The concept of sustainable development is not new, as it has its roots in the post-war period and emerged in response to concerns about the impact of excessive economic growth on the natural environment. In particular, it is well known that economic growth has been based on excessive use of natural resources and energy, while ignoring the impacts on the environment and climate change. However, it is now clear that environmental protection can only be an additional pillar of human well-being.

There has never been a more drastic increase in production and consumption in history until after the Industrial Revolution. In the period between 1800 and 1970, the world population tripled while economic growth rates remained very high. However, in the early 1970s, the concept of sustainability re-emerged, highlighting a new direction for development, towards sustainability. The foundations were then established for using the term ‘sustainability’ to describe a society that could be maintained over time and capable of meeting the basic needs of all people. More recently, the concept of sustainable development was defined in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland, 1987).

Nowadays, no issue is more important for future generations than sustainability. Sustainability, which is a vision for social advancement, economic prosperity, preservation of the natural environment and human dignity in general. The aim of the Department of Economics and Sustainable Development is therefore to equip its graduates with specialised knowledge on sustainability issues in order to prepare the citizens of tomorrow. By putting the concept of sustainability at the heart of the academic program, it seeks to play a leading role in the transition to a more sustainable society. The curriculum and the research process carried out translate into new knowledge, better skills, improvements in the organisation of society and new standards of behaviour.