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.

    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

    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
    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

    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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