IBCP Program

The complete Business & Sustainability study plan consists of 240 guided learning hours in class (that is equivalent to High Level subjects within IB program) and 150 hours applied learning experience (that is equivalent to Standard Level subjects within IB program).

Alongside the Business & Sustainability courses the students participate in both a motivational week and a four weeks integrative project delivered by SUMAS.

• Fundamentals of Sustainability

The Fundamentals of Sustainability and prepare them for the advanced courses. The individual, company and societal perspectives are explored and issues concerning energy, climate and water are covered in more detail to help students reach a deeper understanding. Ethics, policy, culture, population as well as economic and social implications lay the foundations for a broader understanding.

• Sustainable Innovation

This course will introduce how innovations with deep concern about the recourses, water, energy, human conditions as well as the challenges in terms of economy can enable finding solutions for wellbeing of both the society and business.

The course integrates real cases in material/product innovation and introduces the Cradle to Cradle ® principals and eco design. The individual, company and societal perspectives are explored. Energy, climate and water are covered in more detail, to help students develop a rich understanding.

• Leadership

The seminar aims to help students developing their managerial and leadership skills that are important in managing responsible business operations. The seminars during the motivational week provide a broad overview of concepts in management and leadership theories and consists of exercises and activities to help students develop their competencies to influence others.

At the end of the week students will make a presentation on their leadership and managerial learning experience and will elaborate a poster to provide a synthesis of the chosen leadership and managerial theories and practices.

• Delivered at SUMAS facilities in one-week block (5 days)
• 30 guided learning hours.
• Assessed by SUMAS faculty.

The areas covered during the motivational week include:

• Presentation skills
• Effective communication skills
• Management: theory and practical approaches
• Personal sustainability
• Promoting sustainability in business
• Successful advertising campaigns

• Integrative Project Work

During the study program the students will develop a project divided in two parts for a total of 4 weeks. The students need to apply their theoretical and practical knowledge working on a concrete project in the field of nature conservation.

The four weeks’ concrete project experience in the field allows the students to apply the knowledge and competencies that are developed during the study plan. While working on the project in the field, the students have the opportunity to examine the issues involved, identify various stakeholders and seek to find solutions to complex problems.

• A total of four weeks project work completed in two parts over two years at SUMAS facilities SUMAS during any chosen time of the year or any chosen location
• 120 guided learning hours
• Supervised and assessed by SUMAS faculty

The first part of the Integrative Project work experience offers the opportunity to explore fundamental values for the preservation of biological diversity and to discuss nature conservation theory and related problems both orally and in writing. It focuses on the physical and human drivers of environmental changes, like biodiversity loss, freshwater depletion and climate change.

The integrative project work experience also includes guided visits to local protected areas, such as the world renowned Ramsar sites.

• Activities Include:
• Guided visits to world renowned Ramsar sites
• Solar Lamp workshop
• Company visit to Tyre Recycling Solutions
• Tree Climbing team work activities
• Guest lectures by experts

The second part of the Integrative Project work experience offers the opportunity to explore and discuss effective communication of conservation issues, develop critical thinking and creativity. Students learn how to engage with the public through storytelling. It also focuses on how to use various social media channels effectively and how to write a blog on conservation issues.

• Activities Include
• Developing a strategic communication plan for nature conservation
• Developing a storyboard for chosen cause
• Developing social media campaigns for chosen cause
• Visit to International Telecommunications Union