The Business Development Goals as a Driver for Future-Proof Economic Education
With the development of the Business Development Goals (BDGs), a new educational and operational framework for future-proof economic education is being established. While the Sustainable Development Goals provide direction for global challenges and the Inner Development Goals focus on personal development, the BDGs translate sustainability into concrete action within organisations. Central to the framework is multiple value creation: the ability of organisations to simultaneously generate economic, social, personal, and ecological value.
What is the background of the project?
Tomorrow’s economic professional faces complex societal, ecological, and social challenges. Higher economic education therefore has the responsibility to better equip students to contribute to broad prosperity and sustainable impact. At the same time, we see that sustainable ambitions do not automatically translate into action: there is often a gap between awareness and behaviour. It is therefore essential that students learn how organisations can structurally embed sustainability and make a tangible difference through multiple value creation.
Project approach
Within this project, the three universities of applied sciences collaborate on the development and implementation of the BDG framework in economic education. Education, research, and professional practice come together in a Community of Practice in which lecturers, students, professors, and industry professionals co-creatively develop, test, and apply the framework.
The project will result in an integrated BDG standard, including educational products such as teaching modules, work formats, and teacher training programmes. These materials will be widely shared so that other educational institutions can also adopt and apply them.
The BDG approach targets students, lecturers, and curriculum developers within economic programmes. Indirectly, companies, internship organisations, and regional partners will also benefit from the knowledge and methodologies developed. Through the BDGs, we work towards an economy in which multiple value creation is central. Students develop into business professionals who help organisations become more sustainable, accelerate societal transitions, and contribute to broad prosperity.
Project partners
This project is carried out by NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, in close collaboration with industry partners, research groups, and sectoral networks.
This project is made possible in part by the Goldschmeding Foundation.
About the Goldschmeding Foundation for People, Work and the Economy
The Goldschmeding Foundation is a philanthropic fund established by Frits Goldschmeding, founder of the Randstad Group. The foundation is committed to creating lasting change in the way people work and collaborate, based on the belief that we all benefit when we look out for one another.
Through our knowledge, network, and funding, we support promising projects that demonstrably contribute to new ways of working. Together with our partners, we develop and share knowledge and create meaningful connections within our network, ensuring that this knowledge finds its way into practice. In doing so, we work collectively toward lasting change for an inclusive labour market, future-proof work, and a humane economy. Working together for the better.
