The SSCEN Sustainability Prize for Master’s Theses

• Eligible to apply for the prize are students in business studies and engineering studies who have written a master’s thesis with a focus on sustainability.
• One thesis written at Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM) and one thesis written at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) will be awarded.

We live in the times of great uncertainty with several complex and interconnected crises. The authors behind the IPCC and IPBES reports urge us to acknowledge the urgency in solving the challenges related to climate change. In addition, daunting news on severe social injustices reach us daily. There is an acute need to join forces in finding pathways towards an efficient, fair, and inclusive sustainability transformation. To succeed with these endeavours, we need new knowledge fit for actionable change. With this Prize we want to encourage business and engineering students to contribute with their valuable knowledge and inspiration for change. 

SSCEN Sustainability Prize for Master’s Theses winners

2024

The 2024 winners have been selected, one thesis carried out at the Faculty of Engineering concerning Green steel market development and one thesis from the School of Economics and Management at Lund University concerning concerning Search for synergies in Managing Sustainable Activities across Developed and Emerging Markets – news article

2023

Valuable thesis project can result in more efficient electricity grids – prize winners Gabriel Malmer and Lovisa Thorin have shown how more solar and wind electricity can be safely connected to the electricity grid in Eslöv municipality without major investment costs – news article

Assessment criteria

To be considered for the prize, the thesis should be written for obtaining a master’s degree in business studies at LUSEM or engineering studies at the Faculty of Engineering. The thesis for should be completed in the period 1 September previous year to 31 Augusti current year and address topics related to sustainable development such as the transformation and innovation of policies, private and public organisations, value-chains, industries, technologies, and the financial system.

The following aspects are at focus in the assessment process:

• Originality
• Academic quality
• Contribution to the subjects of economic studies and/or engineering studies   
• Research relevance and contribution to the research frontier related to sustainability and the ongoing transformation
• Relevance and practical implications to society at large including policy making, industry, organizations, individuals, and the financial system

Nomination Procedure

The thesis must be nominated by the supervisor or examiner. The thesis must be approved in the period 1 September previous year to 31 Augusti current year. At the time of nomination, the thesis must be plagiarism controlled and uploaded in full text in the respective department's public thesis database (DiVA or similar). Nominations are made by filling in the nomination form.

Nomination form – The SSCEN Sustainability Prize for Master’s Theses 2024 – ungpd.com 

Jury and assessment process

The Advisory Board of Sparbanken Skånes Center for Sustainable Enterprising (SSCEN) acts as jury and will assess the nominated theses. Besides representatives from Sparbanken Skånes Ägarstiftelse Finn, Sparbanken Skåne, LTH and LUSEM, the jury includes representatives from industry and the civil society sector.

The Prize 

The winners of the SSCEN Sustainability Prize for Master Theses will be announced on the websites of SSCEN, LUSEM, LTH, Sparbankens Ägarstiftelse Finn and Sparbanken Skåne during autumn 2024. The prize is awarded in the form of two grants of SEK 25.000 each. As part of the award, the authors of the awarded theses will be invited by Sparbanken Skåne to present their findings and discuss their views on how transformation challenges can be solved. The authors of the awarded theses will be invited to a prize ceremony organized by SSCEN and in the presence of Sparbanken Skåne, Sparbanken Skånes Ägarstiftelse Finn and SSCENs Advisory Board.

Thesis prize partner

The SSCEN Sustainability Prize for Master’s Theses in business studies and engineering studies is awarded in cooperation with Sparbanken Skånes Ägarstiftelse Finn that have made the financing possible.