ESCI-UPF

MScSUS Thesis Workshop

MScSUS Thesis Workshop
Photo: Martí Nogués

Last 8th of February, the students of the first edition of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management that ESCI-UPF offers jointly with UPF BSM presented their Master Thesis topic proposals and plan of work in a plenary with the Academic Committee and Faculty members of the program.

The Master’s Thesis (MT) constitutes a key output of the learning process of the Master, as the student delves into a topic of interest by developing an original project that integrates the knowledge, competencies, and skills acquired along the Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSUS).

The MT can be an original theoretical or applied research project carried out under the supervision of a faculty member, guiding the student in each of the phases of its realization. In essence, allows the students to put the MSc into practice in a real or simulated situation. While it can focus on a particular dimension, the project should in all instances take the environmental, economic, and social domains of sustainability into account.

Organized online to maximize the attendance of faculty and facilitate interaction, the MT Workshop was divided in three thematic sessions and included 12 presentations: “Climate change and environmental analysis,” “Sustainability in specific sectors” and “Managerial implementation and sustainability.”

Under the first theme, “Climate change and environmental analysis,” 4 projects were presented:

    • Climate Change in the Arctic Circle: Social Economic Impact in Areas at Risk, by Sara Júlía Baldvinsdóttir and supervised by professor Dr. Silvia Ayuso

    • The Impact of COVID-19 on Climate Change due to Household Waste, by Bo Boudewijn and Conlan Juedeman, supervised by professor Dr. Alba Bala. The study will be part of the UPF Planetary Wellbeing ReWell project

    • The Effects of Climate Change On Agriculture Sector In Turkey, by Arda Dursun, supervised by professor Dr. Joan Ribas

    • Implementation of the Paris Agreement in SMEs in Catalonia by Jessica Sánchez and supervised by professor Dr. Lela Mélon

The theme of the second session was “Sustainability in specific sectors,” with 4 projects presented:

    • Football and Sustainability: A Case Study on the Impacts of Top Flight Football on the World by Yassine Dziri and supervised by professor Erola Palau

    • Food Sustainability Education. Analysis of Existing Initiatives in the Field of Food Sustainability Education (FSE) and the Provision of Sustainable Plant Protein-based Menus in Schools by Ana Maria Espitia supervised professor Dr. Laura Batlle. The study that will be part of the of the UPF Planetary Wellbeing Foodseed project

    • Factors Affecting Successful SDG Implementation in the Private Sector (Regarding Education in West African Countries) by Mia Tairou and supervised by professor Erola Palau

    • Gaps in Corporate Sustainable Innovation in the Plastic Industry by Ivania Vega and supervised by professor Erola Palau

    • Environmental Accounting in the Catalan Cork Industry by Yu Wang and supervised by professor dr. Silvia Ayuso

The theme of the third session was “Managerial implementation and sustainability,” with 3 projects:

    • Assessment of Greenwashing Practices in the Corporate World by Wara Fabiani and supervised by professor dr. Ramon Bastida

    • Cultural Café in Barcelona by Andrea Hare and supervised by dr. Susana Domingo

    • Deco-Living: The Sustainable Transition of an Artist’s Coliving by Hugo López and supervised by professor dr. Ramon Bastida

The workshop consisted of short presentations by the students where their objectives, plan of work, and challenges were set forth, followed by questions and suggestions by faculty members and classmates.

The projects presented were generally praised for their often ambitious but, at the same time, down-to-earth and well-thought approach. The feedback received surely contributed for these to reach an outstanding quality when they will be presented and defended before an evaluation committee in June.

The Academic Committee of the master is already very much looking forward to read the finished work!

We also recommend you