How to organise sustainable student events: Guidebook

Abstract

In the current world, sustainability is a buzzword gaining more and more attention from both businesses and individuals. The event industry is a global industry having multiple impacts on the environment, the economy, and the people. Such impacts can be both positive and negative, however the negative impacts should be minimised as much as possible, if not avoided altogether, to ensure sustainability in events for a future world we all can happily live in.

This thesis explores the current level of sustainability, event organisers from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences are ensuring when organising student events. The main objective for this bachelor’s thesis is to develop a practical guidebook instructing student unions, their action groups, and student associations of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences on sustainable event management. The guidebook instructs on variety of areas of event management and provides practical information, tips, and guidelines, easily adaptable to student event management. The main findings of the research part have been implemented into the creation of the final guidebook as well as the theoretical framework was used.

This thesis is a product-based thesis, and its research part has been completed using the qualitative method, specifically three interviews and observation based on the author’s personal experience. The three interviews are conducted with two students and one lecturer, who all have a variety of experiences in Haaga-Helia student event management and therefore can provide valuable insights into the topic of sustainability in student events.