Jens Eklinder Frick, senior lecturer in business administration at the University, is one of the speakers at the conference. He points out that the word economy comes from Greek and means thrift and household management, so business administration is fundamentally about economising our resources for the survival of the whole of society.
“Business administration at the University of Gävle has had a sustainability focus for a very long time and our research environment, sustainable business relations, drives this research forward,” Jens Eklinder Frick says.
It could be about the role of businesses with a social responsibility in society, circular economies in which resources are recycled, or collaborative, sharing economies like car pools, or about the necessity of knowledge in organisation theory now when we partly have to reconstruct our society, Jens explains.
“Sustainability is present in all of our courses, and business administration is both a part of and drives this development forward.”
Business administration takes its role in society seriously
“As you can see, we work very actively with the importance of sustainability in our programmes and how the subject can contribute to creating a better society for the whole world; this is our focus.”
Jens also tells us that their students experience this focus as central, and that many degree projects include sustainability perspectives.
“I don’t think that anyone would say that sustainability, ecological, social as well as economic, will play a less decisive part in the future, and we who work within business administration will follow this development closely and at times take a leading role, for example regarding circular economies,” Jens Eklinder Frick concludes.
For more information, please contact:
Aihie Osarenkhoe professor in business administration, University of Gävle
Phone: +46 (0)70-191 45 26
Email: aihie.osarenkhoe@hig.se
Jens Eklinder Frick, senior lecturer in business administration, University of Gävle
Phone: 076-898 82 41
E-mail: jens.eklinder.frick@hig.se
Anders Stake, CEO Coop Mitt
Phone: 010-747 53 11
E-mail: anders.stake@coopmitt.se
Text: Douglas Öhrbom
Photo Jens Eklinder Frick: Anna Sällberg
Photo: Aihie Osarenkhoe och Anders Stake: Douglas Öhrbom
Photo of Jens Eklinder Frick