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Implementing Sustainability in the Curriculum of Universities pp 291–305Cite as

Teaching Accounting Society and the Environment: Enlightenment as a Route to Accountability and Sustainability

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Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

This paper describes a postgraduate course taught for several years and outlines how this aimed to enlighten and empower students and increase their understanding of accounting and its purpose. First some key concepts are discussed: the purpose of education, pedagogy and accountability. Then the course is described in detail, finishing with some reflections. Enlightened students expect more from accounts; they see them as society or multi-stakeholder orientated and potential indicators of a need for change, rather than as a historical narrative claiming to substantiate the efficient use of resources. In the spirit of interpretive accounting research as discussed by Ahrens et al. (Critical Perspectives on Accounting 19: 840–866, 2008) this paper is offered in the hope it helps other educators develop their understanding of how we can enlighten, and empower, our students whilst making them more aware of their role in building a sustainable future.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, All Saints Campus, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6BH, UK

    Jack Christian

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  1. Jack Christian
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Correspondence to Jack Christian .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Science, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

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Christian, J. (2018). Teaching Accounting Society and the Environment: Enlightenment as a Route to Accountability and Sustainability. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Implementing Sustainability in the Curriculum of Universities. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70281-0_18

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