ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Research and thought leadership: Encouraging students to engage in ESR research fosters critical thinking. Programmes can support research initiatives through grants and research centres focused on sustainability. A case in point is the Wharton Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership,which o ers research opportunities for students interested in sustainable business practices. Capstone projects: Capstone projects that focus on real-world ESR challenges and opportunities allow students to showcase their integration of business skills with sustainability practices. Sustainability elective courses: Elective courses are a great means of o ering deep dives into di erent aspects of sustainability. Haas School of Business’ o erings, for example, include a course on the sustainable, impact and climate investing landscape. Competitions: These can help students showcase the skills required to tackle ESR challenges. The Kellogg- Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge, for example, lets students devise nancial strategies addressing urgent social and environmental issues. Sustainability clubs and initiatives: Sustainability- focused clubs or initiatives are a chance for students to lead ESR projects, as well as organise and collaborate on related events. MIT Sloan School of Management’s Sustainability Initiative supports and works with groups that include the MIT Water Club and the student-run MIT Sustainability Summit. Shaping responsible stewards Business school programmes have a pivotal role to play in shaping the future of leadership in ESR. By integrating ESR concepts into their curricula, fostering interdisciplinary approaches and providing hands-on experiences, programmes can equip students with the skills and knowledge to drive positive change. Programmes must also o er networking opportunities relevant to ESR careers, emphasise ethics and encourage research and thought leadership in the eld. As graduates emerge from these programmes, they will not only be well-prepared business leaders, but also responsible stewards of our planet and society poised to make a signi cant impact on e orts to achieve a more sustainable and ethical future worldwide.
Challenge o ers a great example of this, allowing students to work on global social and environmental challenges in diverse locations. Networking opportunities: Encouraging students to build a strong network is an essential programme element and business schools can facilitate networking events, conferences and seminars that connect students with ESR professionals, alumni and organisations. UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, for instance, o ers a student fellowship programme through its Institute for Business and Social Impact that connects students with mentors and alumni in the social and environmental impact sectors. Elsewhere, Kellogg School of Management’s Net Impact Club connects students who are passionate about sustainability and provides a platform for sharing ideas and opportunities. Ethics and values: E ective leadership in ESR requires a strong ethical foundation. Programmes must emphasise integrity, accountability and social responsibility in dedicated courses. At NYU Stern School of Business, the Business and Society course explores ethical considerations and social responsibility. Schools can also uphold ethical standards in their policies and this is re ected in Woxsen University’s student code of conduct and support for di erently abled students. Rajat Gera i s director of research at the School of Business, Woxsen University. Gera has co- authored more than 50 international and national publications, as well as three edited books and case studies published by Western University’s Ivey Business School and London Business School. He holds a PhD in management from University School of Management Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi Debdutta Choudhury is an associate dean at the School of Business, Woxsen University. Choudhury is an academic with 18 years’ corporate experience spanning manufacturing, finance, technology and education. Much of his career has been spent in sales and marketing, with exposure to sales strategy, sales management, corporate strategy, integrated marketing communication, corporate finance and general management
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Business Impact ISSUE 4 2023
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