MBA News: Increase in Social, Ethical Issues Taught in B-School

The Aspen Institute released its biennial survey and alternative business school ranking (Beyond Grey Pinstripes) yesterday, revealing that more and more MBA programs are teaching students about social, ethical and environmental issues. The 2011 ranking surveyed 149 schools in 22 countries, analyzing courses and faculty research, ultimately naming Stanford the program that is best preparing students to meet future business challenges relating to social, ethical and environmental issues. Stanford, and other top-ranked schools—including York University, IE University, Notre Dame and Yale, which round out the top five—have offered an increasing number of courses dealing with the relationship between business and the environment and entrepreneurship and the alleviation of societal problems, as well as faculty research on topics such as the recession and climate change. According to Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program, “business schools have raised the bar,” though, undoubtedly, more can still be done.