Sustainable Capitalism in the Nordics

Instructors: Robert Strand

We face big challenges in this world. Climate change, poverty, health & wellbeing, access to quality education, decent work, eradication of biodiversity, and growing inequalities are just a few of the interconnected sustainability challenges represented by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This immersion and discussion-based course explores sustainability in the Nordics. The immersion experience involves morning and afternoon sessions held at the Copenhagen Business School and site visits with relevant Nordic organizations and individuals. Inquiry focuses on the very concept of capitalism itself, and the relationship between capitalism and sustainability and democracy. The class considers the ideas of “American shareholder capitalism” vis-à-vis “Nordic stakeholder capitalism” to compare American and Nordic policies and cultures, and their effects on sustainability practices and performances and what lessons we can prosperously draw for the U.S.

Sign-up Process

This course is dual listed with the Full Time MBA Program. Participation in this course is restricted to students enrolled at Haas. Attendance at the pre-departure class session and posted in-country dates is mandatory. Please check your availability for the dates prior to bidding because once you are enrolled in the course you will not be allowed to drop the course.

Enrollment will be done via the Bidding Process. Once you are enrolled in Sustainable Capitalism in a Bidding round or in the special Add Only round you will only be able to drop the course via the Exception Request process and only for compelling and emergent reasons.

*Students who sign-up must commit to participate fully in the program. DO NOT SIGN-UP IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE THE IN-CLASS DATE AT HAAS AND THE IN-COUNTRY WORK DATES.*

Logistics

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to/from the program location, lodging, and obtaining and paying for any required visas. In most cases in-country travel such as transportation to/from the business meetings, and transportation between different cities on the program’s itinerary, will be covered by Haas. Although it is possible that some meals will be provided, students should expect to pay for their own meals and all incidentals while traveling with the program.

Students are required to be in-country for all instructional days and actively participate in the program per the itinerary. Students who wish to spend additional time in-country are encouraged to do so either before or after the mandatory programming and instructional days.

Health & Safety Issues

Travel overseas, especially to developing countries and emerging markets, may expose participants to health and other risks different from those that they face at home. Although we will do our best to make participants aware of such risks and will make efforts to minimize risks, the ultimate responsibility lies with the participant. Students are advised to check with the Centers for Disease Control and the US State Department for information on health and safety issues.

Each participant must obtain, at their own expense, any vaccinations, inoculations or other medications considered appropriate for a prudent traveler to the destination(s).

Each participant must register themselves and obtain a free trip insurance policy with the University of California’s Office of Risk Services at least 30 days prior to travel (click UC Away). This policy covers students for emergency medical evacuation to the United States. This is a requirement for participating in Design Sprint for Corporate Innovation. Evidence of registration must be provided to the EWMBA Program Office in advance of the program departure.