Sustainability training in business education in Thailand

While the majority of universities teach all students essential knowledge areas related to sustainability theories and practices, we are still unaware of the sustainable skills our students will need in the future. In an effort to improve the manner in which we design sustainability courses that enhance future skills for all students, we developed a two-step study method. First, we investigated the structure and key features of three universities' sustainable courses. Then, utilizing the knowledge gained in phase one, we redesigned the instrument for data collection and investigated the experiences and expectations of undergraduate students regarding the programs. We conducted three focus group interviews with fifteen undergraduates enrolled in a sustainability unit as a general elective course. Thai students enroll in sustainability programs and/or units for the following reasons: (1) sustainable employment preparedness, (2) future sustainable skills, and (3) relevance to their primary study. When we asked them what encouraged them to learn sustainability effectively, they identified multidisciplinary nature and digital skills as crucial. The majority of students participating in this initiative state that they anticipate that learning about sustainability and sustainable development will enhance their understanding of future careers. In addition, the majority of them anticipate acquiring and integrating technical (ESG) and global competencies, as well as novel competencies such as environmental analysis, sustainable finance and investment, global politics, and social impact assessment.