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The number of elective courses with social and environmental content at business schools has increased by a fifth in two years.
Figures in the latest Beyond Grey Pinstripes survey show that the 111 business schools it covered now offer on average six courses compared with five in 2005, when the survey was last conducted.
In addition, the number of elective courses with at least some social and environmental content rose by 42 per cent during the same period.
Rich Leimsider, director of the US-based Aspen Institute Center for Business Education, which runs the biennial survey, said the findings ‘tell us that society and the environment are becoming significant issues on campus, not just for students, but in the dean’s office and in many classrooms’.
However, he added that in most institutions courses ‘are still pretty much confined to discussions of non-profit management, social entrepreneurship and ethics’ rather than emphasizing that ‘mainstream, for-profit business can be a force for positive social and environmental change’. The proportion of schools requiring core course content on how mainstream business can address social or environmental issues remained low, he added.
Of the 111 schools, only 35 offered MBA students the opportunity to focus on corporate responsibility during their studies. In addition, there was little academic research on social or environmental topics – only five per cent of faculties published in this area.
As in 2005, Stanford University ranked first overall, and US institutions again dominated, occupying eight of the top ten places. Altogether 71 were in the US and the rest in 18 other countries. In the last survey 91 schools in 14 countries took part.
The overall ranking relates to research and teaching, with respondents assessed on a range of factors such as the number of courses with social and environmental content, teaching hours dedicated to considering the issues, and the amount of research being undertaken.
The University of Nottingham was the best performing UK institution, ranking second for research globally and fourth overall among European schools. Both the University of Bath and Cranfield also did well.
Figures in the latest Beyond Grey Pinstripes survey show that the 111 business schools it covered now offer on average six courses compared with five in 2005, when the survey was last conducted.
In addition, the number of elective courses with at least some social and environmental content rose by 42 per cent during the same period.
Rich Leimsider, director of the US-based Aspen Institute Center for Business Education, which runs the biennial survey, said the findings ‘tell us that society and the environment are becoming significant issues on campus, not just for students, but in the dean’s office and in many classrooms’.
However, he added that in most institutions courses ‘are still pretty much confined to discussions of non-profit management, social entrepreneurship and ethics’ rather than emphasizing that ‘mainstream, for-profit business can be a force for positive social and environmental change’. The proportion of schools requiring core course content on how mainstream business can address social or environmental issues remained low, he added.
Of the 111 schools, only 35 offered MBA students the opportunity to focus on corporate responsibility during their studies. In addition, there was little academic research on social or environmental topics – only five per cent of faculties published in this area.
As in 2005, Stanford University ranked first overall, and US institutions again dominated, occupying eight of the top ten places. Altogether 71 were in the US and the rest in 18 other countries. In the last survey 91 schools in 14 countries took part.
The overall ranking relates to research and teaching, with respondents assessed on a range of factors such as the number of courses with social and environmental content, teaching hours dedicated to considering the issues, and the amount of research being undertaken.
The University of Nottingham was the best performing UK institution, ranking second for research globally and fourth overall among European schools. Both the University of Bath and Cranfield also did well.
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