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.

A student in a bushland setting with an office tower visible in the background

The carbon literacy toolkit

Creating a positive impact in sustainable business can be a daunting challenge. Through carbon literacy education, Deakin Business School is equipping future leaders with a practical toolkit to lead change. 

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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. 

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Vice Chancellor Iain Martin at the Deakin microgrid

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 Deakin 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. 

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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. 

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Capital markets

Is corporate reporting on sustainability and climate-related disclosure just greenwashing? The Deakin Business Value Creation 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. 

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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. 

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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.

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Contact us

Associate Professor Fara Azmat and Dr Ameeta Jain head up our ethics, responsibility and sustainability team.

Email Associate Professor Fara Azmat

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