SMU commerce students learn sustainability

SMU is promoting socially and environmentally responsible business behaviour for commerce students

It is far from business as usual for commerce students at Saint Mary’s University, where a movement towards sustainability is bringing new subjects into the classroom.

The Sobey School of Business is reflecting a growing trend in Canada to encourage sustainable and socially responsible corporate practices. In July, the undergraduate program placed fifth out of 47 Canadian business schools in Corporate Knights magazine’s sustainability-based ranking, up one spot from 2007.

Associate professor Cathy Driscoll says the modest rise reflects the shift to sustainability.

“We have to take into consideration the needs of future generations and of all people, developing countries, and broadening the idea of our responsibilities to all peoples.”

To encourage this sense of responsibility in undergraduate students, the school introduced a mandatory business ethics class and developed more courses with a social and environmental focus. The school also hosts guest speakers on sustainability issues and several faculty members are researching areas such as ecological sustainability and human rights and justice.

Driscoll, who teaches the ethics course, says values like integrity and compassion are important to an overall sense of corporate responsibility.

“I tell my students that my job isn’t to change their values,” she says. “For some of the students … this is really the first opportunity they’ve had to explore their values and how their values are connected to the decisions they make.”

Corporate Knights, which first produced the Knight School rankings in 2004, includes a wide range of social and environmental issues under its definition of sustainability.  Managing editor Melissa Shin says successful schools cultivate graduates with a well-rounded approach to business.

“Essentially, we want our future leaders to have an understanding of how the environment and the social environment are affected by their actions.”

Shin says the recent shift towards sustainability challenges the conventional logic that responsible business practices inhibit profitability.

“From what we’ve seen, it’s just good business,” she says. While some businesses initially went green solely for the public relations benefits, “a lot of companies are seeing that it’s helping their bottom line.”

For example, technology giant IBM topped the magazine’s 2008 best corporate citizen rankings, based on responsible environmental, social and governance practices. The company also recorded profits of $10.8 billion.

This trend demands institutions like the Sobey School of Business make genuine changes. “It really has to be an authentic approach, rather than something that’s just done to look green,” Driscoll says.

While students agree that sustainable programs are important, some question their overall impact.

“It depends what field you get into,” says Simyn Ilin, a second-year international business student. “If you get into Wall Street, I don’t think you’ll be there changing the world. You’ll just be doing what you’re told to do.”

“I don’t know if anybody would choose Saint Mary’s over Dalhousie because it’s more green,” says Amanda Smith, a second-year finance student. “But it’s definitely a bonus once you get here.”

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