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World Environment Center and Net Impact Launch Joint Initiative to Strengthen the Teaching of Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility in Business Schools

World Environment Center and Net Impact Launch Joint Initiative to Strengthen the Teaching of Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility in Business Schools

Published 10-29-10

Submitted by World Environment Center

The World Environment Center (WEC) and Net Impact announced today a partnership to assess the sustainability skills that companies require of MBA graduates entering the workforce. The announcement was made at the 18th Annual Net Impact Conference, "2020: Vision for a Sustainable Decade," which brought together almost 2500 students and professionals at the University of Michigan. The joint report will examine global market issues and trends across multiple business sectors and identify the core sustainability skills that are most relevant to MBA graduates in preparation for their future careers.

WEC and Net Impact will conduct interviews with senior business executives of major global companies located in a number of regions in order to assess the companies' existing sustainable development strategy and future talent needs. Through this work, both WEC and Net Impact aim to assist business schools by providing recommendations for how MBA programs can better respond to the needs of a changing global marketplace. The initiative will also bring to light practical examples of curricular changes that can help schools adapt to a market that is increasingly influenced by demand for sustainable development.

The joint initiative is supported by Boeing, The Coca-Cola Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., IBM Corporation and Johnson Controls.

"MBA graduates are passionate about bringing sustainability skills to the workforce, and business schools are striving to keep up with the demand," said Liz Maw, Executive Director of Net Impact. "But there is a lack of information available to business schools on what skills are most important for MBA programs to equip their graduates with."

"Dialogue with both business school deans and professors and global business executives has identified a need for this initiative," stated Dr. Terry F. Yosie, President & CEO of the World Environment Center. "WEC and Net Impact will apply their unique global perspectives and skills to develop value-creating insights for more effective collaboration between universities and companies."

About the World Environment Center

The World Environment Center, headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices and operations in many emerging and developed markets, is unique in its direct application of sustainable development strategies and practices to the business operations of its members. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics; and honors industry excellence through its annual awarding of the Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. WEC conducts no advocacy activities. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

About Net Impact

Net Impact is a global organization of students and professionals using business to improve the world. Net Impact offers a portfolio of programs and initiatives to educate, equip, and inspire more than 20,000 members to make a tangible difference through business. Spanning six continents, Net Impact membership is one of the most influential networks of students and professionals in existence today and includes current and emerging leaders in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development, and environmental sustainability. The Net Impact network includes more than 260 volunteer-led chapters in cities throughout the world and a central office in San Francisco, CA. For more information, please visit www.netimpact.org.

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World Environment Center

World Environment Center

The World Environment Center advances sustainable development through corporate business practices. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Europe and Latin America, WEC creates business solutions through Executive Roundtables on key sustainability challenges, builds capacity of small enterprises in emerging markets, and honors industry excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award. WEC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

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