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Critical analysis of the role of junior enterprises in the training of future professionals aligned with the SDG: an exploratory study considering Brazilian HEI

Lazaro Viana (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Izabela Simon Rampasso (Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile)
Milena Pavan Serafim (Laboratory of Public Sector Studies, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas (Federal Fluminenese University, Niteroi, Brazil)
Walter Leal Filho (Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany and School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)
Rosley Anholon (School of Mechanical Engineering, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN: 1467-6370

Article publication date: 5 October 2022

Issue publication date: 24 January 2023

159

Abstract

Purpose

Junior enterprises have been gaining increasing attention in the Brazilian Higher Education Institutions. In addition, these companies are contributing to enhance the training of future professionals. Improvements in future professionals’ training must consider education for sustainability. In this context, this paper aims to critically analyze the role of junior enterprises in the training of undergraduate students in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

To discuss the ways for junior enterprises to contribute to students’ training with a higher alignment with sustainable development, it is necessary to know the routine of their activities well. Therefore, the strategy used in this research was to use the Delphi process with students who participated/participate in this kind of extracurricular activity in their institutions and are familiar with the SDGs disseminated by the United Nations.

Findings

From the rounds of Delphi method debates, eight items were listed and presented an agreement greater than 50% of the participants. Illustratively, three of them are cited here: most participants understand that some current metrics used by junior enterprises require greater alignment with the SDGs; most participants agree that junior enterprises need to better monitor the results of their postexecution projects because in general beneficial impacts on sustainability are observed in the long term; and most of the participants understand that the actions developed by junior enterprises are aligned with corporate sustainability and conscious capitalism.

Originality/value

The contribution of junior enterprises to the promotion of sustainability education is practically not addressed in the literature. The findings presented here, resulting from the Delphi process, can greatly contribute for junior enterprises to rethink their actions to better prepare future professionals to act toward sustainable development.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologico (CNPq), under the grants 304145/2021–1, and 308354/2021–4.

Citation

Viana, L., Rampasso, I.S., Pavan Serafim, M., Quelhas, O.L.G., Leal Filho, W. and Anholon, R. (2023), "Critical analysis of the role of junior enterprises in the training of future professionals aligned with the SDG: an exploratory study considering Brazilian HEI", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 502-516. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-08-2021-0358

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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