FIN30220 Green Ventures

Academic Year 2020/2021

The terms green and sustainable are often misunderstood. Still, one thing is clear: there is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in the mission, purpose and values of businesses and individuals to counter social and environmental problems such as wealth inequality, biodiversity loss, global warming and climate change. Relying solely on technical fixes, top-down leadership, old-fashion corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and various marker-driven approaches will not ensure a thriving society and planet.

A distinctive and radical approach is attempted in this module. One aim is to help students understand how value, both monetary and non-monetary, is created and shared through the development of purpose-driven green or sustainable ventures. Another is to show how individual entrepreneurs can flourish when they find meaning in their lives through developing ventures that improve the well-being both of themselves and the planet.

The overarching content explores relationships between resources (e.g., natural, financial, cultural, social) and the creation and sharing of value. The module attempts to help students imagine, set up and operate in practice, a green venture.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Understand how real value is analysed, created and shared (or destroyed) by studying the stories of successful green/sustainable ventures from around the world.
- Appreciate how sustainability is enhanced through integrating natural, financial, cultural and social resources.
- Realise the critical role that identity, culture, local communities and place play in green ventures.
- Be adept, through working with group colleagues, at conceptualising and planning an imaginative and regenerative green venture to create real value.
- Have reflected on how they can build a good life, driven by deep meaning and purpose, and founded on green principles, by either working for others or setting up their own venture .

Indicative Module Content:

Topics such as purpose, real/shared value, common good, consumerism, materialism, self-limits, cooperatives, community-led ventures, circular economy, natural capital, regenerative innovation, waste minimisation, eco-design, sense of place, rootedness, and more are explored.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

114
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, discussions, case studies, readings and talks by outside speakers expose students to inspiring stories of green businesses.

Students collaboratively work as a member of a small group on the development of a green project which is written up and presented at the end of the semester. This helps develop self-confidence and communication skills as there is on-going discussions during the semester on the group project.

Students are required to submit an individual essay/report drawing on materials covered in class, research conducted on their own and self-reflection. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Group Project: Green Project Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded Yes

40
Assignment: Individual Assessment Week 12 n/a Graded Yes

60

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.