The International Week at Montpellier Business School provided an excellent opportunity to engage with sustainability topics from a fresh, international perspective. Ing. Renata Čuhlová, Ph.D., BA (Hons) delivered a comprehensive course titled Social and Environmental Transition to first-year Bachelor students. Taught in English, the course addressed some of the most urgent global challenges of our time, including sustainability, climate change, and the circular economy. Over the course of the week, students examined how business can serve as a catalyst for positive change in both society and the environment.
The course introduced fundamental concepts such as environmental innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and the circular economy. Emphasis was placed on developing a critical understanding of these areas and their relevance in modern business practice. Students explored how CSR contributes to ethical decision-making, transparency, and corporate accountability. Global business ethics were also discussed with real-world examples helping students identify the values behind responsible leadership.
Special attention was given to how environmental innovation can be embedded into business strategies. The course encouraged students to evaluate the social and environmental impact of business activities, products, and services. This included sessions on sustainable entrepreneurship, creating shared value, and redefining productivity within value chains. Another key component focused on impact measurement, through CSR reporting, soft metrics, and transparent communication, offering students practical tools to assess and report on sustainability performance.
Contextual understanding was woven throughout the course, considering industry-specific, geographic, and political influences on sustainability practices. The importance of engaging stakeholders in the transition toward responsible business was also highlighted, reinforcing the need for collaboration and dialogue in achieving environmental and social goals.
The course received positive feedback for its practical orientation, and thought-provoking discussions. The students responded with high levels of engagement, participating actively in case studies, group exercises, and critical reflections.
Montpellier Business School’s International Week provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and cross-cultural learning. The collaboration reflected the importance of international academic partnerships in preparing future leaders to navigate complex global challenges with responsibility and purpose.
When we reach for a pack of chicken in the supermarket, we rarely know how the animal was actually raised. Was it crammed into a large industrial barn without natural light? Did it have access to outdoor space and the ability to express natural behaviours? Or did it grow so quickly that its weight caused its own bones to break?
Dr. Prateek Kalia from Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University, Brno spent two intensive weeks (11-24 May 2025) at Swansea University’s Bay Campus. He was hosted by Professor Denis Dennehy.
