High scores among sustainability leaders leave the majority of business schools in the dust

Corporate Knights releases its 2010 Business Knight Schools Survey

(Toronto, Canada, June 28, 2010) The bulk of Canadian business schools are blinded by the status quo, despite the fact that leading schools are mapping out a path to sustainability.

Today, Corporate Knights Magazine unveils the seventh-annual Knight Schools ranking. The ranking analyzes how Canadian universities fare in integrating sustainability into the school experience.

In reviewing MBA and undergraduate business programs, Corporate Knights adopted a broad definition of sustainability that encompassed environmental and social concerns. Issues of social justice, human rights, professional conduct, cultural diversity, climate change, and conservation were considered.

The survey, modeled after the US-based Beyond Grey Pinstripes Survey, scored the programs in the areas of institutional support, student initiatives, and course work.

After evaluating 35 MBA and 47 undergraduate Business programs, one thing was clear: there are strong leaders when it comes to sustainability in business education, but the majority still has a lot to learn. This year, the average undergraduate score was 43.34 per cent, and the average score for MBA programs was 41.38 per cent.   Despite the low average scores, the leaders continue to set the bar high, making the top ten a competitive ranking. Because of this, an improved score did not necessarily guarantee an improved rank, as a few schools emerged into the front running, bumping others out of the top spots. In undergrad, the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business rose from 66.95 per cent to 73.6 per cent in 2010 – achieving the 2nd place spot, and bumping the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business into a close 3rd with 73.4 per cent. HEC Montreal made notable improvements, moving from 18th to 5th place, achieving a score of 70.6 per cent. The Desautels School of Management at McGill University also leapt up in the ranking, rising impressively from 29th place in 2009 to 6th place in 2010.

Published in Canada by Corporate Knights Inc. Without limiting the right under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the above publisher. The information on this website was compiled from sources believed to be credible and accurate but the authors do not guarantee its accuracy. The authors and/or their agents and affiliates may from time to time hold positions in investments referred to in this website. © 2002-2012 Corporate Knights Inc., all rights reserved.