Sustainability in business: how do you account for it?

Accounting, the language of business, is evolving to help managers interpret their responsibilities towards sustainability.

In this Working Links seminar, Roger Burritt, Professor of Accounting in UniSAs School of Commerce, ponders whether Australia has gone too far – or not far enough – in embracing this new accounting idiom.

“Conventionally, the language of accounting has excluded the social and environment impacts of business,” Prof Burritt said. “But these issues also impact on business and they’re taking their total, leading to the possible destruction of otherwise financially sound enterprises.”

The current debate about nuclear power is a good example. What is the total cost of power generation when we include building, operating and decommissioning nuclear plants, and storing the long-term waste? Who bears the cost, now and in the future?

As leading business minds are now beginning to discuss issues in terms of sustainability, Prof Burritt’s presentation is timely and thought-provoking.

Sustainability in business: how do you account for it? 5.45pm, Tuesday 22 August 2006. Rockford Hotel, corner Hindley and Morphett Streets. Register now at www.unisa.edu.au/workinglinks or by phoning 08 8302 0179.

Uni4U Workshops Update

The Readers and Writers Circle workshop was held on May 18 at the Magill campus. Dr Jackie Cook, Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication, introduced the attendees to fascinating world of digital media and podcasts which included a practical demonstration of a podcasted book review.

The group's next meeting involves setting up a podcast and a blog which can be used for virtual meetings via the Internet.

New Uni4U Workshop

Cryptic crosswords, who can understand them! If you are like most people you would have taken one glance at them and put them in the too hard basket. However, if you want to understand how cryptic crosswords work then this workshop is for you.

The Uni4U Cryptic Crosswords workshop will be presented by Len Colgan, a recently retired mathematician and well known to readers of UniSANews as a the creator of Colgan's Cryptic Crossword.

If you are interested in joining either of these workshops, please don't hesitate to contact Desiree Utting on 08 8302 0964 or by email.

Greetings from Sydney

All three SA universities recently hosted another successful alumni event in Sydney.

South Australian Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Kevin Foley was the guest of honour and he was joined by Rob Chapman (State Manager, Bank SA) and Glenn Cooper AM (Chairman, Coopers Brewery) in encouraging the more than 400 ex-patriat South Australians to consider returning to their home state.

SA is not only considered one of the world’s top business destinations and but one of the most liveable cities. The State is riding the crest of an economic wave and receiving international endorsements as a place to live and do business.

To make that message more tangible, guests at the event enjoyed a selection of SA food and beverages including Coopers beers, plump oysters, delicious wines, Haigh’s chocolate frogs and pie floaters.

Alumni in our good books

UniSA would like to thank you for sharing our vision of life long learning and donating funds to support our library resources as part of our Annual Appeal.

The Library Collection 2006 has raised almost $15,000 to date and that means about 1500 additional resources available to students.

All donors of $100 or more will have their names on a bookplate proudly placed in the front of one of the text books as a permanent acknowledgement of your generosity.

If you haven't made a donation and would like to contribute, contact our Alumni Office on (08) 8302 0974 or visit the Appeal website.

Don't forget, if you have a UniSA Alumni Network Card, you can also make use of these new resources as part of its benefits scheme. To discover more card benefits, visit the Alumni website.

Six degrees of separation

Using the power of the six degrees of separation theory, we want you to spread the word about UniSA's Open Day 2006 on August 20. The mathematical theory claims that anyone on earth can be connected through a chain of acquaintances with no more than five intermediaries. So if each and every one of you tells someone about Open Day - we should get quite a crowd. And the day is not only for school leavers. Anyone thinking about further study or a career change will benefit from Open Day. It is packed with introductory lectures, information booths and the right people on hand to answer questions.