Sustainable Enterprise Certificate: Curriculum

Each class will be conducted using a combination of methods:  These include presentations, small group exercises, guest practitioner/expert lectures and discussion, introduction to and practical application of tools and simulators, case studies, and time for individual work and reflection.

The sessions below comprise Willamette University’s Certificate in Sustainable Enterprise. Successful completion of all three sessions is required for a certificate to be awarded.

Session One: February 15-17,2012- System Dynamics

“Systems Dynamics: Seeing the Interconnections of our Social, Economic, and Environmental Worlds and Understanding Where Are the Greatest Opportunities for Overall Sustainable Well Being ”

Session Objectives: After completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the systemic nature of how eco-systems thrive, their interdependencies, and the impact individuals and organizations have on these systems
• Think systemically about their businesses, whether profit or non-profit, using the triple bottom-line framework
• Apply best practices, tools and frameworks to work within the context of their business or community
• Understand the most critical levers to positively affect environmental, economic, and social well being
• Understand the necessity for global collaboration on issues, such as Climate Change, using the “Climate Interactive” simulator.

Webinar February date: TBD

The webinar is from 9:00-11:00 a.m., participants can dial in beginning at 8:45 a.m. from their workplace.

Webinar March date: March 30, 2011

Presenter: Riane Eisler: The Real Wealth of Nations

The webinar is from 10:00-12:00 a.m., participants can dial in beginning at 8:45 a.m. from their workplace.

Session Two: March 14-16, 2012 - Natural and Social Systems

“Social Well-Being: Approaching Overall Sustainability of Our World, Our Organizations, and Our Communities through First Understanding How Social Well-being is Created, Supported, and Expanded”

Session Objectives: After completion of this session, participants will:

• Have a fundamental understanding of scientific theories of living systems and cognition.
• Understand research on social action research and how social networks of collaboration generate sustainability in communities and organizations.
• Have access to new management processes to optimize performance, productivity and social well-being in self-organizing social systems.
• Experiment with the application of new measures and indicators of social well-being

Webinar April 8

Presenter: Peter Senge

The webinar is from 9:00-11:00 a.m., participants can dial in beginning at 8:45 a.m. from their workplace.

Session Three: April 13-15, 2012 - Moving Into Action

“Implementing a Sustainability Plan: Determining Goals and Measures that Will Move Sustainability from Conversation to Action.”

Session Objectives: After completion of this session, participants will:

• Understand and be able to apply basic concepts and examples of sustainable frameworks in their business or community.
• Have access to best practice case studies and practitioners, and explore the relevant application to their community or business.
• Initiate the creation of a sustainability action plan and the integration or acceleration of this plan within their business or community.
• Apply the tools from previous sessions to the creation of their sustainability plan.
  

Sustainable Enterprise Certificate