Meaningful Learning and The Integration of Responsible Management Education in the Business School Courses

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 2 Sayı: 1, 23 - 34, 30.06.2018

Gyuzel Gadelshina

Öz

In recent years there has
been an increasing interest in responsible management education. Integration
of the principles of responsible management education (PRME) within the core
curricula of business schools and management education-related institutions
calls for the creation of innovative pedagogies and educational approaches.
Responding to the inherent challenges associated with the development and
implementation of education for sustainability within existing
business‐related education, this paper seeks to discuss a teaching initiative
of introducing Model United Nations (Model UN) as a classroom activity for
undergraduate students. The main purpose of research presented in this paper
is to explore students’ experience of engaging in Model UN debates around
topics related to the sustainable development goals as defined in the UN 2030
Agenda for sustainable development (for example, youth unemployment, climate
change, poverty, etc.). Model UN is traditionally known as an
extra-curricular educational simulation of the United Nations where students
play their roles as delegates from different countries and endeavour to solve
real world issues using the policies and perspectives of their assigned
country as well as policies and procedures of the United Nations. In this
paper Model UN is proposed as a classroom engagement activity which assists
undergraduate students in recognising the complexity of international
negotiations and reflecting on challenges associated with the decision making
process and how it affects the sustainability agenda on the individual and societal
level. This paper seeks to provide a useful insight into the practical value
of Model UN simulation as a means to facilitate meaningful learning on the
course. It is suggested that experience of introducing Model UN as a core
curricular activity, rather than one that is extra-curricular, will be of
particular interest for educators who are involved in delivering
sustainability-related courses or wishing to teach sustainability-related
topics in globally responsible business-related education programs for
undergraduate students.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Responsible management education, meaningful learning

Kaynakça

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