Henley Business School’s Anne Dibley explains how the school’s MBA programmes strive to translate students’ growing interest in sustainability into a tangible impact on their organisational practices Sustainability IN ACTION reasons behind the 2023 launch of the school’s Business Ethics and Sustainability executive MBA scholarship. Aimed at larger corporations interested in sustainability and reputation, non‑profits and social enterprises, the scholarship seeks to recognise candidates who
have made a positive impact in their local community or the wider world. Supporting individuals in
A workable and realistic sustainability strategy is a non-negotiable requirement for today’s organisations. As society begins to reach the limit of our planet’s finite resources, employees, partners and customers expect businesses to have responsible and ethical practices in place, rather than for these to be an afterthought or exception. However, the reality of setting and sticking to such strategies can be easier said than done. To support organisations and individuals to succeed, Henley Business School embeds sustainability content into all core modules on its MBA programmes. By aligning with the United Nation’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), we ensure students are prepared to face the real-world challenges of making sustainability a success and turning aspirations into impactful action. Perceptions & expectations Business schools are in the privileged position of being able to support and shape students’ passions so they can create positive societal change. Moreover, we have seen sustainable ideals become of increased importance in the aspirations of our cohorts over the past few years. No matter their background or industry, our students are becoming more engaged and passionate about making sustainability a fundamental part of business strategy, rather than a tick-box exercise. Shifting aspirations, coupled with global politics, are evidence of the dial changing and call for practical and actionable learning, not just theoretical scenarios. The depth of feeling is one of the
their drive to make a real difference is at the heart of what the school stands for. Therefore, as expectations from the next generation shift towards a greater focus on ethical working practices and the creation of lasting, systemic change, we have evolved to meet this need. Putting theory into practice Expecting and effecting change around sustainable business practices are two very different things. This is why we align best practice with the SDGs throughout our MBA programmes. We want to make sure that sustainable practices are considered, realistic and achievable for all our students. With 190 UN countries signed up to try and achieve their 17 goals and 169 targets by 2030, the SDGs are the closest thing we have to a global benchmark. Through our experiential, action learning-based programme delivery, we encourage students to be curious and approach challenges from fresh perspectives. Each module focuses on how students can apply new learning to real-world challenges in their organisations; and this includes having a positive impact on their company’s sustainable practices. For example, our modules on personal development and managing people help students understand aspects of sustainable health and wellbeing (SDG3), while SDGs relating to social and societal issues (SDGs 6-8) are covered in modules on managing financial resources and leadership & change, among others. The programme is also designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to have a positive impact on innovation, industry and infrastructure (SDG9) across a variety of modules, including those on managing processes & systems, international business and strategic marketing. In addition,
34 Ambition • ISSUE 1 • 2026
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