Personalised course content
During the foundation year, you will learn the fundamentals of business administration, economics and sustainability with a strong practical focus. You will put the knowledge you have gained to the test in a practical project. You can then develop a personalised career profile by choosing two specialisations, depending on your personal interests. You can choose from: Responsible Business Management, Sustainability Marketing, Public Good-Oriented Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Regional Development & Transformation, and Sustainable Value Creation in SMEs.
Modules per term
During the first semester, you will learn the fundamentals of economics, business management and thinking, as well as mathematical and scientific methods. At the same time, the basics of sustainability will be covered in the modules ‘Introduction to Sustainable Development’ and ‘Ethics’.
The Business Administration 1 module comprises three sub-modules.
In the sub-module General Business Administration (ABWL), we place business administration functions within the canon of social sciences, explain the subject matter in the context of sustainability, and, on this basis, explore topics, objectives, and the organisation and management of companies.
The Accounting sub-module provides you with an insight into the fundamentals of business accounting.
The Human Resources sub-module introduces you to the working world of the future. It covers aspects such as demographic change, digitalisation and their impact on corporate policy. Human resources issues within companies are explained and selected labour law topics relating to personnel are examined.
This module focuses on the fundamentals of microeconomics as a sub-discipline of economics. We will introduce you to microeconomic models and encourage discussion of them. Building on this, you will receive an introduction to the microeconomic aspects of environmental economics.
The Responsibility Skills module comprises two sub-modules.
In the Ethics sub-module, we explore how ethical principles relate to sustainability and how they can be applied to business practices in order to fulfil socio-ecological responsibilities.
The Self-Management sub-module provides you with tools to take responsibility both in your studies and in society, as well as in your future roles as managers.
The Mathematics in Economics module comprises two sub-modules.
The sub-module ‘Fundamentals of Mathematics’ provides you with the theoretical and practical foundations for basic mathematical competence, with a focus on sustainability and economics.
The sub-module ‘Computer-Aided Mathematics’ teaches you an application-oriented approach to solving practical problems.
The Sustainability and Science module comprises two sub-modules.
The sub-module ‘Introduction to Sustainable Development’ is designed as an interdisciplinary introduction to sustainable development. Lectures delivered by lecturers from all departments form the basis for a specific practical project on the topic of sustainability, accompanied by academic papers.
The sub-module Academic Work introduces you to academic activity within the context of your degree programme and beyond. It explains when and how academic work is carried out. In addition, specific approaches to writing academic papers are taught.
The second semester builds on the topics covered in the first semester by consolidating knowledge of core business management areas within the context of Business Management 2 and environmental management, whilst expanding students’ understanding of economics through a macroeconomic perspective. In the second semester, we focus on the integration of modern information technology into management and statistics.
The Business Administration 2 module explores the functions of business administration in greater depth across three sub-modules.
The Operational Management sub-module provides fundamental methods and tools for effective service delivery and quality assurance.
The Cost Accounting and Controlling sub-module focuses on internal accounting. You will gain a basic understanding of cost and revenue accounting, and topics such as cost transparency, cost planning and control, and cost allocation will be covered.
In the sub-module on Finance and Investment, you will develop a basic understanding of the principles and theories of finance with practical applications.
This module focuses on macroeconomics as a sub-discipline of economics. Together with you, we will explore, analyse and discuss macroeconomic models and examine both theoretical and real-world approaches to sustainable economic systems.
In this module, you will gain an understanding of environmental management within organisations (industry, commerce, service providers, public authorities). Environmental aspects include, for example, energy consumption, emissions, waste and wastewater, as well as indirect factors such as the lifespan of products, administrative and planning decisions, and the behaviour of stakeholders.
The module ‘Statistical Methods in Economics’ comprises two sub-modules.
The sub-module ‘Fundamentals of Statistics’ provides theoretical foundations and methods for analysing and interpreting statistical data.
The sub-module Computer-Assisted Statistics teaches you an application-oriented approach to statistical problems and their graphical representation.
The Management Skills module comprises two sub-modules.
In the sub-module Digital Applications in Business Practice, you will explore the use of basic software applications. This is complemented by an introduction to and application of agile tools for app- and cloud-based management, e.g. social business applications.
