Impactos del Programa de Maestría en Gestión de la Calidad y Ambiental en la educación y la innovación organizacional para el desarrollo sostenible

Environmental education is a fundamental instrument for environmental management aimed at sustainable development based on social responsibility. Through her knowledge is transmitted and skills, values, attitudes and actions aimed at the preservation of the environment, understood in the nature-society relationship, are generated. In this context, academic postgraduate training allows professionals and managers acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to sustainable development. The aim of this paper is to show how the master degree Program in Quality and Environmental Management has made an impact on a group of Cuban organizations aimed at improving the environmental performance through environmental education, organizational research and innovations. To date the program has 100 graduates, and a fourth part of them have worked various aspects of environmental management in their organizations. They have been developed environmental management plans in construction works, management plans for solid waste and other residues, environmental impact studies, programs to improve environmental performance and implementation of environmental management systems in several cases integrated with quality management systems. The diagnoses made and actions taken to minimize environmental impacts and ensure compliance with current legislation have led to improved environmental performance in organizations under study and to establish methodologies applicable to other organizations.