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Description
Climate change and global sustainability goals, such as the Green Deal, are significant challenges not only for the chemical and food industry, but also for the education in this field. The University of Pardubice and the Norwegian University College of Green Development respond to this challenge with a project that aims to promote the teaching of managers in the issues of proactive citizenship and corporate environmental and social responsibility. First, the partners will share their knowledge and best practices in this field during peer-learning workshops. Afterwards, they will innovate curricula of the courses taught at the University of Pardubice, supplemented with teaching materials including case studies and applicable teaching methods. Thanks to the materials created in the project and the improved skills of teachers, students will gain economic and managerial knowledge and know-how in sustainable environmental and social issues. Furthermore, the project will promote their sense of citizenship and responsibility towards corporate stakeholders and society in the context of chemical production.
Summary of project results
The reason for implementing the NEWTEC project was to conveniently modify the education of future managers at the University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, in courses oriented towards sustainability, sustainable and responsible business. The educational and scientific activity of the project recipient is focused on industrial chemical companies, where an emphasis on environmental and social responsibility is required. The newly conceived profile of the graduate therefore offers education not only in the field of economic and management skills of graduates, but also knowledge of environmental issues, sustainability of business activities, strengthening of corporate social responsibility and responsible citizenship.
The essence of the project was getting to know the process and teaching methods at the partner institution Hogskulen for Gron Utvikling in Bryne, Norway (hereinafter HGUt) through peer learning activities and innovations of 10 selected subjects at the University of Pardubice (hereinafter UPCE). Peer learning activities were focused on knowledge and best practices in the field of sustainable business, changes in business models and regenerative development at the highest global level.
The project implemented two peer learning activities connected with two topics taught on the one hand by the Norwegian partner in Bryn (Peer-learning activity I) and the other took place at the University of Pardubice (Peer-learning activity II). An intellectual output summarizing the content, form, conditions, and recommendations for teaching specifically prepared for the beneficiaries of the project was linked to each peer learning activity and handed over by the Norwegian partner.
Based on these activities and the materials received, the Czech lecturers innovated a total of 11 (one more than originally planned) taught courses (Intellectual output III) and introduced the method of active citizenship under the name Corporate Compass. Curricula of innovative courses were changed, study materials and case studies were created or innovated. A summary of all changes was documented in individual reports, informative large-format posters were created, all permanently available on the project''s website.
Summary of bilateral results
A significant benefit of the project was raising awareness of the partner institution''s approach to social responsibility, sustainable development, and regenerative development. With a proactive approach at HGUt, new business models are implemented in the Jaeren region, and the partner presented a number of these projects as examples of Best Practice in business sustainability and responsible citizenship. In this regard, the project contributed greatly and confirmed to the project participants that education in the field of sustainability and corporate responsibility is feasible, important, and necessary in the context of maintaining the standard of living on the planet.