Stanford tops alternative ranking

Stanford University in the US has once again come out top in the Beyond Grey Pinstripes alternative ranking of business schools.

The biennial survey run by the Aspen Institute looks at how well social and environmental issues are incorporated into the training of future business leaders. Stanford was selected due to the large number of courses that it offers with social and environmental content. It also scored highly in creating an environment in which faculty feel at liberty to explore social and environmental topics in their research.

Second in the ranking is the University of Michigan, with York University, Berkeley at the University of California and the University of Notre Dame coming respectively third, fourth and fifth. The only European school in the top 10 of the ranking is Instituto de Empresa, Spain at number 10.

“This year’s survey tells us that society and the environment are becoming significant issues on campus, not just for students, but in the dean’s office and in many classrooms,” says Rich Leimsider, director of the Aspen Institute Center for Business Education.

“However, in most institutions they are still prettty much confined to discussions of non-profit management, social entrepreneurship and ethics. What we are not seeing in most schools is an examination of these issues through the lens of risk management and strategy and the realisation that mainstream, for-profit business can be a force for positive social and environmental change.”

Aspen CBE sees its role as creating business leaders who combine social value with the vision and knowledge needed to integrate corporate profitability.

www.beyondgreypinstripes.org