520
A. C. W. Z. Jayme et al.
Each definition proposed by the master’s students seeks to highlight one aspect:
the individual behavioral issue was focused on in 2013 and 2016, the balance in relationships was highlighted in 2014 and 2015 while the commitment of the collectivity
prevailed in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The fact is that all these definitions find connection
with various concepts tackled in literature.
The idea of sustainability with behavioral bias is cited by authors who interpret
sustainability as a result of sustainable development, feasible only from a long-term
strategy that aims to improve the quality of life of society (Hove 2004; Dovers and
Handmer 1992; Feil and Schreiber 2017). Georgescu-Roegen (2012) argues that
“Resource depletion and waste dumping at some point will affect the possibility of
subsequent generations having equal or greater quality of life” (Cechin and Veiga
2010, p. 446); consequently, in order for sustainable development to be possible, a
change of mindset is effectively necessary, which, from the author’s perspective, is
beyond the reduction and modification of consumption habits only, it presupposes
economic ‘ungrowth’. The ‘ungrowth’ in this approach can be correlated as the
desired balance in relationships.
Sachs’s approach (1978) on a development aimed at harmonizing social and
economic objectives with ecologically correct management, in a spirit of solidarity
with future generations refers to the balance and commitment of collectivity advocated by the students. Same way as Meadows et al. (1972) argues that modern growthbased economy is unsustainable on a finite planet and also reinforce the idea of the
importance of balance.
It is also important to highlight the correspondence of the concepts proposed by
the master’s students with the CSR, based on the argumentation of Marrewijk (2003)
that establishes the relationship between the three dimensions of the CSR—economic
development, social equity and environmental protection—with the dimensions of
sustainable development.
Regardless of the specificities of each of the concepts presented, as pedagogical
exercise or as a contribution of academia and institutions, and even the temporality
in which they occurred, a point that seems to be the link: it is the concern to bring
up the sense of urgency that the theme demands.
5 Final Considerations
This study aimed to present new perspectives on the concept of sustainable development based on reflections from students of the master’s degree in Governance and
Sustainability at ISAE Business School, after an intense process of exposure and
debate on the topic.
From the comparison of the final product of each class with the evolutionary
process of the main conceptualizations and historical implications in terms of sustainability and sustainable development, there was a great influence of the authors of the
A. C. W. Z. Jayme et al.
Each definition proposed by the master’s students seeks to highlight one aspect:
the individual behavioral issue was focused on in 2013 and 2016, the balance in relationships was highlighted in 2014 and 2015 while the commitment of the collectivity
prevailed in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The fact is that all these definitions find connection
with various concepts tackled in literature.
The idea of sustainability with behavioral bias is cited by authors who interpret
sustainability as a result of sustainable development, feasible only from a long-term
strategy that aims to improve the quality of life of society (Hove 2004; Dovers and
Handmer 1992; Feil and Schreiber 2017). Georgescu-Roegen (2012) argues that
“Resource depletion and waste dumping at some point will affect the possibility of
subsequent generations having equal or greater quality of life” (Cechin and Veiga
2010, p. 446); consequently, in order for sustainable development to be possible, a
change of mindset is effectively necessary, which, from the author’s perspective, is
beyond the reduction and modification of consumption habits only, it presupposes
economic ‘ungrowth’. The ‘ungrowth’ in this approach can be correlated as the
desired balance in relationships.
Sachs’s approach (1978) on a development aimed at harmonizing social and
economic objectives with ecologically correct management, in a spirit of solidarity
with future generations refers to the balance and commitment of collectivity advocated by the students. Same way as Meadows et al. (1972) argues that modern growthbased economy is unsustainable on a finite planet and also reinforce the idea of the
importance of balance.
It is also important to highlight the correspondence of the concepts proposed by
the master’s students with the CSR, based on the argumentation of Marrewijk (2003)
that establishes the relationship between the three dimensions of the CSR—economic
development, social equity and environmental protection—with the dimensions of
sustainable development.
Regardless of the specificities of each of the concepts presented, as pedagogical
exercise or as a contribution of academia and institutions, and even the temporality
in which they occurred, a point that seems to be the link: it is the concern to bring
up the sense of urgency that the theme demands.
5 Final Considerations
This study aimed to present new perspectives on the concept of sustainable development based on reflections from students of the master’s degree in Governance and
Sustainability at ISAE Business School, after an intense process of exposure and
debate on the topic.
From the comparison of the final product of each class with the evolutionary
process of the main conceptualizations and historical implications in terms of sustainability and sustainable development, there was a great influence of the authors of the