Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/56535
Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, are hosting confer- ences, promoting education, and generating a larger pool of research in the field. AACSB International, too, is addressing the topic—its second annual Sustainability Conference, held in Minneapolis this July 29 to 31, will center on discussions about sustainability, social responsibility, and ethics. This means that students and faculty alike no longer need to start from scratch when proposing and designing new courses. These new resources offer professors a blueprint for integrating issues of social responsibility into core disciplines such as finance, marketing, strategy—indeed, the whole busi- ness curriculum. Seeing Profit in Problems Although the majority of business students graduate with plans to work in the for-profit sector, they expect to work for companies that integrate social and environmental returns into their businesses, says Chmielewski of Columbia. "Those who assume that 'social enterprise' is synonymous with 'nonprofit' have had their eyes closed for the past decade," he says. "Many students today believe that social enterprise is not inconsistent with economic success." Of course, these students driving sustainability initiatives are helped when faculty champion their initiatives with them, as Foote did at Haas. However, like Chmielewski, Foote argues that students and faculty should do more to find the profit potential in sustainable business practices—not just promote the social benefit. "When there's no profit in problems—whether they're education, low-income housing, homelessness, or drug abuse—they won't get solved," Foote argues. "Business schools need to graduate talented people who don't just believe they can save the world. They must also believe they can make money at it." That's the beauty of students who are a part of the Mil- lennial Generation, says Foote. They are passionate, creative, and can see the opportunities that others might miss. "I'm so impressed with the initiative these students have. This is a generation of leaders who say, 'We want it to happen, so we'll make it happen.' They don't take the traditional 'rules' as a given," he says. "That bodes well for the future of solving really complex problems. I'm really inspired by that." ■ z For information about Net Impact and Oïkos International, visit their Web sites at www.netimpact.org and www.oikos- international.org. Those interested in taking part in Haas' simulcast course on microfinance this fall can contact Sean Foote at sfoote@alethion.com. Financial Times GlobalAlliance Program Your campus connection to global events Financial Times is a vital source of information, analysis, education and illumination in these confusing times. Covering far more than just finance, the FT offers your students current insights from business management to international relations. Today the FT is provided to colleges and universities in a total electronic package. Access is provided through the school Intranet. No passwords, no delivery issues, just complete electronic access campus wide. Educating the next generation of business professionals, politicians and academics is a tough challenge. We believe that the FT can make your job easier. For more information or to learn how to customize a program for your school contact Linda Talarico, Director of Education at 212-641-6412 or email linda.talarico@ft.com. BizEd JULY/AUGUST 2009 43 FT.com