Stanford MBA tops alternative MBA rankings on sustainability

QS TopMBA.com, one of the world’s leading sources of information for MBA candidates and business schools, has partnered with The Aspen Institute, producer of the Beyond Grey Pinstripes report, exclusively for the second time to publish its biennial alternative MBA ranking which highlights the most sustainability-conscious MBA programs around the world.

The ranking identifies business schools which are best at preparing their students for the environmental, social and ethical complexities of modern-day business. Results are based on four “raw score” metrics; availability of relevant courses (20%), student exposure (25%), relevant courses on for-profit (30%), and faculty research (25%)*.

Key highlights

* Stanford Graduate School of Business ranked first in the 2005 and 2007 surveys, bounced back from a #4 ranking in 2009 to rank number one in the 2011 survey

*149 business schools from 22 countries participated

* Schools are adapting their curricula to focus on responsible decision-making in business and to examine the social and environmental context in which business operates and thrives

* Increase in the percentage of schools requiring students to take a course dedicated to business and society issues. This figure has increased from 34% in 2001, 63% in 2007, 69% in 2009, to 79% percent in 2011

* 60 percent increase in the number of courses being offered on social entrepreneurship among schools surveyed internationally between 2007 and 2011

* Faculty research covering relevant headline topics of the past few years, such as the recession and climate change, increased significantly compared to previous cycles

Top ten business schools in the 2011-12 Beyond Grey Pinstripes report