Topic: Sustainable Cities – Copenhagen

BUS 399 or HON 399 (3 credits)

SUMMER TRAVEL COURSE

Travel Dates: May 18 – May 29, 2025

Many company leaders understand that they have greater responsibility in today’s business environment than simply making profit for their organizations. Evidence about business practices shows that the aggressive “profit-oriented” model is slowly being replaced by a model that takes into consideration the stakeholders’ interests. Marketers illustrate this model in their decision making by using the sustainable marketing approach which has three important components: (1) Deliver value to consumers; (2) interact and collaborate with stakeholders in an ethical way; and (1) respect social and environmental norms.

In this course, students explore the factors that influence organizations’ strategic decisions based on sustainability by focusing on the case of Denmark industries. Students learn how sustainability decisions in Denmark impact organizations in various sectors of activities. They examine sustainability practices in the following industries: textiles and apparel, food, renewable energy, transportation, organic farming, and tourism industries. The main objective is for students to examine the feasibility of the sustainability practices and recommend some of them to companies in the state of Maine.

Additionally, students will examine how daily individual and societal life impact thinking about sustainability. By exploring what it is like to live in Copenhagen, students will gain experience in the application of sustainable living in the ways we eat, commute, work, play, and consume.

Faculty

Eklou Amendah

Dr. Eklou Romaric Amendah is a professor of marketing at University of Southern Maine. He specifically teaches marketing, consumer behavior and marketing research courses. Dr. Amendah is a passionate researcher. His research focuses on technology in marketing, branding, retail strategies, consumer perception of healthcare services, sport management and cooperative development.

Richard Bilodeau

Professor Bilodeau teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in entrepreneurship, creative strategies, design thinking, business sustainability, and marketing. He is an entrepreneur who is a partner in two growing businesses (one in the direct marketing and the other in television production and research). He also has an active consulting practice with clients located in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to his teaching, Professor Bilodeau oversees USM’s Center for Entrepreneurship, is the Interim Director of the Center for Economic and Business Research, is the Faculty Chair of the Hussey Leadership Institute, and serves on the Honors Faculty Council. Professor Bilodeau’s current research focuses on the role our neurobiology plays in our creative and business decision-making and design thinking process. He also studies practice models for innovation, sustainability, resilience, and leadership.

Tuition and Fees

The approximate program fee is still pending. Tuition and fees at the in-state rate are in addition to the program fee. All participants on USM travel programs receive the in-state tuition rate regardless of residency.

The program fee includes:  accommodation, airfare, in country ground transportation, academic site visits and entrance fees

Not included in the program fee: cost of tuition, fees, books, academic supplies, meals, and other personal expenses.

Application

The application deadline is February 17, 2025. Pre-requisites for the course are: at least 15 college credits hours at USM, a minimum GPA of 2.0 and sophomore standing. Students should have a valid passport.

A complete application includes all of the following:

  1. Submit the program application form
    • We recommend looking over the application before completing it so you have all parts ready, as unfortunately you cannot save as you go.
  2. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or academic advisor
  3. Copy of academic transcript
    • Information regarding requesting a transcript can be found here (It’s probably easiest to either follow the steps for “Electronic Delivery” or “Unofficial Transcript via Classic MaineStreet” and either way, send to Kimberly Sinclair (ksinc@maine.edu)

Once the application committee has reviewed applications, you will be notified of acceptance via email. At that time, all students accepted to the program will be asked to submit a $500 nonrefundable deposit and will be enrolled in the course in MaineStreet by a staff member in the Office of International Programs.