TalTech School of Business and Governance is increasingly employing the principles of social responsibility and environmentally friendly behavior in its teaching and other activities to raise the students’ and employees’ awareness of these areas. The Department of Business Administration will run four open lectures in October and November to educate the public about sustainability, ethics, responsibility, and equal treatment. In the lectures, reputable Estonian companies present their sustainability strategies and experience.
Sustainable entrepreneurship preserves the natural environment, supports social responsibility, creates economic prosperity, and provides a competitive advantage. It encourages innovation and enables companies to meet legislative requirements and the growing consumer demand for sustainable solutions. In addition, sustainability helps to create a positive image and attract qualified employees and investors who share their values. Companies that integrate sustainability into their business model will be more successful and responsible in the future.
According to the organizer of the lecture series, Eliis Salm, sustainability issues cannot be avoided in modern economic education, and the new managers and entrepreneurs’ generation must be able to meet their economic expectations while increasing natural, environmental, and social well-being. The School of Business and Governance of Tallinn University of Technology is the first signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) in Estonia.
"This year, Orkla, the flagship of the food industry; Rimi, an outstanding socially responsible retail chain; Swedbank, one of the largest banks; and Jolos, a leader in sustainable event management, will acquaint their sustainability activities and strategies," says Salm, who has included practitioners guest lecturers in her courses for years. "Although implementing change is often more difficult for larger companies than smaller ones, they are affected faster and more strongly by regulations and market changes. The larger companies' influence on consumer behaviour, which tends to change slowly, cannot be underestimated, either. Since there is no time regarding climate change, changing the offer is extremely important. Preserving a liveable planet cannot be left the consumer's responsibility," adds Eliis Salm, who researches sustainable consumer behaviour in her doctoral thesis.
In open lectures, sustainability strategies and responsible actions will be presented:
Monday, 16 October at 17.45 Rimi Eesti Food AS Head of Responsible Business Katrin Bats: https://www.facebook.com/events/1480620576108301
Friday, 20 October at 17.45 Orkla Sustainability Manager Evelin Heiberg: https://www.facebook.com/events/855453229483519
Monday, 30 October at 17.45 Swedbank Sustainability Area Manager Maris Riim: https://www.facebook.com/events/158287167325182
Monday, 06 November at 17.45 Jolos Sustainability Manager and Partner Katre Kahre: https://www.facebook.com/events/291371226944109
Please register by clicking the link of the event you are interested in.