Sustainable Development in Higher Education—What Sustainability Skills Do Industry Need?

Abstract

Higher education must provide students with tools for a broad and holistic understanding of the complex situations they will meet in their careers after they graduate. This also includes issues related to sustainable development. Few studies have however been conducted where industry representatives specify what sustainability skills they require. The aim of the present study is to achieve a better understanding of the needs of industry related to a student’s sustainability skills and knowledge. Industry opinions on sustainability skills were gathered in two ways: interviews were conducted with executives in different positions at companies and a workshop with sustainability directors from different sectors was organized. Companies expressed primarily two needs regarding sustainability skills: (1) sustainability professionals/specialists are needed and, (2) there is an equal need for all managers and leaders to have a general and basic competence regarding sustainable development within a number of different areas. While sustainability specialists are well represented in industry, the latter skills are rarer. Higher education institutions must therefore make sure that sustainable development is integrated into all educational programs.