummingbird Challenge 3: Who made your clothes?
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- What do you know about SDGs 1, 2, 3, and 7?
- Week 4: Society II
- Introduction to Society II (Lauren Verheijen)
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Dr Tobias Brandt)
- Interconnectedness of SDGs 4, 5, 10 (Lauren Verheijen)
- How business can contribute to education and equality (Assistant Professor Samer Abdelnour and Theodor Cătăniciu, Restart Network)
- Introducing goal setting at RSM (Lauren Verheijen)
- Reducing inequality through goal setting (Professor Michaéla Schippers)
- Goal setting to keep students at university and reduce inequality (Professor Steef van de Velde)
- Tackling gender inequality (Professor Dianne Bevelander)
- Summary of Week 4 (Lauren Verheijen)
- Introduction to Society II
- Your I WILL statement
- Hummingbird challenge 4: Implicit associations
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- Case study: Sustainable transportation by bike sharing
- What do you know about SDGs 4, 5, 10, and 11?
- Week 5: Economy
- Introduction to Economy (Lauren Verheijen)
- How workplace safety contributes to SDG 8 (Professor René de Koster)
- How CEVA maintains a culture of workplace safety (Bart Beeks)
- Innovation towards balanced development (Dr Ying Zhang)
- Working towards Sustainable Urban Deltas (Meiny Prins, Priva)
- Introduction to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Lauren Verheijen)
- Developing entrepreneurial business culture to improve sustainability (Dr Ferdinand Jaspers)
- Shifting to a circular economy to support SDG 12 (Harald Tepper, Philips)
- Changing consumers’ consumption choices through language (Dr Anne-Kathrin Klesse)
- Using communication to make consumption more sustainable (Michaël Wilde, Eosta)
- Summary of Week 5 (Lauren Verheijen)
- Introduction to Economy
- Your power as a consumer
- Hummingbird Challenge 5: Tracing the source of your lunch
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- What do you know about SDGs 8, 9, and 12?
- Week 6: Partnerships
- Introduction to the partnership week and SDG 17 (Lauren Verheijen)
- How can we develop effective, cross-sector partnerships? (Marieke de Wal)
- Succesful partnerships for the goals in practice (Ricardo Bosshard, WWF Chile)
- Introduction to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Lauren Verheijen)
- The business case for ensuring safety and security (Professor Gabriele Jacobs)
- Three experts describe the changes and challenges in safety and security (Adriaan van Dorp, ABN AMRO; Dieter Schuermann, Ministry of Interior and Klaus Stullenberg, private security sector)
- Summary of Week 6 (Lauren Verheijen)
- Introduction to Partnerships
- Corporate involvement in the SDGs
- Hummingbird Challenge 6: Collaborations and Partnerships
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- What do you know about SDGs 16 and 17?
- Week 7: Systems thinking
- Introduction to Week 7: Systems thinking (Lauren Verheijen)
- Understanding the synergies and trade-offs of the SDGs (Dr Amanda Williams)
- The SDGs as a blueprint for fulfilling a business purpose (Bob Collymore, CEO Safaricom Plc)
- Whatever happened to the forest? (Eva Rood)
- Conclusion of the MOOC (Lauren Verheijen)
- Introduction to Systems thinking
- The SDGs in business strategies
- Hummingbird Challenge 7: Map a system and intervene
- Evaluation of the MOOC
- Get your Positive Change Ambassador badge!
- Recommended readings and learning materials
- Synergies and Trade-offs
- Reflect on your learning goals
- What will be your next steps?
Summary of User Reviews
Learn sustainable business practices and how to implement them in the SDG Business course on Coursera. Students rave about the course's comprehensive curriculum and expert instructors. One key aspect that many users appreciate is the practical application of sustainable business concepts in real-world scenarios.Pros from User Reviews
- Comprehensive curriculum
- Expert instructors
- Practical application of concepts
- Flexible schedule
- Affordable price
Cons from User Reviews
- Limited interaction with instructors
- Some technical issues with the platform
- Lack of personalized feedback
- Heavy workload
- Some content may be repetitive
Gabriele Jacobs
4.8 Raiting
Code & Grow Rich: Earn More As An Entrepreneur Or Developer
- 4.2
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Make More Money as an Entrepreneur, Web & Mobile App Developer, Software Engineer, Startup Junkie, or Programmer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Feb 16th 2016* -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Conversations with Global Leaders: Leading on Sustainable Development
- 0.0
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Interact with global leaders LIVE and hear their perspectives on the Agenda for Sustainable Development. But are good leaders born or are they made?...
Spiritual Coach Certification (Accredited)
- 4.8
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Coach others into alignment, fulfillment, connection & meaning! Elevate your life coaching business to the next level. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We are top Udemy instructors in the personal development category....
Corporate Sustainability. Understanding and Seizing the Strategic Opportunity
- 4.6
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
What is less clear is whether and how organizations can generate business opportunities and value for their stakeholders while tackling such challenges....
