Technical Note FGV

Discussions of the Global Forum Latin America serve as important reference in the technical note of the Center for Sustainability Studies, School of Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), published on 01 September 2008.

Whereas the role of IES is to train citizens aware of the social issue and prepare them to participate in making appropriate decisions in companies and public organizations, it clearly places the importance of education for sustainability on the agenda of higher education institutions in Brazil and the world.

The Global Forum Latin America, and its results are directly cited in this document, specifically this part:

"If on the one hand companies have expressed a growing interest in search of sustainability on the other hand, higher education institutions still form an egress whose skills and abilities do not contribute to the sustainability of firms in that business will act."

Abroad
The disparity noted above is also reflected outside of Brazil.  In 2006, Case Western Reserve University hosted a meeting of academic and business leaders for discussion of how business could contribute to building a positive future.  One of the latent demands in the meeting was the difficulty of companies to find young professionals able to articulate solutions geared towards corporate sustainability.

In 2008, the meeting was replicated in Brazil and the results were the same.  The meeting which involved more than 1,200 leaders from academia, business, multilateral organizations and government, generated a set of propositions of the participants who raised the need for investments in education.  As we see below in order of priority, participants committed to these themes:

.: Create tax law for products with sustainable certification.
.: Investment in education and reform of curriculum focusing on sustainability, entrepreneurship and social responsibility.
.: Create a South American multisectorial parliament of education for sustainability.
.: Change of Law 8666 - Supplier of sustainability criteria has to be contracted (bidding).
.: Create a literacy project on sustainability.
.: Sustainable recovery of degraded urban spaces.
.: Global Forum is an example of sustainability.
.: Reform public education.
.: Implement the SEST Brazilian Forum of education so that results from contact with all sectors of society spreads the importance of consumption at point of sales.

Study follows
From the understanding of sustainability as something that can be managed, study shows 14 major themes that could form the agenda of researchers and teachers of management courses in sustainability.

In conclusion, the technical note explores the cycle of general education courses in Administration.  At this time, it naively attempts to prepare students in the theories and techniques of management.  This is clearly a weakness in face of challenges to train professionals in conscious themes that include management of the environment, for example.

In summary, we have content presented in a document that supports the Global Forum America as an area of legitimate expression of ideas and opinions.  It offers us a new perspective on relevant current issues needed as our higher education system trains the next generation of professional people.