Lisiane Celia Palma, Lessandra Medeiros de Oliveira, Nilo Barcelos Alves and Paola Schmitt Figueiró
This study aims to analyze the extent to which sustainability and its related core aspects have been integrated in the curricula of Business Administration programs in Brazilian…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the extent to which sustainability and its related core aspects have been integrated in the curricula of Business Administration programs in Brazilian federal public universities over the past ten years.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal exploratory study, with a descriptive scope, was carried out to evaluate the changes that have occurred in the curricula between the years 2011 and 2021. The analysis focused on the Pedagogical Project of the Business Administration programs offered by the Brazilian federal universities identified in the e-Ministry of Education’s (MEC) database of higher educational institutions and course registration. From the total number of federal universities identified in the e-MEC, about 90% were considered for the research.
Findings
The number of courses related to sustainability in Business Administration programs increased considerably in ten years. However, these courses still represent a low percentage of hours in the overall curriculum. Moreover, almost a third of Business Administration programs may produce graduates who have never addressed sustainability during their studies.
Research limitations/implications
This research does not consider other aspects of the curriculum beyond courses, nor does it collect primary data that allows for inferences about the transversal nature of the theme.
Practical implications
This study contributes to monitoring the performance of Brazilian federal universities teaching sustainability and its related core aspects in Business Administration programs. This updated panorama may aid in the search for strategies to expand actions related to education for sustainability (EfS) in educational institutions (EIs).
Social implications
This study presents some of the impacts of implementing the national environmental education curriculum guidelines. This study encourages discussion about EfS in Business Administration programs and in public EIs, which are important actors for promoting sustainable development.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study that maps the courses related to sustainability in Business Administration programs at Brazilian federal public universities. This study offers the first responses to a broad and complex topic, of a region and disciplinary field, of which there are not many studies done, opening doors to subsequent investigations.
Details
Keywords
Lisiane Celia Palma, Lessandra M. de Oliveira and Keitiline R. Viacava
The purpose of this paper is to identify the number of courses related to sustainability offered in bachelor degree programs of business administration in Brazilian federal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the number of courses related to sustainability offered in bachelor degree programs of business administration in Brazilian federal universities.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory research was carried out based on a descriptive scope. The process of mapping federal universities in Brazil was carried out using data available in the Cadastro das Instituições de Educação Superior (General Register of Undergraduate Institutions), on the Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais – INEPE (National Institute for Educational Studies and Research) web site. Then, researchers collected business administration curricula from the universities' web sites. The present study was based on 40 of the 45 universities first considered, which represents 89 percent of the programs offered in Brazil. After data collection – performed from July to August 2009 – a qualitative analysis of the curriculum was carried out.
Findings
The inclusion of new courses that involve sustainability in business administration programs is still irregular and slow. Of the 40 universities investigated, only 13 (around 33 percent) offered courses related to the topic.
Research limitations/implications
The nature of the research does not allow generalizations regarding other public or private undergraduate institutions.
Practical implications
Results denote a deficiency in relation to the adoption of required courses on sustainability. This gap in the curriculum may compromise the ability of business administration students – who are the future managers and strategists – to reflect on the role of organizations in society.
Originality/value
The present study is the first to examine the teaching of sustainability in Brazilian business education. It also contributes to monitoring the performance of Brazilian federal universities in the teaching of sustainability in business administration programs.