It's been some time since I have updated my colleagues on the project to develop a sustainable business practice curriculum with Northwood University. This has been a process that has been underway now in the planning stages for several months since the introduction to several other education institutions pursuing this model including colleagues inside the SAP University Alliance program like our friends at California State University, Chico and others.
We have entered into preliminary systems-wide conversations, which is promising. For those not familiar Northwood is a private university with three on-campus environments here in the US including Michigan, Florida and Texas campuses. As there is additional interest across multiple campuses, this has now become quickly elevated to a "systems-wide" conversation sponsored by the Chief Academic Officer.
In the meantime, additional curriculum development opportunities in the area of supply chain management have emerged in the Michigan campus. This is an excellent fit for both the All-in-One (A1) as well as Business ByDesign (ByD) topologies that SAP offers in the classroom environment through the University Alliance program. As a member of the management studies program we are looking at these components across different and shared curricula, which could also help steer the curriculum for a sustainability program.
Additionally some of you are aware that I am also involved in several Customer Engagement Initiatives (CEIs) moving ahead into the 2012 year. In particular I am excited about the Sustainable Business Network initiative which I have also Preparing for Sustainable Business Networks. This is an exciting offering from SAP Research and I am very happy to be supporting this and other CEI discussions and workshops into 2012.
Returning to the sustainability curriculum, once we agree on a charter and objectives for the new curriculum, we will form an advisory committee. This should happen I hope in the first quarter of 2012. Stay tuned for additional updates on this effort.
Warm wishes for a peaceful and prosperous holiday season and new year!
Best regards / Viele gruesse.
