Adina Popa
Senior Lecturer in Business Administration
The project aims to address current needs in higher education by integrating sustainability aspects into the subjects of accounting, economics, finance and management.
The European Union increasingly recognises the need to equip its workforce with sustainability competencies, driven by the green sector's growth and the urgency for sustainable practices.
This commitment underscores educational institutions' role in achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Aligned with these goals, the SUSTAIN-ACE project integrates sustainability into accounting, economics, finance, and management curricula.
The project employs a 'tradinnovation' approach, blending traditional knowledge with innovative methods to foster collaboration and leverage the diverse expertise and experiences of the project partners. Cultivating a synergistic ecosystem, it brings together universities, companies, municipalities, NGOs, and other stakeholders to develop cross-disciplinary solutions, enhancing participants' ability to address interconnected sustainability challenges.
Utilising interactive, experiential, and research-based methodologies, the project deepens understanding of key sustainability concepts, thereby equipping students with competencies to transform their approach to business.
Main objectives of the project:
- Develop Capacity Building of Partner Universities through Collaborative Relationships with Stakeholders for Sustainable Development: Create an online micro-learning platform. Collaborate with stakeholders to co-create curricula addressing sustainability challenges, leading to partnership agreements supporting the educational objectives.
- Integrate Sustainability into Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Management Education: Develop future-oriented with digital educational packages and microlearning courses. Conduct an overview of micro-credentials/ECTS recognition to facilitate academic integration.
- Exchange Best Practices in Teaching Sustainability to Foster Inclusive and Diverse Learning Environments: Establish an international network to share best practices. Organise workshops and International Study Programs (ISPs) to foster inclusive learning environments and document the transition to sustainability-focused education.
Project Management
Rodica Blidisel, Associate Professor, PhD, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Western University of Timisoara (Romania) leads the overarching project, while Adina Popa is project coordinator for the University of Skövde.