PREPARING RESPONSIBLE FUTURE LEADERS
The climate emergency, social inequalities, and economic turmoil reveal the gravity and urgency of the sustainability challenge. At the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) we are acutely aware of our responsibilities to prepare our graduates
Embedding sustainability into the curricula
The University of Liverpool has pledged that every student will learn about sustainability and our programmes embed the UN’s Sustainability Development
Goals (SDGs). Graduates need to be ‘sustainability literate’ with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to work in an everchanging world. As well as overhauling our curricula to align with the SDGs, we work with employers, policymakers, and communities to equip our graduates with the right skills.
Students access the latest debates through our research-led teaching. ULMS conducts diverse sustainability research, including studies of drone technologies for urban logistics, investor responses to carbon reporting, economic opportunities for refugees, supply chain responses to modern slavery legislation, ethical consumerism, and the social economy. Extra-curricular talks showcase innovative business practices, and our research partners provide live projects for students to work on.
Developing skills for sustainability
Working on real-world projects builds students’ data analysis and problemsolving skills. Small group seminars develop critical thinking by giving time and space for reflective group discussion. Here, students delve into sustainability challenges to tease out the complex issues and tensions at play. With the right skills and knowledge students can take action, and ULMS’ student-led events have included initiatives on growing food, bike hire, reuse of equipment, and the Liverpool Fashion Summit, an annual programme of events tackling sustainability in the fashion industry.
How can organisations get involved?
Our extensive network of business connections support vibrant guest speaker programmes, business breakfast briefing, internships, and student projects. ULMS is currently developing a Centre for Business Sustainability, under the Directorship of Prof. Jo Meehan, and we are keen to hear from organisations in the Liverpool City Region working on sustainability issues, particularly those who would like to work with our research teams.
For further information please email busdev@liverpool.ac.uk