Necesidades de formación en temas ambientales en programas de maestría en administración de empresas en Colombia

Abstract

Environmental sustainability is recognized as a very important option to ensure the survival of living beings on planet Earth. Therefore, the people who direct contemporary companies have the duty to acquire specific competences that allow them to direct their organizations in a way that is productive and in turn, respects the planetary limits. The purpose of this study was to establish training needs in master's programs in business administration for the context of an environmentally sustainable company. For this, a descriptive research with a qualitative approach was carried out, in which the subjects related to sustainability were reviewed in the curricula of said programs, also known as (MBA) with high quality accreditation, offered by higher education institutions in Colombia. Likewise, we identified the skills that a manager should have in environmental matters, as well as training needs based on consulting experts: academics, entrepreneurs with experience in sustainability and environmental authorities. The results showed that the main environmental issues offered by these master's degrees are methodologies to evaluate the environmental impact; Colombian environmental regulations; use and exploitation of natural resources: environmental licenses, basic elements for the development of a mitigation and environmental control program. In addition, environmental costs, environmental issues that management faces today and in the future; environmental problems, barriers and limitations that have prevented its solution, and sustainability. Evidence that of a sample of 60 universities, 18 offer the aforementioned postgraduate courses and of this total, only three include the subjects previously described. The consultation of experts made it possible to demonstrate the urgency that environmental management be addressed in all master's degrees in business administration and that such training should focus on aspects such as: corporate environmental management; cleaner production and responsible consumption; environmental legislation and environmental technical standards; environmental impact and ecodesign. It was also emphasized that the best way for students to be interested in these issues is through case studies, in which the company-environment relationship is reflected, as well as showing examples of causes and consequences of not carrying out responsible practices with the environment. Also, perform laboratory experiments, publicize the advantages of business environmental management systems; explain the importance of environmental standards such as ISO 14000; learn about successful cases of environmentally sustainable organizations. Likewise, that it is necessary to show the students the economic implications can lead to a company's failure to comply with the regulations, as well as the economic benefits possible with the implementation of environmentally friendly strategies. Likewise, in this research it was clear the need to promote a new business ethic, for which leaders are required with sensitivity, commitment and awareness that their actions and those of their companies have an impact on their environment, while resources are dwindling that belong to the whole society.