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Beyond Grey Pinstripes
Wilfrid Laurier University
All Participating Schools
Wilfrid Laurier University
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5
Canada
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5
Canada
Demographic Information
Number of full-time MBA students (2011):
118
Number of part-time MBA students (2011):
95
Total duration of full-time MBA program:
12 months
MBA faculty (Fall 2010):
137
Females as percent of student body:
42%
Private Sector (80%)
Non-profit (3%)
Government (17%)
Description of MBA Program:
At Laurier, we are advocates for change in not only the business curriculum, but in business practice, and we are working to influence the latter through our work in the former - to lead with curriculum change in order to positively influence the next generation of managers and executives.
Sustainability ideas are integrated into the MBA curriculum in two ways; first, we incorporate social and environmental issues into our core functional courses, such as Strategy, Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Economics, and Accounting, as well as into electives such as a Supply Chain Management, Strategic Brand Management, Leadership, Contemporary Issues, and International Strategy. Second, we offer two focused elective courses, one on Environmental Management Systems and another on Strategy and Sustainability. In these, we hold environmental and social issues as the main frame for determining key business drivers, then we look at the strategic implications of that, and the change management issues that arise, beginning with mindset change and flowing through to shifting systems and processes. All of the ‘tools’ that students learn in the traditional courses are still applicable; we just work to bring other contextual drivers into the discussion, and shift the way the tools are applied.
We work to bridge from the classroom to real world issues through consulting and research projects, and especially through our Centre for Community Service Learning. Students are engaged in community service as part of the curriculum, through three main approaches: placement-based, project-based, or co-curricular service learning, in which an intensive service activity with structured reflection.
Many of our placements and projects are in social and environmental not-for-profit organizations. Many MBA students undertake independent research studies with faculty, as part of larger projects organized under our several research centres, particularly the Centre for Responsible Organizations and the Centre for the Study of Nascent Entrepreneurship and the eXploitation of Technology (NeXt).
How does the MBA program 'walk the talk' of social and environmental impact?:
Laurier Academic Plan 2010-2015.
Following an inclusive development process, the President's Office in spring 2010 released the Laurier Academic Plan 2010-2015, a high level guiding document that recognizes the strengths and unique characteristics Laurier boasts as an institution, while identifying the areas which Laurier will continue to emphasize and initiate focus. The following predominant topics, referred to in the Academic Plan as core principles and domains, are directly related to sustainability.
• Sustainability
• Environment
• Diversity
• Justice
• Social and cultural analysis
• Cultural and artistic production
Specifically on sustainability:
"The most complex questions involve challenges related to cultural, economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Inherent in sustainable systems is the need to work toward equitable distribution of opportunities, benefits and decision-making. Sustainable development occurs when we improve the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. At Laurier, we focus on sustainability from all perspectives across our academic and professional programs. Achieving global sustainability requires multi- and interdisciplinary approaches to address changing relationships among individuals, societies, organizations, resources, ecologies, businesses, technologies and development."
Action to support the plan:
A university-wide Sustainability Office was created in January of 2010
(see http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=12304).
A group of our MBA students facilitated the drafting of the guiding vision, mission, and objectives of the sustainability office as follows:
Vision
Transform Laurier into an institution that integrates sustainability practices into all areas of the university and to inspire, educate, and prepare students, faculty, and staff to engage others in the same practices.
Mission
Create and foster a culture of sustainability by engaging, promoting and coordinating sustainability efforts of all stakeholders and develop an environmentally proactive Laurier community.
Objectives
* To create and advance partnerships in the University and the greater community to share, cultivate and form sustainable programs.
* To support the development of academic programs and research at Laurier related to proactive sustainability.
* To develop and support policies and practices that contribute to sustainable operations and resource utilization at Laurier.
* To organize events and utilize communication channels to increase awareness and convey the mission of the Sustainability Office.
* To consider the pillars of sustainability; economic, social, cultural and environmental in all decision making processes.
