International students will learn to implement sustainable business strategies in Ekaterinburg

18:56, November 18, 2019

International and Russian companies will participate in an educational project for students of 12 countries

The XI International Autumn School «Sustainable Business Development: Smart Future for All», developed at GSEM by «International Economics and Business» programme team, started in Ural Federal University.

"International Economics and Business" programme director, Autumn school academic director Zhanna Belyaeva greeted the participants of the school:

«Consider time in Russia as a serious investment in the future, because, perhaps, among these 60 people, 17 nationalities from 12 countries are not only your friends, but also future partners in creating global responsible companies!»

Mentors of 8 teams gave a welcoming speech: Professor Dolores Sanchez Bengoa (Germany), Professor Alberto Ferraris (Italy); Haula Kitonsa (Uganda) and Ebenezer Agbozo (Ghana) - representatives of the academic partners of the programme; Ekaterina Demchenko - Director of the GSEM International Affairs Office; Yury Davy, Iana Lopatkova, Alexander Ishukov - teachers of the «International Economics and Business» programme.

A specialised quest for sustainable development goals «X-plore Ekaterinburg» allowed participants to choose 2 goals, the implementation of which they will analyze during the weekly program. Students also will develop innovative business models of projects based on special metrics, taking into account the UN Goals implemented in various industries of Urals. An intensive content session «Business Strategies and Sustainable Development» by professor Zhanna Belyaeva and a project session by Prof. Ekaterina Demchenko and Yury Davy in «Tochka kipeniya» allowed students to set the scope for their projects.

A culinary master class with the Yeltsin Center chef Andrei Bova and the Yeltsin Center SDG quest made it possible to better get acquainted with the Russian culture. And during the Global VIllage event, the participants presented the culture and economics of their countries, in particular, we learned how many Germans are needed to replace one light bulb, where is the best view to the Norwegian fjords, how do not be afraid of strikes in France and Italy, what is the difference in attitude towards business and leisure in Spain and Portugal, as well as how many islands in Croatia. A team of students of the «International Economics and Business» made a presentation of the country, region and university at the Olympic level!

The Autumn school is an English-speaking programme aimed the sharing knowledge, establishing new international contacts, and discussing sustainable development research.