Assessing the provisions for sustainability in economics degree programmes
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 8 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Higher education institutions (HEIs) offer courses and programmes focusing on sustainability in economics, as courses on sustainable development (SD), which examine the economic, social and environmental dimensions of SD. This paper aims to examine sustainability integration in economics degree programmes.
Design/methodology/approach
Through an extensive literature review in Web of Science (WoS) and information search in Google, conducting to 28 relevant case studies, this paper elucidates the emphasis given to sustainability as part of economics degree programmes in HEIs.
Findings
The results suggest that, whereas the inclusion of sustainability components in this field is a growing trend, much still needs to be done to ensure that matters related to SD are part of the routine of university students studying economics.
Research limitations/implications
It is worth noting that the literature review conducted in WoS was primarily aimed at assisting in the selection of university case studies. The 28 university case studies scrutinised in this study may lack sufficient representation from numerous developing countries.
Practical implications
This study highlights challenges in integrating the SD into economics degree programmes, suggesting the need for curriculum adjustments as underscoring operational issues, acting as barriers. The inclusion of sustainability in economics programmes must navigate operational issues stemming from packed timetables and busy schedules, requiring innovative solutions.
Social implications
As far as the authors are aware, this study holds substantial importance in its emphasis on implementing sustainability within HEIs’ economics programmes, assisting in pursuing SD.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in addressing sustainability with the specific economics focus programmes within the HEIs context.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Erratum: It has come to the attention of the publisher that the article, Leal Filho, W., Dinis, M.A.P., Morales, M.F., Semitiel-García, M., Noguera-Méndez, P., Ruiz de Maya, S., Alarcón-del-Amo, M.-d., Esteban-Lloret, N. and Pemartín, M. (2024), “Assessing the provisions for sustainability in economics degree programmes”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0382, was published with a formatting error to the text. This error was introduced in the production process and has now been corrected in the online version. The publisher sincerely apologises for this error and for any inconvenience caused.
This paper is part of the “100 papers to accelerate the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals” initiative. This is an initiative being disseminated worldwide.
Data availability: All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.
Competing interests statement: The authors declare no competing interests.
Citation
Leal Filho, W., Dinis, M.A.P., Morales, M.F., Semitiel-García, M., Noguera-Méndez, P., Ruiz de Maya, S., Alarcón-del-Amo, M.-d., Esteban-Lloret, N. and Pemartín, M. (2024), "Assessing the provisions for sustainability in economics degree programmes", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0382
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited