Integrating Sustainability into Logistics Oriented Education in Europe

Rebeka Kovačič Lukman, Vasja Omahne, Lobna Tag el Sheikh and Peter Glavič
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Rebeka Kovačič Lukman: Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, Mariborska c. 7, SI-3000 Celje, Slovenia
Vasja Omahne: Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, Mariborska c. 7, SI-3000 Celje, Slovenia
Lobna Tag el Sheikh: Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, Mariborska c. 7, SI-3000 Celje, Slovenia
Peter Glavič: Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: In the last decades, logistics has become an important industry sector, with significant impacts on the environment generated through several internal and external logistic processes. We analysed and elaborated on integrating sustainability topics within logistics-oriented programmes at universities across Europe, based on a framework of systemising and classifying sustainability terms. We also analysed pedagogical approaches within the identified courses. In our study, we perceived a moderate diversity of courses from the system and horizontal sustainability perspectives. Courses mostly focus on “principle” and “approach” levels, denoting specialised courses, with less environmental and social topics. Such coverage and distribution might imply a limitation to develop complex, multi-dimensional, and inter-disciplinary understanding, thinking, and problem-solving required for real-world challenges, comprehending all the dimensions. We also perceived a scarcity by using pedagogical approaches, where the majority of the courses emphasise traditional ones. This paper’s novelty lies in providing the first empirical evaluation and elaboration of logistics-oriented programmes at European universities from a sustainability perspective. Thus, our study enriches current knowledge and research on sustainability integration into curricula at the university level, enabling new insights and better correlations between various study fields and pedagogical approaches used.

Keywords: sustainability; curricula; logistics oriented programmes and courses; pedagogical approaches (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1667-:d:493041

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