Title: Sustainable future replaces sustainable development concept by systemic behaviour via social responsibility

Authors: Matjaz Mulej; Anita Hrast; Vojko Potocan; Timi Ečimović; Zdenka Ženko

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, IRDO Institute for Development of Social Responsibility, Maribor, Slovenia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, IRDO Institute for Development of Social Responsibility, Maribor, Slovenia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, IRDO Institute for Development of Social Responsibility, Maribor, Slovenia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, IRDO Institute for Development of Social Responsibility, Maribor, Slovenia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, IRDO Institute for Development of Social Responsibility, Maribor, Slovenia

Abstract: This is no engineering issue, but a conceptual issue with impact on engineering and other professional work and humankind's survival. Humankind has put itself in existential troubles by its one-sided behaviour over the entire industrialisation period, which provided a big material progress, but to a very small minority of humans only. The natural preconditions of human survival are in danger. The concept of 'sustainable development' has not solved the problem. The 'sustainable future' concept is supposed to replace it by introducing the requisitely systemic approach, which is now enjoying worldwide organisations' support with the concept of 'social responsibility'. But many crucial issues are still unsolved, including the information, measurement, diffusion and synergy of them in non-technological innovation of the inherited habits, etc.

Keywords: diffusion; humankind; information; measurement; non-technological innovation; requisite holism; social responsibility; sustainable future; synergy; systemic behaviour; sustainable development; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2017.080997

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2017 Vol.27 No.1/2, pp.147 - 159

Accepted: 27 Nov 2015
Published online: 14 Dec 2016 *

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