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Integrating Environmental Education Into Business Schools' Educational Plans in Finland

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Abstract

Environmental education in business school context has a significant effect on the way companies view environmental problems. Business schools train the future decision makers who can, with their own attitudes and practical actions, influence the contribution of business to the process of ecologically sustainable development. However, several studies show that no systematic thinking has been undertaken within business education as to what the educational prerequisites of the process of ecologically sustainable development are. In this article, I will firstly analyze by means of environmental education how business polytechnics in Finland have taken into consideration ecologically sustainable development. Secondly, I will raise the starting points for the development of the implementation of environmental education as part of the business schools▪ educational plans. Integrating environmental education into the vocational courses is identified as being one of the most effective ways of increasing the effectiveness of environmental education. Thirdly, the emphasis is on identification of barriers of integrating environmental education into the educational plans of business polytechnics. Theoretically, the article is attached to the objectives and learning concepts of environmental education and to educational planning theory in general. The empirical data are based on interviews I conducted 1999–2000 in all Finnish polytechnics offering business education. My article increases theoretical and practical understanding of how environmental education should be implemented in business education and how the current situation could be developed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helsinki Business Polytechnic, Rautatieläisenkatu 5, 00520, Helsinki, Finland

    Liisa Rohweder

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  1. Liisa Rohweder
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Rohweder, L. Integrating Environmental Education Into Business Schools' Educational Plans in Finland. GeoJournal 60, 175–181 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GEJO.0000033588.66667.0a

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