Learning to Solve Social Sustainability Problems in Diverse Student Teams

This chapter presents a practical four-step method for incorporating team diversity into teaching social sustainability issues in management subjects. The method combines problem-based learning, collaborative learning, and critical reflexivity to equip students with the necessary skills for navigating diverse teams. The chapter step-by-step describes an assignment in which students are organized into diverse teams, presented with a real social sustainability problem to be solved, and asked to reflect on their experiences working in a diverse team. Each step includes a set of activities, tools and models, assessment methods, challenges that teachers and learners can encounter, and methods of addressing these challenges. The benefits for educators include understanding how to incorporate team diversity into their teaching practices, developing students’ problem-solving and collaboration skills, and fostering their self-awareness and normative competencies. By implementing the presented teaching method, educators can contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (Gender equality) and 10 (Reducing inequalities) by teaching students how to achieve equality and inclusion at the team level, fostering equality and inclusion from the bottom up. Furthermore, the method also aligns with SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) by demonstrating to students the benefits of diversity and inclusion for individuals and companies, preparing them to extend these principles to their future work.