Sustainable Managers for the Future: Are Italian Universities Aligned With Best Practices?

The Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscore the vital role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in equipping future leaders to address sustainability challenges. This study evaluates the extent to which the curricula of Italian public universities align with best practices for training sustainability managers, a pressing need highlighted by the 2023 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Despite the introduction of new sustainability‐focused degree programs, our analysis reveals a disconnect between academic offerings and the competencies outlined in the literature and regulatory guidelines. Master's programs generally provide more comprehensive training, while bachelor's programs fall short in preparing students for the multifaceted demands of sustainability management. Although critical skills such as problem‐solving and critical thinking are well‐represented, ethics and values are notably absent from the curricula. Only a small proportion of programs meet the holistic educational standards necessary for effective sustainability management. This research not only identifies significant gaps in sustainability education but also emphasises the potential implications of these findings for the future of sustainability management. It calls for further investigation, including qualitative studies, to assess whether Italian universities are truly preparing future sustainability managers. Expanding the scope to include international comparisons and interdisciplinary approaches should be a focus of future research to provide a broader perspective on sustainability education.