The University of Guelph’s sustainable commerce MBA program has been recognized as one of the best in the world.
In a new ranking released this week, U of G places ninth globally among graduate business programs with a sustainability focus.
The 16th annual Better World MBA Rankings by the Toronto-based Corporate Knights — a media, research and financial products company – includes 40 international business schools.
“Sustainable and ethical business is essential for the survival of the planet,” said Julia Christensen Hughes, dean of the College of Business and Economics (CBE).
“It is business — with its capacity for leadership, innovation and resource mobilization — that can bring resources to bear in tackling the biggest problems of our time. It is thoughtful entrepreneurship that can help families and communities be self-determining.”
U of G’s sustainable commerce MBA is offered by a business school committed to advancing sustainable and equitable business, Christensen Hughes said.
“I could not be prouder to see our MBA ranked amongst the top in the world.”
Better World MBA evaluates schools based on their commitment to sustainability in teaching and research. The ranking assesses programs on curriculum, sustainability-oriented institutes and centres linked to the school, and citations of peer-reviewed faculty research.
“We believe that in the current complex and increasingly global economy, businesses and business leaders have to focus on more than the financial bottom line,” said Prof. Rumina Dhalla, coordinator of CBE’s MBA programs, including sustainable commerce.
“In addition to the traditional financial drivers for growth and business sustainability typically taught in other MBA programs, sustainable commerce emphasizes social and environmental business strategies and practices and developing leadership skills for sustainability.”
The ranking appears in this month’s education and youth issue of Corporate Knights, a flagship quarterly magazine that is distributed globally. Three Canadian schools are among the top 10, including U of G.
Christensen Hughes said U of G’s business school is recognized as a thought leader in sustainable management education by the United Nations. CBE was named a champion of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Management Education in 2016 and in 2018.
“Our high ranking on the Better World MBA list further strengthens this reputation,” she said.