The programmes at the University have been missing the sustainability-perspective. That is the opinion of two students at the School of Economics and Management. They have started the Oikos society, to promote the perspective.
Oftentimes, capitalism is associated with maximised profit margins rather than recycling and solar cells. The international student society Oikos want to change this by shifting the focus to sustainability in economics and company administration.
Oikos consist of several smaller societies, based in universities throughout Europe – one of which is the newly founded Oikos Lund at the School of Economics and Management (LUSEM) at Lund University.
Hopes to find environmental champions
The driving forces behind the society are the economy students Enrique Figallo and Najla Vallander. They are hoping to attract environmental champions amongst the economy students in Lund.
“Sustainable development is hardly discussed within LUSEM. Therefore, it is important that the students receive this knowledge from somewhere else” Najla Vallander explains.
Oikos primarily puts resources and efforts in lectures about sustainable venturing. The lectures are free of charge and open to all students. But so far, economy students have not shown a lot of interest.
“Many exchange students and students in environmental studies attend the lectures. But we have barely had one of the economy students, who we primarily aim to attract”, Enrique says.
With a goal to reach more people
Therefore, the society want to reach even more students at LUSEM – but the founders were aware of the challenge awaiting them. Lecturers have hinted at the fact that interest was low concerning sustainability.
“We spoke to one professor of business economy and he was not surprised. In his experience, economy students focus on what is taught in the class rooms, and to a lesser degree, things beyond that”, Najla Vallander says.
The Dean does not agree
But the Dean of LUSEM, Fredrik Andersson, is not quite of the same opinion. According to him, strong winds of change are blowing in the subject.
“Generally speaking, a movement is underway from focussing only on profits towards also taking the interests of other legitimate operators into consideration”, he says.
The Dean’s statement indicates that this is the right time to initiate such organisations as Oikos – even though interest so far has remained low for the activities arranged by the society. Enrique Figallo stresses the importance of Oikos.
“Today, sustainability is seen as such an important component that all companies must integrate it in their objectives. We want to show that economy and environment are not two completely separated fields, and that sustainability does not contradict profit”, he says.
The next lecture arranged by Oikos Lund takes place on 12 November at Ekonomicentrum. The lecturer of the day is Björn Stigsson, CEO of World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and is due to begin at 4 P.M.
Article: Hilda Gullberg
Translation: Richard Helander
