Ethics and Sustainability

Unit code: VBE1014 | Study level: Undergraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
City Campus
India Online
VU Brisbane
VU Sydney
N/A
Overview
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Overview

Explore the importance of integrity and environmental responsibility in business, with the Ethics and Sustainability unit.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, we will delve into environmental and social issues as they relate to business, via:

  • practical case studies
  • interactive explorations
  • engagement with Indigenous leaders
  • collaboration with industry professionals and community.

You will analyse and investigate the UN Global Compact Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discuss the real-life opportunities and risks these pose for business.


By the end of the unit, you will understand how these concepts relate to your own life as an emerging business professional.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Review, adapt and apply business ethics, via knowledge of the philosophical underpinnings of ethical theories and frameworks to address contemporary ethical and sustainability problems arising in business situations;
  2. Articulate the consequences of unethical conduct and discuss its impact on local and global communities;
  3. Discuss and question the influence of social movements, politics, and peer and competitor pressure, among other factors, on ethical and sustainable decision making in businesses;
  4. Propose creative resolutions, both collaboratively and individually using business ethics theories and concepts to current issues with responsible and professional judgment; and
  5. Propose ethical and sustainable, environmentally, socially and culturally sensitive solutions to contemporary multi-stakeholder problems utilising effective and relevant communications and technologies.
  6. Participate in an academic community through reflective and critical engagement and understanding of principles of academic integrity.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 20%
Online Test Quiz SDGs
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 30%
Written Analysis of a recent article of a known Business Dilemma (In-Class)
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 35%
Research Project reflect opportunities to achieve SDGs (Group)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 15%
Video creation on Group Research Project
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules

Other locations

For students studying at India Online
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 20%
Critical analysis of a recent article of a known business dilemma
Assessment type: Review
|
Grade: 30%
Opportunities to achieve SDGs
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 50%
Communicating ethical action
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules
For students studying at Henan University, Liaoning University
Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 20%
Online Test Quiz SDGs
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 30%
Written Analysis of a recent article of a known Business Dilemma (In-Class)
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 35%
Group Research Project reflect opportunities to achieve SDGs
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 15%
Video creation on Group Research Project
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules

Required reading

Moral issues in business
Shaw, W.H., & Barry, V. (2016)| South Melbourne, Australia: Cengage Learning

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

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