For profit, people and planet: Degrees that go beyond business as usual

There are close to eight billion people in the world today. It’s often said if all of them unite and work towards realising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, those goals can lead to the building of a healthier planet with greater well-being for its inhabitants. While this sounds ideal and poetic, there is greater hope for success in tackling the climate crisis if businesses also play a greater role in moving the sustainability agenda forward. 

The world is not short of businesses with the potential to do this. It is, however, short of executives stepping up to take the reins at companies and organisations and to steer them towards a greener future. It lacks the visionaries to connect businesses to like-minded scientists, governments and inventors who can turn the climate crisis around. 

The most forward-looking business schools today are aware of this. To lead by example, they have innovated new programmes and revamped old ones to equip students with the know-how to deal with issues such as global temperatures, dwindling natural resources, pollution, population growth, and more. Four such business schools and their distinct ways to create a better future are profiled below:

Georgia College & State University offers online graduate programmes and certificates designed for working professionals. No interruption to work and personal lives required. Source: Georgia College & State University

Georgia College & State University

The J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology at Georgia College & State University is more than just a business school in one of America’s leading public liberal arts universities. At Georgia College, students evolve into valuable global citizens in today’s ever-changing world marketplace. By leveraging the college’s nationally-recognised graduate programmes, GCSU alumni make full use of their business education for the public good.

To follow in their footsteps, you don’t need to pause your life or career. Georgia College offers online programmes that stand out for their convenience and connections. Faculty members want to connect with you, help you build your network, and provide you with direct, meaningful feedback. By the end of your degree, you’ll gain more than just a paper to help you land that promotion and pay raise (although it can do that, too). What GCSU provides is training that embeds you into the global workforce with skill multipliers to apply to your current process flow each step of the way.

Programmes offered through Georgia College include the Online MBA , Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (MLSCM), Master of Management Information Systems (MMIS) and MMIS Online Graduate Certificates. Whichever you choose, you’ll be part of a programme that’s designed for working professionals. Affordable, accessible and AACSB-accredited, they prepare you to become capable, successful business professionals who are also responsible citizens committed to societal impact. Discover the impact of a College of Business & Technology education here.

Source: Gies College of Business

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

The impact of technology on business can’t be underestimated. Companies are actively seeking out and developing “translators” who understand what a business wants and how technology can best deliver the solution. If you seek to become one of them, consider a Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

The one-year, STEM-designated programme nurtures future managers capable of looking at technology through a business lens while implementing enterprise-wide business solutions. While to some, its title might imply technical competencies, general management is this dynamic program’s main aim. All backgrounds are welcomed. 

“Coming from an electrical engineering background, I had very little exposure to the functioning of the business side of the industry,” explains graduate Siddharth Ahuja. “To be successful, it’s important to align the technology with the vision and mission of the business. Hence, it’s of the utmost importance to gain core business skills to succeed in the product management space.”

To prepare for pivotal roles in analysis, consultancy, product management, or project management, data science, supply chain engineering and more, MSTM students complete coursework divided into three categories: core business courses that build a solid business foundation, technology management courses, and professional development activities.

The programme’s core courses are paired with lessons in functional areas of business administration, such as process management, introduction to finance, as well as accounting measurement, reporting and control. Meanwhile, technology management courses teach students the ins and outs of navigating a business environment where innovation, the introduction of new products, and managing intellectual property are the basis for success.

McMaster University, DeGroote School of Business, is one of the top universities in Burlington, Canada. Source: McMaster University

McMaster University

Nestled in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business stands as a beacon of academic excellence and a launchpad for successful business careers. The campus, situated on the western tip of Lake Ontario, provides a picturesque backdrop for one of the top business schools in Canada. According to the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, its position on rankings reflects the school’s commitment to delivering quality education. 

One of the hallmarks of DeGroote graduates is how employable they are. The school boasts an impressive 90% employment rate within six months of graduation, thanks to its emphasis on practical, industry-relevant skills. Your journey here is not just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about transforming that knowledge into tangible success.

Recently, it launched a new research centre that supports marginalised and minority persons. Led by DeGroote School of Business professor Benson Honig, The Centre for Research on Community Oriented Entrepreneurship (CRCE) will build on research initiated through Honig’s virtual incubator, the Reframery. The platform emerged during COVID-19 and sought to help minorities, immigrants, women, and persons with disabilities whose careers suffered during the pandemic turn their skills to community-minded entrepreneurship.

“I am interested in issues concerning marginalisation and inequality, and people having a chance in life so they feel that they can manage their own economic life and careers,” says Honig, CRCE’s acting director. “With our model, we encourage people to start businesses that are environmentally friendly and oriented around building their community.”

Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business prepares students to make a difference in the world by teaching essential interpersonal skills alongside a high-quality business education. Source: Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business offers a unique blend of academic excellence and practical preparation for a thriving career in the business world. It is in the top 5% of the world’s schools offering business degrees. All academic programmes have been accredited by AACSB International, considered the highest standard for quality in business education.

A changing world needs all hands on deck and at Spears, everyone gets to contribute to tackling some of the biggest issues facing the world and business today. All Spears students, regardless of their backgrounds, are empowered to follow their dreams.

In August, graduate student Shubhi Gupta became one of only four students from across the US to receive the prestigious Disney Data and Analytics Women Award. Gupta is a second-year master’s in business analytics and data science student. “It was one of the proudest moments of my life,” she said. 

“Sometimes I feel that it is a complex path for women to excel in tech-related fields. However, this initiative from Disney, recognising four women in data-related fields every year and giving them an opportunity to network with leaders and top executives of organisations, assures me that there are people rooting for women to succeed in tech.”

“I am extremely proud of Shubhi’s achievements to win this prestigious award,” said Dr. Goutam Chakraborty, director of the OSU Master’s in Business Analytics and Data Science programme. “This is a great honour to her and to our MS in Business Analytics and Data Science programme. This is the second time in the last two years our student has won this award and is a testament to the many hours our core faculty spend in preparing students to compete well on the national stage.”

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International