Themen für Abschlussarbeiten
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- Which corporate governance mechanisms drive corporate sustainability?
- Sustainability Reporting of Corporations and Higher Education Institutions
- Resilienz in ökologischen und wirtschaftlichen Systemen
- The Role of the Insurance Sector in Biodiversity Protection and Preservation
- The Role of the Banking Sector in Biodiversity Protection and Preservation
- The Role of Biodiversity in Field Excursions: From Nature-Based Learning to Employee & Management Education
- From Measurement to Accountability: An Analysis of Tools and Methods for Biodiversity Accounting
- Policy Instruments for Mobilizing Private Financing for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
- Culture of Sustainability in Organisations and Change Processes
- Drivers and barriers of biodiversity management in the finance sector. A systematic literature review
- Financial institutions as drivers of sustainable development
- Corporate biodiversity management
- The Role of Biodiversity in Field Excursions: From Nature-Based Learning to Employee & Management Education
- Place-Based Organising with Nature: How Does Our Connection to Place Shape Corporate Biodiversity Management?
- Die Rolle von Biodiversität bei Feldexkursionen im Bildungskontext
Which corporate governance mechanisms drive corporate sustainability?
Corporate sustainability, which is often confused with corporate social responsibility, is a strategy that goes beyond short-term efficiency to search for environmental, social and economic balance of doing business. In this sense, traditional corporate governance philosophies and mechanisms are challenged for reconsideration.
The aims of this thesis is to conduct a systematic literature review of the relationship between sustainability and governance, how sustainability- related issues could be integrated in corporate governance, and which tools and mechanisms are available or being developed to help companies in the transition towards sustainable business practices. Governing issues such as ownership structure, board structure, management process, compliance, information transparency, etc. are to be discussed in detail.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Englisch/Deutsch
Betreuung: Dr. My Hanh Doan
Sustainability Reporting of Corporations and Higher Education Institutions
The sustainability reporting (SR) practices of corporations and other public institutions such as Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are facing many challenges from the lack of mandatory requirements, uniform standards and formal assurance. Either intentionally or unintentionally, institutions might engage in the act of greenwashing or sustainability-washing in a broader sense, using sustainability reports as a form of public communication and mislead their stakeholders about the actual impacts of their economic, environmental, social and educational performance. Given the essential role of SR in the advancement of sustainable development, attention should be devoted to enhance the credibility of reports as well as to regulate, uniform and assure the SR practices within each sector. In such a context, research should attempt to bring the sustainability-washing matter to light by investigating the motivations of voluntary reporting, examining the gaps between the degree of performance and the quality of disclosure, and proposing a summarized catalogue to assess sustainability reports for future research. The results are expected to enrich the SR research field conceptually and empirically, as well as to support further practical development in governing, standardizing and assuring the reporting practices of corporations alongside other social and public organizations.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Englisch
Betreuung: Dr. My Hanh Doan
Resilienz in ökologischen und wirtschaftlichen Systemen
Resilienz beschreibt die Fähigkeit sozialer und ökologischer Systeme, sich trotz widriger Umstände anzupassen, zu erholen und weiterzuentwickeln (Nyström et al., 2019; Olsson et al., 2015). In der aktuellen Forschung gilt Resilienz als ein multidimensionales Konzept, das Individuen, Organisationen und ganze Systeme umfasst, von Lieferketten über Finanzmanagement bis hin zu Führungsdynamiken (Hillmann & Guenther, 2021). In Zeiten zunehmender ökologischer, wirtschaftlicher und gesellschaftlicher Krisen gewinnt das Konzept in der Forschung zunehmend an Bedeutung. Ziel dieser Abschlussarbeit ist es, Resilienz als komplementären Ansatz zur Nachhaltigkeit zu untersuchen. Es sollen Ansätze analysiert werden, wie Resilienzdenken in und unternehmerisches Handeln integriert werden kann, um sowohl kurzfristige Anpassungsfähigkeit als auch langfristige Stabilität zu fördern.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Methode: Systematic literature review, content analysis, interviews (je nach Präferenz)
Betreuung: Dr. Leyla Azizi
The Role of the Insurance Sector in Biodiversity Protection and Preservation
The insurance sector can play a significant role in the protection and preservation of biodiversity, given its broad influence across the value chain and its exposure to various risks and opportunities stemming from its impacts and dependencies on biodiversity.