The Project Management sub-module introduces you to the basics of initiating and managing projects using digital tools. Practical project management is explored using real-world case studies.
In the third semester, business management perspectives are complemented by strategic, market-oriented aspects and the legal framework for successful sustainable business practices. You can further develop your skill set through compulsory-elective modules.
The module aims to provide you with a basic understanding of the role of marketing within market-oriented business management. The focus is on developing an analytical and conceptual understanding of a modern management process designed to ensure the long-term viability of a business, as well as on operational marketing planning.
The module ‘Legal Framework in the Context of Sustainability’ comprises two sub-modules.
In the ‘Taxation’ sub-module, we examine economic processes that are subject to taxation under the German tax system and present the tax system within its social context. In addition to the economic aspects of taxation, we explicitly consider social and environmental aspects.
The sub-module on Economic and Environmental Law provides you with a fundamental understanding of economic and environmental law and its impact on business decisions.
The Social Skills module comprises two sub-modules.
The Service Learning sub-module equips you with social skills centred on committed and self-directed action in relation to sustainable development.
The sub-module on Intercultural and Communication Skills enables you to acquire basic knowledge in the field of intercultural and communication skills, so that you are well prepared for the practical project and a possible study abroad placement in the fourth semester.
Business English B2, Business English C1, Further Language Training
To further develop your language skills, you must select one module from the list of compulsory elective language modules. Students who can demonstrate English language proficiency at C1 level may choose an additional foreign language.
In the fourth semester, you will undertake a 20-week work placement, which is prepared during the third semester and organised by the students themselves.
The module consists of two sub-modules.
The internship sub-module aims to enable you to work on a specialist task or project within a (supra)regional organisation (company, public authority, association, etc.). In doing so, you will gain practical experience within this organisation. You will apply the specialist, methodological and social skills acquired during your studies.
The internship supervision sub-module comprises a seminar designed to support you in your practical experience and encourage topic-specific reflection.
In the fifth semester, alongside the compulsory module ‘Sustainable Management of Limited Resources’, students specialise in their chosen areas of expertise through two selected specialisations. They complete a total of four modules (two per specialisation).
This module focuses on the work of the Sustainable Economy research group within Research Priority 3, ‘Sustainable Management of Limited Resources’, at HNEE. You will gain an overview of the project, knowledge transfer and research outcomes that relate to and address Research Priority 3.
These include the following modules:
- Sustainable Customer Management: You will acquire the skills to build and maintain customer relationships for the sale of sustainable products. It is important to understand the development of post-materialism and digitalisation as key determinants of changing consumer behaviour and to consider them within the context of customer relationship management.
- Sustainable Product Management: Mastering the key areas of product policy is a central factor for the successful marketing of sustainable product offerings. In addition to developing methods and concepts for identifying and evaluating product innovations, you will learn about the practical design of sustainable products (including quality, packaging, branding and service). The relevance of comprehensive product stewardship is illustrated using the product life cycle.
- Sustainable Communication Management: Communication on sustainability issues is directed at the company’s relevant stakeholders and is crucial to ensuring that the company’s commitment and assumption of responsibility for the environment and society (Corporate Social Responsibility) have a positive impact on its reputation. This module will demonstrate the effective use of communication tools (both offline and online) to promote the sale of sustainable products. Current concepts in corporate sustainability communication will be developed and evaluated.
These include the following modules:
- Awareness: This module provides you with a heightened awareness of sustainability. The focus is on the further development of appropriate good governance and compliance for all stakeholders. You will learn and develop tools for establishing sustainable businesses, corporate structures and processes. Skills for developing responsible corporate visions are fostered.
- Resource Management and Environmental Management: Eco-design and life-cycle assessment (including transport), resource and environmental management systems, and the handling of complex systems (dealing with exogenous shocks) are addressed, as is the development of analytical, forecasting and decision-making tools
- Stakeholder management: The module focuses on the themes of influence and participation. You will learn how influence and participation can be exercised within political and parliamentary processes. Stakeholders relevant to business practice are analysed for this purpose, and the interpretation of legislation is practised. In addition, the fundamentals of responsible influence on legislation (lobbying) are taught and applied to case studies.
