Scientific Research as a Driver of the Sustainable Development Agenda: A 6-year Study of Dissertations in a Graduate Program in Administration at a Brazilian Higher Education Institution

Growing public awareness of climate change, social inequality, and economic uncertainties has driven the demand for more responsible business and government practices. Global movements have been decisive for countries and organizations to take responsibility for the damage being caused, while promoting policies that minimize the future impacts resulting from economic expansion. Essentially, this is the context in which the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda was created. Universities play a fundamental role in this agenda, as they train professionals, contribute to the development of the regions where they operate, in addition to being catalysts to produce knowledge and the evolution of science. The aim of this chapter is to analyze how the scientific production of the Graduate Program in Administration at a Brazilian university is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For this purpose, a qualitative analysis was conducted, involving the mapping of theses and dissertations from the program, in order to identify those directly addressing topics related to the SDGs. A qualitative approach, comprising a mapping of theses and dissertations arising from the Graduate Program, was used to identify those that address the SDG theme directly. This process was followed by a categorization and quantification of the resulting data to generate a frequency map and bring visibility to areas of sustainability that are receiving attention from the academic community. This study brings clarity to which SDGs that are underrepresented in the Brazilian institution's scientific production that indicates possible gaps in its academic research towards the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda.