Social impact at MBS
Melbourne Business School's commitment to positive social change is embedded in our academic programs, extracurricular activities, career services, community engagement and research centres. We are focused on developing ethical and socially innovative business leaders. We also act as change agents ourselves, address globally significant issues, and value the diversity of cultures, backgrounds and interests that are represented at our school.
The Asia Pacific Social Impact Leadership Centre (APSILC) and the Centre for Ethical Leadership form the backbone of Melbourne Business School's programs relating to social impact and ethics. MBS also delivers the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact (GCSI), a unique course focused on building the professional capacity of social managers and entrepreneurs of the future, across the corporate, government and social sectors.
In 2011, our leadership in this domain was recognized by the Aspen Institute's Beyond Grey Pinstripes research survey, that spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs leading the way in integrating social and environmental stewardship into the curriculum. Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranked MBS 2nd in the Asia Pacific region and 48th globally. This ranking was particularly pleasing given that 2011 was our first year of participation in the survey.
Read the MBS entry in the 2011 Beyond Grey Pinstripes survey
MBS was also ranked 3rd in the Asia Pacific region and 29th globally in the 2011 QS worldwide rankings of MBA programs in Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics.
Social impact in the curriculum
Social impact and innovation, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental sustainability all feature prominently in our academic programs.
MBS offers the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact, which focuses on building the professional capacity of social managers and entrepreneurs of the future, across the corporate, government and third (not-for-profit) sectors.
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
MBA students can also choose to specialise in this area by choosing from a wide variety of relevant elective courses. We offer five electives devoted solely to corporate social responsibility, social impact or environmental sustainability, and around fifteen more in related fields, such as leadership, ethics, law, public policy, global trade, entrepreneurship and innovation. In combination with their MBA studies, MBA students can opt to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. This requires completion of four approved courses in the field of corporate social responsibility in addition to 18 courses for the MBA, for a total of 22 courses.
Net Impact at MBS
MBS is the home to Australia's first chapter of Net Impact, an international nonprofit organisation whose mission is to mobilize a new generation to use their careers to drive transformational change in their workplaces and the world. Net Impact supports members through a volunteer-led network spanning six continents and more than 280 chapters at the world's top graduate business schools and undergraduate campuses.
The MBS chapter was established in 2002 and since then has been a driving force on campus for wide ranging issues including corporate social responsibility, social finance, business sustainability, public private partnerships, business ethics and environmental operations management.
