A Workshop on Program Building:
Integrating Sustainable Development into
Business Schools and Corporate Universities

In Partnership with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education,
the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program, the Academy of Management's Organizations and the Natural Environment group, and the Washington DC Sustainable Business Network

Participation is limited to 50 persons to ensure great interaction.
Preference must be given to persons in senior leadership and development positions.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you might attend, OR
if you would like to attend an event like this in your region next year.

Objectives:  Support and educate leaders in business education and training as they explore how sustainability could strengthen their competitive advantages.  Catalyze new partnerships between business schools and development and environmental organizations and funders.  Deliver an interactive, participant-driven program emphasizing practical solutions already in use and take-home action plans.

Outstanding location:  George Washington University, Washington DC - home of many organizations supporting sustainable development and sustainable business organizations.  The program includes matchmaker sessions with potential development and funding partners who believe in sustainable business.

Organizers and Faculty: 

• Rick Bunch, Fellow, Aspen Institute Business and Society Program; former Executive Director, Bainbridge Graduate Institute; former Director, World Resources Institute BELL Program

• Mark Milstein, Cornell University and former Business Research Director, Sustainable Enterprise Program, World Resources Institute

• Burton Hamner, President, Cleaner Production International and producer of CleanerProduction.Com; former professor at Asian Institute of Management in Manila and Universidad del Pacifico in Lima

• Gordon Rands, Western Illinois University

DAY 1 Thurs Oct 11: OVERVIEW and PARTICIPANT PERSPECTIVES on Sustainability in Business Education

9:30-10:15     Session 1: Linking Business and Sustainability

• What are the links?  
• Why are they important?
• Examples of trends and directions in the private sector - what is the demand for this knowledge among employers and clients?  Participants offer their own examples.

10:15-10:30     Break

10:30-12:00     Session 2: Programmatic Approaches to Business and Sustainability

• Leading approaches to sustainability in business education
• Compare and contrast
• Breakout Groups: Present what participants are doing and why / why not

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00–2:45       Session 3: Sustainability – Linking Theory and Practice

Popular approaches to sustainability in the private sector

• GRI, ISO, 14001/Environmental Management Systems, The Triple Bottom Line, The Natural Step, Natural Capitalism, McDonough-Braungart Design Protocol, Social Standards, Audits, Certification and Reporting, Etc.

Theoretical approaches to sustainability in academics:

• Strategy, Organizational Behavior, Finance, Accounting, Operations, Marketing, others

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00–5:00         Session 4: Sustainability at Your Institution:  Your Perspective on Opportunities and Obstacles

Small group analysis discussions around

• Evaluation of current activities and approaches
• Opportunities for development
• Obstacles to development

7:00 – 9:00   Group Dinner in DC (optional)

DAY 2 Fri Oct 12:  BENCHMARKING AND PLANNING YOUR FUTURE

8:30-10:00         Session 5:  Going Local:  lecture and small group discussions

• Looking for opportunities on campus     

• Looking for opportunities in the community

• breakout groups and report back

10:00-10:15       Break

10:15-12:00       Session 6:  Going Global: lecture and small group discussions

• Linking to other universities and multinational corporations

• Linking to other institutions and networks

• Participant networking by region

12:00-1:00         Lunch

1:00–-2:45          Session 7:  Parade of Partners

• Education foundations and grant-makers

• Business associations and corporate foundations

• International development agencies

• Environmental and energy programs

• Environmental advocacy organizations

3:00-6:00      Session 8:   Join Sustainable Business Network  of Washington DC (SBNOW) Meeting

• Panel presentations to joint groups
• World Cafe interactive exercise

6:30-8:00        Social event

Sat Oct 13:  CONNECTING – BUILDING EXTERNAL SUPPORT

8:00-8:30         Previous Day Review;   Participants share those late-night thoughts

8:30-10:30       Session 9:   Small group discussions around curriculum issues report out

• Framework for Discussion:  Integrated vs. stand-alone courses; infusion, integration, expansion, extension

10:30-10:45       Break

10:45-12:15   Session 10:   Small group discussions around research issues report out

• Framework for Discussion:   Leveraging your institution's research strengths and opportunities

12:15-1:00         Lunch

1:00-3:00         Session 11:    Develop Your Own Action Plan

• Facilitated by instructors and shared coaching by participants

• Participants report out on action ideas

• Program summary points

3:00-3:15            Break

3:15-4:30            Session 12:  Action planning continue - participants organize planning groups

• Help each other develop practical strategies and next steps

4:30           Wrap Up and Evaluations / Feedback

All participants receive the Sustainable Business CD Library with the best public-domain publications on all aspects of sustainable business management and education.