The current situation our planet is going through in relation to global warming is alarming. The recent announcement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the “new era of global upheaval” presents us with an urgent call to change the way we are living and building the future of the planet.
Within this framework, in the final year of the Industrial Engineering degree, the subject is taught Sustainable Management and Industrial Safety, in charge of teachers María Angélica Moya, Ariel Zotti, and Pablo Lucángeli Obes. This course aims to develop knowledge, promote skills, and foster professional responsibility so that students can pTo plan and manage matters related to hygiene and safety and environmental impact control in relation to their professional activity. Instead of setting objectives, the subject focuses on learning outcomes. Knowledge is acquired through real-world experiences. with a systemic approach. Students develop practical skills and a deep understanding of how to apply what they learn in concrete situations.At the end of the subject, the aim is for students to be able to apply everything they have learned with a specific purpose (achievement), which is called a learning outcome.
In the first class of the subject, The concept of the environment and its properties, aspects, environmental impacts, and pollution were developed. From a global perspective, environmental indicators and indices were analyzed, particularly the current state of planetary boundaries and their interactions, to understand the importance of contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Felix de Achaval, an Industrial Engineering graduate, and Juan Cruz Filgueiras Risso and Estanislao Borda, from Strategy & PwC, were invited to participate in the first class.
The guests explained the The importance of having a comprehensive sustainability strategy aligned with the vision and objectives of each organizationand showed examples in specific cases they are working on. At the same time, They emphasized that it is possible to generate value for the shareholder, while at the same time benefiting all stakeholders, creating sustainable value for society.
A comprehensive sustainability strategy seeks to articulate the organization's vision and objectives in a coordinated manner with the Sustainable Development Goals. considering both the internal and external environment (stakeholders in the supply chain), and taking into account the short and long term. The three criteria that this approach encompasses are environmental, social and governance, commonly known by their English acronym ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). The proper identification, management and measurement of ESG criteria within a company is directly related to investment, reputation and, by extension, the business, since it generates value for the shareholder, benefits stakeholders, while creating sustainable value for society.
Professor María Angélica Moya reflected on the participation of the Strategy&PwC guests in the class: “I can say that it sparked interest and a sense of identification with an engineer from Austral, only a few years older than the current 5th-year students. At the end of the class, some students approached the speakers to talk.”
The incorporation of real cases and the interaction with professionals from companies and organizations allow students to get closer to the current business reality. These exchanges are very fruitful in making the content more accessible, promoting practical reasoning skills, and fostering social responsibility. The cases presented encourage reflection, analysis, and synthesis, engaging students intellectually, creatively, and emotionally. Furthermore, the difficulties, barriers, and challenges that a company faces in real-world situations are shared, and the results achieved are analyzed. The questions and dialogue that ensue provide a valuable opportunity for feedback and discussion.
