The MBA Sustainable Business Practices program in the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business—which prepares students to leverage sustainability to improve organizational performance—has been ranked No. 1 in the United States and No. 5 in the world by Corporate Knights in its 2017 Better World MBA list.
Corporate Knights is a quarterly international publication that focuses on social, economic and ecological benefits and costs. The ranking, which has been published annually since 2002, evaluated 134 global programs this year.
“It’s very gratifying to receive this latest recognition of our distinctive MBA Sustainable Business Practices program, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary,” said Dr. Dean McFarlin, dean of the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. “This achievement is really a testament to the ideas, hard work and passion of our faculty as well as the support of many partner organizations. It’s also a big plus to be located in Pittsburgh. Our city embraces and promotes many exciting sustainability initiatives, something that offers a variety of opportunities for our students and faculty.”
Eligible programs for the Better World MBA list are assessed on the number of core courses, institutes and centers, and faculty research produced in the last three years related to sustainability, including corporate responsibility, human rights and ethics.
“Businesses are reorienting their strategies to align with the sustainable development goals for a fairer, greener planet,” said Toby Heaps, chief executive officer of Corporate Knights. “The top-40-ranked Better World MBA programs are training grounds for future business leaders who want to be part of the monumental shift.”
Edging out schools such as MIT, Georgia Tech, Penn and Duke, Duquesne University’s MBA Sustainable Business Practices program was ranked highest among American schools on the 2017 Better World MBA list. The full-time, one-year program emphasizes the integrated management of financial, social, environmental and informational resources within the decision-making process. In addition, students develop leadership skills through consulting projects, ethical decision-making, global study trips and capstone practicums.
“We know that business schools play a critical role in training current and future generations of leaders of businesses, NGOs and government. The ranking showcases innovative efforts to integrate sustainability within business schools as learning laboratories for curriculum, live projects and research,” said Dr. Robert Sroufe, professor of sustainability and operations management. “I’m thrilled to see this year’s recognition of the program and everyone’s efforts who have helped to make this possible. It is truly an honor to work with our corporate partners, students and faculty at one of the greenest schools of 2017 as we influence the way managers make informed decisions that integrate social, economic and ecological value creation.”
Learn more: One-Year MBA Sustainable Business Practices
