Working towards practical business solutions
We’re building on our values of sustainability and inclusion to make impactful advances in ethics, responsibility and sustainability (ERS) working within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework and Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME).
Across our courses and research, we focus on sustainability practices for business and management. In our community engagement and thought leadership we’re building sustainability-based partnerships and providing practical solutions to help our transition to a sustainable society.
Developing sustainability-minded business graduates
Across many of our major courses and work-integrated learning units you’ll have the opportunity to develop ERS awareness and capabilities.
- Our Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Commerce embed SDG and ethics-focused learning and assessments within core units and major sequences.
- Our Master of Business Administration embeds sustainability objectives in its industry partner case studies.
- Through work-integrated learning units you can work with community and not-for-profit organisations on sustainability-focused projects in Australia and overseas.
Sustainability and development major
This Bachelor of Business major helps you develop a practical understanding of the interactions between the economy and the environment, and how to propose solutions and approaches that foster sustainable business.
Business for social impact
In this work-integrated learning unit we challenge you to develop a concept and plan for a not-for-profit or community organisation that will create positive social or environmental change.
Our commitment to responsible management education
At Deakin Business School we believe we have a duty to demonstrate leadership in sustainability. We’re aligned with the UN sustainable development goals and our commitments represent how we will realise a better future for our communities.
Sustainability is fundamentally about doing the right thing and it's what our students, our staff, our partners and our communities expect of us.
Professor Iain Martin
Deakin Vice-Chancellor
Our research addresses sustainable development goals
Our four research strengths address selected sustainable development goals through projects focused on solving challenges and creating opportunities to enhance environmental and social benefits through better business.
Business and society
Virtual power plants will accelerate our transition to a sustainable electricity grid, but only if consumers accept power company control over their household solar. The Better Consumption Lab conducted research into consumer attitudes towards virtual power plants and found that there’s work still to be done before they are a viable proposition.
Business and technology
As electric vehicles become more popular, charging them places significantly higher demands on power supply. Deakin Business School researchers worked with C4Net and United Energy on data analytics that predict household EV charging patterns to allow power companies to plan for demand peaks and ensure continuity of supply across their networks.
Capital markets
Is corporate reporting on sustainability and climate-related disclosure just greenwashing? The Deakin Sustainable Business Centre analysed reports from Australia's largest ASX listed entities, assessing how they verify the integrity of their reports. They’ve found only a quarter of companies are following ASX guidelines on disclosure of verification processes.
SMEs and entrepreneurship
With the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deakin Business School’s Women in Entrepreneurship Leading Sustainable Development is training women entrepreneurs in Australia, Asia and Latin America to achieve sustainable development goals through a program of online workshops, expert speakers, mentoring and networking.
Partnerships with impact
We’re building networks and relationships that allow us to translate our research insights into impact, including our project-to-develop Australia–India partnerships that provide SDG-focused internships; and our highly successful work providing mental health training to the accounting profession – Counting on U.
Contact us
Associate Professor Fara Azmat and Dr Ameeta Jain head up our ethics, responsibility and sustainability team.