This text is part of the special section Higher Education
In the spring of 2022, students from HEC Montréal cycled some 250 kilometers as part of an experiential course. A one-of-a-kind project that allowed them to better understand the challenges of carbon neutrality on the ground while participating in a project with the Port of Montreal.
An experiential course is training that goes beyond traditional teaching focused on lectures and case studies. In addition to theory, it makes it possible to meet various stakeholders in the field studied and to work on concrete projects to allow students to experiment with the subject instead of simply studying it. It has the same number of hours and credits as a lecture course.
“The course that these 17 students took on carbon neutrality was very intensive and demanding,” says Yves Plourde, associate professor in the Department of Management and head of education for the DESS and master’s in management and sustainable development at HEC Montreal. It focused on knowledge, but also on skills related to supporting organizations in achieving carbon neutrality. Composed of three parts, the course first included a theoretical part offered in particular by the Chair in eco-advising of the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), then a practical part which allows the meeting with various stakeholders, organizations and business managers, to better understand the challenges that businesses face. An interdisciplinary application project with the Port of Montreal is the last component and aims to develop solutions so that it can achieve carbon neutrality.
“In the context of climate change, companies emit greenhouse gases (GHG), and when we talk about carbon neutrality, we are referring to an accounting operation that consists of reducing these emissions as much as possible and offsetting those that we emits with certified programs, for example that of Carbone boréal. The objective is to achieve zero emissions in order to have a carbon-neutral balance,” he specifies.
Terrain effects
In addition to being an efficient means of transport, the bicycle was a way of making the students aware, within the framework of the course, of aspects of climate change that we do not necessarily observe when we travel by metro or by car. “For example, when moving from a poorer, treeless neighborhood to a heavily wooded neighborhood, the feeling of changing the environment is real,” says Yves Plourde. The air quality is better, and we feel fresher. This allows students to concretely realize the effects of climate change. Often, we have a superficial understanding of it, but cycling allows us to develop a greater sensitivity to our environment and to see things differently. »
One of the themes that emerged from their reflection was that of eco-anxiety. “It’s a fairly common phenomenon, but the course allowed students to see that environmental problems should not be left to others, we must take responsibility. Even if the initiatives are not perfect, more people need to get involved. »
Business Challenges
These bike trips also had the mission of allowing students to meet some twenty organizations that participate voluntarily in the project, including the Aldo Group, Lufa Farms and Desjardins. They told the students about their carbon neutral initiatives and the obstacles they encountered.
“Among the challenges, we are talking in particular about the issue of employee mobilization and awareness,” says Yves Plourde. For many companies, these are inspiring subjects, but it is not yet implemented in all organizational processes. There is still a cultural change to be made and a problem in terms of knowledge. There are no easy and obvious solutions. »
Another challenge is to speak the language of economics and finance to convince certain business leaders.
“Finding how to translate environmental issues into economic language is a challenge for those responsible for sustainable development,” he points out.
The following
The data collected and the results of the experiential course were the subject of a presentation at the Cycling and Society congress which took place in mid-September in the United Kingdom. “Cycling and Society is a group of researchers who see cycling as a solution to problems, such as climate change, while keeping a critical eye,” explains Yves Plourde, who is also happy that the experiential cycling course has offer again next spring at HEC Montréal.
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