Purpose This paper aims to explore whether formal, non-formal, and informal learning experiences contribute to developing sustainable development competencies (SDCs) among students in a Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) signatory business school. Design/methodology/approach An online survey based on the students’ learning experiences and a questionnaire on sustainability competencies already validated in the literature were given to a sample of 274 bachelor students at a PRME signatory business school. Nominal variables representing students’ categories were created to test a set of hypotheses developed according to the literature. Because the data was not normally distributed, non-parametric independent-samples Mann–Whitney U test was conducted, and descriptive statistics was used to help the analysis. Findings The results suggest that a hybrid format with a combination of formal, non-formal and informal learning experiences is essential to maximising the development of SDCs and raising students’ sustainability literacy. Research limitations/implications This study is one of the first attempts to understand the importance of a hybrid approach in developing sustainable competencies (SDCs). Future studies could adopt longitudinal analysis to check the development of these competencies over time, assess students from different PRME signatory schools or comparing students to those in non-signatory business schools. Practical implications This study provides insight into how business schools could address challenges in developing sustainable competencies through redirecting their educational systems by balancing formal, informal and non-formal learning approaches to educate future responsible leaders. Originality/value This research provides evidence on how a hybrid learning approach could maximise the development of sustainable development competencies and, therefore, generating insights for educational policies.

No Brasil, a concepção das bases teórico-metodológicas para implementação prática da educação ambiental na gestão de recursos hídricos encontra-se em estágio inicial. No entanto, no licenciamento ambiental, essas bases apresentam amadurecimento e possibilidade de contribuírem para a democratização da sociedade e superação das injustiças ambientais. O objetivo deste estudo, nesse sentido, consiste em discutir a educação ambiental no licenciamento e na gestão dos recursos hídricos, na perspectiva crítico-comparativa, com o propósito de subsidiar o avanço dessas práticas educativas. À semelhança do que ocorre no licenciamento, os impactos gerados pelo usuário de recursos hídricos podem ser mitigados ou compensados por meio de condicionantes de outorga, como programas de educação ambiental. Esta proposta preenche lacuna, no sentido de que usuários que não tiveram exigências no processo de licenciamento, ou não necessitaram de licença ambiental, ainda assim contribuiriam para a sustentabilidade dos recursos hídricos, capacitando a sociedade civil organizada para a gestão participativa das águas, por meio do desenvolvimento de Programas de Educação Ambiental.

The concept of social responsibility can be defined as the form of management that values the ethical and transparent relationship of the company with all the stakeholders with whom it relates. Even if the demand for socially responsible actions is evident, not all organizations have the capacity to put them into practice, and when it comes to family businesses, this reality is even more distant, since many of these companies do not know how to think about social responsibility strategically. This work mapped the actions of social responsibility and initiatives related to the environment, articulated by family companies working in agribusiness. An applied research of descriptive character and qualitative approach was carried out, using as a research method the multi-case study, with eight family companies located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The results demonstrated out that the legal obligation fosters a large part of the actions of family companies, to the detriment of voluntary and spontaneous actions in favor of their stakeholders.

RESUMOOs Indicadores de Sustentabilidade são pertinentes a diferentes temas, com o propósito de avaliar, monitorar e caracterizar o processo de desenvolvimento sustentável de um determinado recorte espacial. O tema Atmosfera se faz importante e relevante, pois as emissões de gases podem impactar negativamente a qualidade de vida dos seres vivos. Dentre as diferentes ferramentas disponíveis, o Barômetro da Sustentabilidade (BS) foi selecionado para a avaliação. Nessa perspectiva, o objetivo básico da presente pesquisa foi demonstrar a importância das Escalas de Desempenho do tema Atmosfera na dimensão ambiental, tendo como exemplo o município de Ribeirão Preto (SP). A metodologia adotada teve como principal fundamento o Ciclo de Sete Estágios para aplicação e análise do BS. O nível de qualidade do tema Atmosfera mostrou-se com potencial positivo em direção à sustentabilidade.Palavras-chave: Indicadores de Sustentabilidade; Qualidade do Ar; Barômetro da Sustentabilidade.

Sustainability is a topic that has gained importance in several fields of knowledge, including the public, private and society spheres, based on the discussions that involve the definition of several public policies. Sustainability Indicators (SI) are metrics that seek to measure the level of sustainability and compile information for better decision-making concerning policies, programs, projects and actions related to sustainability. Demonstrated their relevance to public policies the SI appears as an essential tool for evaluating development goals as a sustainable proposal. In this way, this research aimed to discuss the main challenges and methodological limitations found in the use of SI, emphasizing the main fragilities identified in the literature. In methodological terms, the research has exploratory characteristics, supported by the mixed methods approach using a theoretical-empirical analysis, from the available literature on the subject and the methodologies used and the experience of researchers about the topic addressed. The main results demonstrated that Sustainability Indicators are tools that should be used to define, implement, evaluate and monitor public policies at all levels, considering the potentialities/weaknesses and priorities of each context.