After years of planning and aligning with the vision of a sustainable future, several professors from the Business Department have come together to launch the university’s first-ever Sustainability Studies minor.
Professor Daniel Adsett, a driving force behind the minor, explains:
“Ideally, we want students taking the minor, no matter their major, to graduate with a better grasp on the importance of sustainability and environmental issues.”
“Whether they’re studying Computer Science or Literature, we want them to leave with a deeper understanding of climate change, the roles that we play in it, and ways to mitigate its effects and develop solutions. We also aim to show how a university like AUBG can contribute to fostering sustainability.”
A holistic, cross-disciplinary approach
The introduction of the minor is timely, arriving at the convergence of green education, careers, and initiatives. As students grow a more eco-conscious mindset and companies increasingly seek employees with green skills, AUBG reaffirms its position as a forward-thinking university.
Sustainability is integrated into the multitude of aspects of our lives: from daily activities to large-scale institutional changes, and the Sustainability Studies minor addresses precisely that. The 18-credit-hour minor is currently housed within the Business Department, but as Professor Adsett points out, “it isn’t only within the business framework.”
“We wanted it to be interdisciplinary,” Professor Adsett says. “We wanted to cover not just business, but also political science, history, economics, and literature.”
Professor William Clark echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of integrating perspectives from various disciplines, stating, “My vision has always been to create a robust, university-wide presence for sustainability.”
From environmental philosophy and psychology to environmental journalism and even theatre and literature, “we could get almost every single department involved”, added Professor Clark.
At present, students must complete two core courses – Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Ethics – and then choose additional courses within one of three thematic areas: business, science, or policy.
“That’s the essence of our holistic approach,” Professor Adsett says.
“No matter what career students pursue, they’ll know how to implement sustainability in whatever company they join. And they’ll see its intrinsic value, both in terms of reducing the negative impacts humans have on the environment and for its own sake.”
Unlocking green career opportunities
The Sustainability Studies minor opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities. In fact, it could be said that it’s shaping the jobs of the future, which do and will require employees with a great grasp of how sustainability is implemented into the corporate fabric.
Professor Adsett, who recently attended a seminar on education for green jobs held in conjunction with the International Association of Universities (IAU), highlighted that there is a growing demand for workers with green skills. According to Noémie Métais, Education and Advocacy Officer at UN Environment Programme, there is a shortage of talent with sustainability expertise.
“Research has shown that people with credentials in environmental or sustainability studies have a better rate of getting hired right now, especially in the EU,” Professor Adsett shares.
The European Green Deal, launched in 2019, mandates that all companies must achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, increasing the demand for sustainability experts. This is in a bid to build a resource-efficient and competitive economy across the continent.
Young people are also voicing their support for sustainability. There is substantial evidence that Generation Z, the most eco-conscious generation, is pushing for greater awareness and action on climate issues. Offering programs like the Sustainability Studies minor allows AUBG to tap into this motivation and drive lasting change.
Professor Clark adds, “There’s a strong economic incentive to do a Sustainability Studies minor, but there’s also a moral incentive.”
He continues, “Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. We can ignore it, but it’s not going away. So, we need more people to be better informed, and I hope the Sustainability Studies minor helps with that.”
He also outlined some potential career paths for students, from government policy positions to roles in environmental NGOs. “Organizations are specifically looking for the kind of people who graduate from AUBG with critical thinking and language skills, and now, with the added advantage of sustainability expertise, they’ll be in even higher demand.”
But the key, as Professor Clark puts it, is that people entering the job market with this minor should “have a good heart and know what they’re doing.” This combination will benefit both students and the organizations they work for.
The collaborative effort behind the minor
The minor is the work of several professors from the Business Department who share a common goal – a deep, genuine care for the planet and a desire to pass along their knowledge.
Discussions about introducing the minor began around 2010, but it didn’t materialize until this year. “When Professor Daniel Adsett joined AUBG, he really took it upon himself to get the Sustainability Studies minor established, as he’s very passionate about the subject,” Professor Clark explains.
According to the rules governing AUBG, “the minor has to be housed in a specific department”, adds Professor Clark. The Business Department turned out to be the ideal home, as it had several professors with a passion for sustainability.
Besides Professor Adsett and Professor Clark, key contributors include Professor Maria Petrova and Professor Evelina Van Mensel, who played significant roles in creating the minor. In 2023, they launched the Engaging in Sustainability course, which has been well-received by students. Other essential figures include Professor Ezra Winton, who will teach the “Eco Media” course in Spring ‘25, as well as Professor Carter Mandrik, Professor Marenglen Berisha and Professor Rossen Petkov.
Sustainability at AUBG: a long-standing commitment
Sustainability is not a new topic at the institution, and it’s well-integrated into the curriculum. In addition to the newly launched Engaging in Sustainability course, other courses such as Environmental Science, Environmental Economics, and parts of Business Ethics, have been instilling eco-consciousness among students.
“Having an actual minor helps bring all the knowledge together and also provides an extra incentive to students who want some kind of certification for it,” says Professor Adsett, explaining the motivation behind formalizing the program.
Beyond the classroom, AUBG’s sustainability efforts are supported by green campus initiatives, including the Sustainability Club, which has been active since 2020, and the Sustainability Committee. Together, these groups, along with individual initiatives, are driving small but impactful changes, creating a more eco-friendly environment on and off campus.
Hopefully, with increasing interest and new course development, the minor will eventually grow into a major, providing an even more focused path for students. For those seeking a world-class education enhanced with essential sustainability knowledge, our academic offerings are worth exploring.