In 2010, Laurier participated in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a campus sustainability assessment framework developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS rates a university’s progress towards sustainability based on the sum of a number of weighted indicators. These indicators are based on 4 major categories:
1. Education and research
2. Operations (ex. energy consumption, transportation options, waste management, etc.)
3. Planning, administration and engagement (ex. human resources, investment, etc.)
4. Innovation
Laurier achieved a Bronze rating in its first year of the Sustainability Office operation, and we have used the system to set improvement goals going forward. As part of the assessment, Business school faculty participating in drafting definitions and objectives for research and teaching relating to sustainability:
Sustainability Research: concerns the scientific analysis, communication and performance of how to create and maintain conditions that enable societies to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability research considers the ecological, economic, social, and cultural factors and interconnections necessary for creating conditions that are at once manageable, viable, and equitable. As such, it is connected to Laurier's multi-campus, multi-disciplinary environment, core values and guiding principles through such topics as: social/environmental justice, ecological resilience, equity, diversity, human and labour rights, economic prosperity, land-use planning, resource management, socially-engaged cultural and artistic production, and health and well-being.
Sustainability Education:
The goal of sustainability education at Laurier is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the quality of human life within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. The Laurier Sustainability Office has compiled a listing for students of all sustainability-focused and sustainability-related courses on campus.
Community Service Learning:
Community Service-Learning is an educational approach that provides students the opportunity to gain valuable real-life learning experiences while providing a service to local community organizations.
Operations:
Goals, measures, and improvement plans are in place to make university operations more sustainable.
1. Campus Greenspace: Tree Resource Analysis
The Grounds Division of Physical Resources is in the process of collecting field data such as plant taxonomy, dimensions, environmental conditions, location, and photo documentation of each tree on campus. Tree health, diversity, maintenance requirements, and pest/disease problems are also highlighted. The collected data will be analyzed by software and organized into a digital database that will be able to generate information about species composition and available planting space. This initiative will help provide an understanding of the existing urban forest and is an excellent way to evaluate the benefits of campus trees in terms of how they affect the University’s carbon footprint and overall environment.
2. Construction:
Laurier has just opened its first two LEED Certified (Silver) buildings, the Research and Academic Centre - West and East, at the Brantford campus.
- High recycled and regional content in construction materials
- Low VOC interior materials
- Energy efficient design and construction - 25% to 33% more efficient than standard building
- Reduced indoor water use by over 30%.
- Water cistern for use of roof water for irrigation purposes
- Construction Waste Diversion - divert over 90% of construction waste from landfill and sent it for recycling or reuse
- Carpooling parking spots and bicycle racks installed to reduce reliance on cars
3. Energy
Energy Management Plan
In December 2009, the University developed a comprehensive Energy Management Plan, with a focus on reducing the energy and resource use of campus buildings and exploring opportunities for renewable energy. The Plan outlines goals, utility monitoring, energy management, renewable energy, and related incentive programs in order to benefit the University both financially and environmentally.
Several other campus sustainability initiatives are underway in the areas of Food, Procurement, Transportation, Waste, and Water.
For more, see: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=12304&p=16768
Course Name: Marketing
Instructor: Dr. Hugh Munro
Used the case on Toyota's Hybrid Car to discuss social responsibility product development and branding. Used the article "Has Social Responsibility Reached the Tipping Point?" to aid in the discussion.
Course Name: Marketing Research
Instructor: Lisa Giguere
There is a field project by students involved conducting research on behalf of a local not for profit organization. This course usually involves a minimum of 2-3 market research projects conducted for non-profit organizations.
Course Name: Marketing Strategy
Instructor: David Rose
The topic of ethics in relation to marketing strategy is covered.
Course Name: Organizational Behavior
Instructor: Gene Deszca
There is a focus on understanding the importance of CSR, with a 3- hour class devoted to the subject.
Course Name: Organizational Dynamics and Change
Instructor: John Janetos
The group "change project" takes students in to the not-for-profit community in order to provide a research report to the NFP organization.
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