Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 26/27.R.2.00

Description Period: 2026./27 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Sustainable Development in Economy and Business

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
SZF_229
Branch of Science
Economics and Business
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Business Management
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Tatjana Muravska
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Kuldīgas street 9c, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

Provide students with knowledge of current trends in the concept of sustainable development in economy and business, with a particular focus on the social and humanitarian aspects of the concept of sustainable development.

Preliminary Knowledge

Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, International Business, Organisational Theory and Enterprise Strategy and Policy.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Knowledge of “best practices” in modern SD structures, getting acquainted with the new Agenda 2030 and the implementation process of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in modern economy (with impacts on the Baltic States).

Skills

1.Ability to analyse various aspects of SD and its feasibility – human, social, developmental & climate and, as well as skills in identifying different policy facets in SD.

Competences

1.Become active in the front-side of modern development: clever, creative, sustainable and effective policies.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-
To successfully complete the course, students need to prepare a report and a summary of the course, as well as actively participate in the course sessions, pass the tests and exam. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
10 points

The final mark will consist of the sum of all the marks. Knowledge will be assessed on a 10-point grading scale

Report – 20%, Presentation– 20%, Activity and tests in seminars – 20%, Exam – 40%.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Sustainable development as a concept
Description
  • Ilgtspējīga attīstība kā koncepts
  • Trīs ilgtspējīgas attīstības pīlāri
  • Starptautisko institūciju loma ilgtspējības koncepcijas izveidē
  • Ilgtspējīgas attīstības mērķi 

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Economic sustainable development
Description
  • New economic thinking 
  • Digital economy and new values creation 
  • Financial and monetary systems and taxation 

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Business sustainable development
Description
  • Transforming markets
  • Advanced manufacturing and production
  • Future of consumption 
  • Consumer well-being

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Social (and cultural) sustainability
Description
  • Balance in life in a developed society
  • Sustaining and enhancing human and natural resources

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Financing Sustainable Development
Description
  • National SDG-integration plans
  • Private and public funds
  • Innovative methods

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Accelerating Climate Action
Description
  • Understanding climate risks
  • Building climate coalitions
  • The Paris Agreement
  • UN Climate Change Conferences

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

The holistic approach and a long-term perspective
Description
  • Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development
  • Bridging the East-West Divide on Climate Change
  • Policy implications
  • The Great reset. WEF Initiatives

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

EU transition strategy and reforms: EU Green Deal
Description
  • EU Green Deal: Strategic Framework
  • Key Policy Pillars
  • Sustainable growth
  • Inclusive transition

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Sustainable development as a concept
Description
  • Ilgtspējīga attīstība kā koncepts
  • Trīs ilgtspējīgas attīstības pīlāri
  • Starptautisko institūciju loma ilgtspējības koncepcijas izveidē
  • Ilgtspējīgas attīstības mērķi 

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Economic sustainable development
Description
  • New economic thinking 
  • Digital economy and new values creation 
  • Financial and monetary systems and taxation 

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Business sustainable development
Description
  • Transforming markets
  • Advanced manufacturing and production
  • Future of consumption 
  • Consumer well-being

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Social (and cultural) sustainability
Description
  • Balance in life in a developed society
  • Sustaining and enhancing human and natural resources

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Financing Sustainable Development
Description
  • National SDG-integration plans
  • Private and public funds
  • Innovative methods

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The holistic approach and a long-term perspective
Description
  • Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development
  • Bridging the East-West Divide on Climate Change
  • Policy implications
  • The Great reset. WEF Initiatives

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

EU transition strategy and reforms: EU Green Deal
Description
  • EU Green Deal: Strategic Framework
  • Key Policy Pillars
  • Sustainable growth
  • Inclusive transition

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Accelerating Climate Action
Description
  • Understanding climate risks
  • Building climate coalitions
  • The Paris Agreement
  • UN Climate Change Conferences
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

UN Global Compact. For Corporate reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals- Action Platform Reporting on the SDGs.

2.

Brundtland Report - Our Common Future by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)

3.

Global Reporting Initiative

4.

UN. Sustainable Development Goals

5.

The Future of European Competitiveness

Additional Reading

1.

Indicators  of Sustainable Development, Framework and Methodologies: 4 issue areas

2.

OECD. Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress

3.

WEF. Chief Economists’ Outlook. 2025

4.

Essential Concepts for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals

Other Information Sources

1.

The European Business Network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility