Educating Ecopreneurs: Environmental Programs in Australian Tertiary Business Schools

Abstract

This article provides the results of an overview survey of ‘business and the environment’ (environmental business management) programs offered by Australian tertiary business schools. Of the forty-three institutions examined, twenty-five appeared to provide relevant individual undergraduate units, and eighteen offered postgraduate units in the field. Two universities offered undergraduate business majors in the field, and seven institutions offered postgraduate majors. The most common topics on offer were units in eco-tourism, environmental law, and environmental accounting. In almost all cases the units offered were treated as options, electives or other forms of stand-alone units. Hardly any were compulsory units, except where a major in environmental business management was provided. It would appear that business schools are still largely treating the environment as a specialist issue that is only of limited interest to students and business enterprises.