These include the following modules:
- Social Innovation and Social Design: In this module, you will explore and interlink issues relating to social innovation and social design. The aim is to provide you with a well-founded theoretical basis against the backdrop of digital and sustainable transformation processes, enabling you to use approaches to social design and public-benefit entrepreneurship to identify pathways for social innovation, right through to the development of marketable, sustainable products and services.
- Sustainable Entrepreneurship: The Sustainable Entrepreneurship module explores and connects issues relating to public-benefit start-ups and their financing. You will design your own fictional social business and have it participate in market activities as part of a computer simulation.
- Sustainable Human Resource Management: Employees are a vital resource for companies, as their performance contributes significantly to economic success. For this reason, many companies are increasingly focusing on sustainable human resource management. This module outlines how to design a sustainable and innovation-oriented human resource management system, as well as the current challenges involved.
These include the following modules:
- Fundamentals of Regional Economics and Public Activities: In the sub-module ‘Fundamentals of Regional Economics’, once basic terms (e.g. region) have been clarified, you will be taught the fundamentals of regional economics, including classical regional development approaches, and how these relate to real-world situations. We discuss various regional disparities and development approaches. The sub-module “Fundamentals of Public Activities and Public Services” focuses on the public sector as a key driver of regional development. You will learn when and how these public actors become involved. A particular focus is placed on the topic of public services.
- Change through Innovation in the Region: We explore specific tools for managing scarce resources within a regional economic context. With a view to the tension highlighted in the module between the desire for regional growth on the one hand and various trends towards decline on the other, alternative development pathways are discussed and devised using appropriate tools (analytical, participatory, creative).
- Sustainable transformation: A shared goal: You will apply the skills you have acquired to specific practical or problem-solving situations and deepen your expertise in soft skills (e.g. self-management and project management, communication, facilitation). Regional stakeholders will receive new impetus and support on the path to transformation and sustainable regional development. The module is designed as a supervised practical project.
These include the following modules:
- Sustainable Business and Solutions: You will receive an introduction to the structure and function of onshore and offshore renewable energies (e.g. hydrogen, wind and hydro power, biofuels, the thermal energy transition in urban districts) as well as solutions for energy-efficient neighbourhoods and their application to sustainable business models for business start-ups and business succession. The course content focuses on identifying and precisely addressing gaps in required sustainable solutions, as well as gaps in the regional business landscape, to complete regional value chains and secure regional employment. You will learn about the development of sustainable corporate structures and business processes, which are modelled in the computer lab. Likewise, the course covers operational and visionary development of employee- and participation-oriented business models, with a strong focus on legal forms that promote sustainability—such as cooperatives—to foster collective acceptance of sustainable solutions.
- Value-creation-oriented corporate management: We will show you how to develop resource-efficient value chains and corporate management, the efficient organisation of sustainable regional material and economic cycles, and innovative, productivity-oriented and sustainable thinking and action in industrial and service companies. Your skills: Understanding of operational processes and the management of SMEs.
- Work 4.0: You will gain practical, business-ready knowledge on sustainable digitalisation for Work 4.0, social partnership and New Work. This includes the following knowledge: participation management using modern methods of work organisation and staff involvement in SMEs, sustainable and social partnership-based management techniques, technology assessment with life-cycle analysis, scenario and forecast analysis, benchmarking, technical due diligence, MA participation models, sustainable, employee- and participation-oriented implementation of and order processing with ERP systems. Your skills: Practical exercises in the computer lab and on-site work in SMEs to address operational issues.
The first two modules in each specialisation are taken in the fifth semester. The final module in each specialisation is offered in the first half of the sixth semester. In addition to the two compulsory specialisations, further modules may be chosen on an optional basis, subject to availability.
In the sixth semester, you will be offered a further module from each of the specialisations you have chosen.
To complete the degree, students must produce their first academic thesis. The thesis may focus on one of the specialisations or related subject areas. Work on the thesis and the accompanying bachelor’s seminar begins in the second half of the sixth semester. In addition to university lecturers and staff, industry partners may also be involved in the supervision process.
In the 6th semester, in addition to the dissertation and the two specialisation modules, there is still room for a further compulsory elective module from the available options.
The Sustainable Economics and Management course is recommended for anyone who wants to understand the values and objectives underpinning our current economic system and who has made a conscious decision to pursue a different, sustainable career path.
Charlotte Hillemann
Student of Sustainable Economics and Management