Students participating in this research will gain an overview of the insurance business model and an understanding of how insurance companies can contribute to biodiversity protection and preservation. This research involves a content analysis of biodiversity-related disclosures by insurance companies. A coding framework is developed based on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) E4, which provide specific indicators related to biodiversity and ecosystems. Furthermore, the methodology includes performing a systematic literature review.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Methodology: systematic literature review and content analysis
Betreuung: Dr. Leyla Azizi (in Anknüpfung an ein aktuelles Forschungsprojekt)
The Role of the Banking Sector in Biodiversity Protection and Preservation
The banking sector can play a significant role in the protection and preservation of biodiversity, given its central role in financing economic activities and its influence on sectors with high biodiversity impacts. Banks are increasingly exposed to biodiversity-related risks and opportunities through their lending and investment portfolios, as well as their own operations. Students participating in this research will gain an overview of the banking business model and an understanding of how banks can contribute to biodiversity protection and preservation. This research involves a content analysis of biodiversity-related disclosures by banks. A coding framework is developed based on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) E4, which provide specific indicators related to biodiversity and ecosystems. Furthermore, the methodology includes performing a systematic literature review.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Methodology: systematic literature review and content analysis
Betreuung: Dr. Leyla Azizi (in Anknüpfung an ein aktuelles Forschungsprojekt)
The Role of Biodiversity in Field Excursions: From Nature-Based Learning to Employee & Management Education
Why this topic?
- Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystems and the services society depends on.
- Field excursions offer hands-on opportunities to experience nature and understand its value.
- How can these experiences translate into lasting knowledge and action?
Your research focus
- Review the literature on biodiversity learning through field excursions.
- Identify best practices and analyse successful educational approaches.
- Develop recommendations for integrating biodiversity into employee training and management education.
Possible approaches
- Literature review & conceptual model development
- Qualitative case studies and interviews
Good fit if you are interested in: Biodiversity · Environmental education · Experiential learning · Corporate sustainability · Qualitative research
Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: Vera Braun
From Measurement to Accountability: An Analysis of Tools and Methods for Biodiversity Accounting
In their biodiversity management, companies face the challenge of wanting or needing to measure their impact on nature and biodiversity. The Corporate Biodiversity Footprint (CBF) is a key metric for this purpose, quantifying a company’s dependence on biodiversity and its impact on it. It assesses how a company’s activities affect ecosystems and biodiversity and provides insights into direct and indirect impacts. The CBF is measured in area (e.g., km²) and can be expressed in absolute terms (total affected area) or relative terms (affected area per financial or physical KPI). Various tools and frameworks are available to help companies measure their biodiversity footprint. They provide insights into the specific activities and supply chain processes that contribute most significantly to biodiversity loss. What tools and databases are available that companies can use to analyze their biodiversity footprint or natural capital and for biodiversity accounting? What metrics do these platforms use? What tools do companies actually use in practice, and what is the cost-benefit ratio for the company (e.g., SMEs)?
The study may focus on a specific sector, such as agriculture, and employ various methods (e.g., a case study within a company).
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: M.Sc. Ronja Paleit
Policy Instruments for Mobilizing Private Financing for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
In 2019, calculations of global needs and existing financial flows for biodiversity conservation revealed an estimated funding gap of $598 billion to $824 billion per year (Deutz et al., 2020). Since most current financial flows originate from public budgets (UNEP, 2023, p. 16; Deutz et al., 2020), policy measures are needed to prevent actions that harm biodiversity and to create incentives for measures that promote biodiversity-friendly investments.
Economic instruments can create incentives for specific actions to achieve policy goals more efficiently and effectively than through bans. These instruments (e.g., taxes, CO2 certificates, subsidies) are used particularly in the areas of climate change and nature conservation. In the field of nature conservation and biodiversity, there are currently few incentives, and it is unclear what actual effects they have on nature. We are interested in which incentive instruments exist for biodiversity-friendly actions and which of these actually increase private financing for nature conservation. How can more incentives be created to encourage greater investment in biodiversity and nature conservation? Innovative mechanisms such as nature/biodiversity credits could help close the funding gap, but how would companies handle them? What challenges do companies see with regard to these incentives and investments in nature conservation in general?
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: M.Sc. Ronja Paleit
Culture of Sustainability in Organisations and Change Processes
To what degree do organisations implement sustainability into their everyday life, encompassing products/supply chain/internal structures? Focussing rather on the internal perspective and tracing sustainability change processes to eventually identify (a) culture(s) of sustainability that foster sustainable development. Ideally, different types of organisational settings can be identified and interdependencies mapped accordingly.
This is rather an open-ended research question, hence a qualitative approach would fit best.
The research will be empirical (interviews), but a thorough literature-review still needs to be done in order to theorise the findings.
Of course, we will specify the topic individually according to your degree. The scope of this topic is rather advanced, but might be levelled down to BA as well. In case you contact me, please, have an inspired idea of what you would like to research and how you might do that.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: M.Sc. Ronja Paleit
Drivers and barriers of biodiversity management in the finance sector. A systematic literature review
Sustainable finance has been gaining momentum in recent years, aiming to increase the resilience of the global financial system in order to avoid further financial breakdowns, as experienced in 2008. In this context, the biodiversity topic's consideration often falls short for multiple reasons. Nevertheless, biodiversity and related ecosystem services are essential pillars of economic functioning and should be regarded when attempting to restructure the finance system. This thesis shall therefore examine existing literature on the topic and carve out drivers and barriers to implementing the matters of biodiversity in the context of sustainable finance.
Bachelorarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: M.Sc. Lisa Junge
Financial institutions as drivers of sustainable development
Sustainable development aims fulfilling today's needs without comprising the capabilities of future generations to meet their needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). In recent years, reaching the path of sustainable development ranks high on the global agenda given the increasing threats that the current growth paradigm has caused (e.g. climate change, and biodiversity loss). In this context, financial institutions play an essential role as they can redirect investments, nudge sustainable development and become co-agents of positive biodiversity change. For example, development banks can nudge future development by being responsible for financially supporting, inter alia, municipalities, businesses and private persons. Additionally, private financial institutions can leverage the business approaches of their business partners by excluding biodiversity-harming business activities from their funding. Consequently, financial institutions may uphold a significant power for sustainable development.
This topic can be shaped according to the specific interest of the candidate working on the topic (e.g. by selecting a type of financial institution, a sector, or a region). This topic shall be tackled by conducting a systematic literature review.
Bachel-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: Dr. Leyla Azizi
Corporate biodiversity management
Corporate environmental responsibilities have received growing attention from multiple stakeholders and become common practices worldwide. However, certain particular issues such as biodiversity conservation, though receiving great social pressures, have not been considered in depth by current environmental management standards. To address such gap, research on the challenge of integrating biodiversity management in businesses are specifically called for.
The thesis should select one or more particular issues related to corporate biodiversity management such as drivers and barriers, internalization challenges, standards and implementation, governance mechanism, etc. Furthermore, the thesis should be able to critically discuss applicable managerial implication.
Bachelor-/Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Englisch/Deutsch
Betreuung: M.Sc. Lisa Junge
The Role of Biodiversity in Field Excursions: From Nature-Based Learning to Employee & Management Education
Why this topic?
- Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystems and the services society depends on.
- Field excursions offer hands-on opportunities to experience nature and understand its value.
- How can these experiences translate into lasting knowledge and action?
Your research focus
- Review the literature on biodiversity learning through field excursions.
- Identify best practices and analyse successful educational approaches.
- Develop recommendations for integrating biodiversity into employee training and management education.
Possible approaches
- Literature review & conceptual model development
- Qualitative case studies and interviews
Good fit if you are interested in: Biodiversity · Environmental education · Experiential learning · Corporate sustainability · Qualitative research
Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: M.Ed. Vera Braun
Place-Based Organising with Nature: How Does Our Connection to Place Shape Corporate Biodiversity Management?
Why this topic?
- Organisations often lack knowledge about local biodiversity, which can limit its consideration in decision-making.
- A strong Sense of Place — our emotional, social and cognitive connection to a place — may foster environmental awareness and responsibility.
- How can a connection to local nature inspire more sustainable organisational practices?
Your research focus
- Explore the relationship between Sense of Place, biodiversity awareness and organisational behaviour.
- Investigate how local ecological knowledge can influence decisions, strategies and everyday practices.
- Develop insights into how organisations can better integrate nature into their activities.
Possible approaches
- Literature review & conceptual model development
- Qualitative case studies and interviews
Good fit if you are interested in: Organisational studies · Sustainability · Biodiversity · Qualitative research
Master-/Diplomarbeit
Sprache: Deutsch/Englisch
Betreuung: M.Ed. Vera Braun
Die Rolle von Biodiversität bei Feldexkursionen im Bildungskontext
Der fortschreitende Verlust der Biodiversität und die damit verbundene Beeinträchtigung von Ökosystemleistungen stellen eine ernstzunehmende Bedrohung für unsere Gesellschaft dar. In diesem Zusammenhang wird Bildung als entscheidender Faktor für den Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung von Biodiversität angesehen.
Insbesondere Formate, die direkt in der natürlichen Umwelt stattfinden, wie etwa Feldexkursionen, spielen eine zentrale Rolle, um den Wert der Natur und ihrer vielfältigen Funktionen für den Menschen erfahrbar zu machen. Diese praxisnahen Lernerfahrungen tragen dazu bei, ein tieferes Verständnis und Bewusstsein für die Bedeutung der Biodiversität zu fördern.
Ziel der Masterarbeit ist es, einen umfassenden Überblick über den aktuellen Forschungsstand zur Rolle von Biodiversität im Rahmen von Feldexkursionen zu schaffen. Darüber hinaus sollen gute Praxisbeispiele identifiziert und analysiert werden. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt der Arbeit liegt auf der Untersuchung des sächsischen Curriculums, um potenzielle Anknüpfungspunkte für Schulen aufzuzeigen und Empfehlungen für die Integration von Biodiversitätsthemen in den Unterricht zu entwickeln.
Aufgabenstellung:
- Überblick über den aktuellen Forschungsstand zur Bedeutung von Biodiversität bei Feldexkursionen.
- Identifizierung und Analyse von Best-Practice-Beispielen.
- Untersuchung des sächsischen Curriculums, um Möglichkeiten zur Einbindung von Biodiversitätsthemen in den Schulunterricht herauszuarbeiten.
Masterarbeit
Sprache: Englisch/Deutsch
Betreuung: M.Ed. Vera Braun