Many commercial enterprises, particularly in the sustainability sector, are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit suitable young talent. At the same time, innovative business degree programmes are under pressure or are disappearing altogether. At universities, many students are growing increasingly dissatisfied with the limited practical relevance of their courses; in many places, there are calls for a pluralistic perspective on economics. The WGA is establishing partnerships with its partner companies and universities, which are intended to lead to the creation of new degree programmes for future-oriented business. Against this backdrop, the course ‘Economics with All the Senses’ has been developed in collaboration with Witten/Herdecke University.
The seminar does not view economics as an isolated field, but as a cultural – that is, human-made – phenomenon, embedded in social and ecological contexts. At the heart of the course are two full-day company visits, during which different dimensions of sustainability – ecological, social, cultural and economic – are explored through unbiased observation and critical reflection. Following the visits, the students share their impressions with invited company representatives, thereby sparking processes of reflection within the organisations.
The companies visited emphasised the added value of reflective feedback: criticism is easier to accept when it stems from genuine observation. One company expressly expressed a desire for regular observational visits of this kind, whilst another highlighted that it is precisely such practical learning experiences – rather than the mere imparting of knowledge – that constitute the university’s true remit.
Students reported a new sense of connection to the topics because they experienced themselves as part of the setting. Several described a feeling of self-efficacy and a ‘duty to give back’: to share some of the insights they had gained with the companies. At the same time, the course was described as challenging: ‘You feel a bit exposed’ or: ‘It’s more work than usual, but it also resonates with me in a completely different way.’
The course demonstrates how a perception-based, dialogical approach to business education has an impact on both companies and students that goes beyond traditional seminar formats. Consequently, the approach is being further researched and presented both within and outside the UW/H. Anyone interested in contributing to this work with a university or a company is welcome to get in touch with us!
Friederike Mainz (lawyer, World Goetheanum Association), Florian Bally-Rommel (Plural Economics Network, Basel), and Joos van den Dool (University of Witten/Herdecke – WittenLab. Future Lab ‘studium fundamentale’).