Corporate Social Responsibility, or Corporate Sustainability as leading companies are increasingly re-naming it, has never been more relevant to our organisations. By maximising positive social and environmental business impacts as well as economic ones, this strategic approach creates business opportunities, enables the business to flourish in the long term, and ensures that organisations have a positive impact in the world. The Cranfield Management and Corporate Sustainability MSc will teach you the practicalities of how businesses successfully embed sustainability into their core business purpose and strategy.
The programme equally provides a world-class practical education in the management disciplines required for all senior leadership positions. It therefore shares a number of modules and other programme activities with our Management MSc programme, which is ranked 1st in the UK and 7th in the world in The Economist Which MBA? Masters in Management (MiM) 2017 ranking.
More than just an academic institution, Cranfield School of Management’s world-class research, consulting and teaching result in practical management solutions that are transforming the world of business today. For 50 years, we have been working with leading companies across the globe, pursuing our mission to improve the practice of management.
Teaching at Cranfield is exclusively focused on postgraduate and executive levels and is designed to nurture your practical business skills and confidence, and places huge emphasis on real-world challenges. You will learn to act on evidence in order to make better management decisions. This leadership development journey explores your personality to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.
The Cranfield Management and Corporate Sustainability MSc is a highly practical course featuring a distinctive blend of theory and application. You will gain the knowledge and skills required for a career focused on business sustainability, and working with some of our partner organisations you will put this learning into action by working on sustainability projects, finding real business solutions to complex sustainability issues.
You will gain valuable insight into sustainability in practice through a series of master classes and presentations from specialists in the field. Previous masterclass topics have included sustainability marketing, system change, environmental management systems, sustainable innovation, sustainable finance, the board-investor relationship and many more. Some are delivered by companies such as Marks & Spencer, L&G and Diageo at their head offices. Recent guest speakers have included:
You will also have the opportunity to attend corporate social responsibility/sustainability events and conferences with our faculty, including ‘Doing Good Doing Well’ in Barcelona, a two-day conference which includes prominent speakers.
Throughout the programme you will also benefit from the extensive expertise and networks available within our internationally recognised Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility. The Centre works to empower managers with the knowledge and skills to lead successful, sustainable organisations, and includes prominent members including its director Professor David Grayson who teaches on this programme. He has worked with many leading global businesses including BP, Shell, Microsoft and Diageo, as well as OECD, the European Union and the World Bank.
Cranfield is one of the early signatories to the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRIME), and focuses on teaching sustainable business practice that addresses society’s social, environmental and economic goals.
The Cranfield Management and Corporate Sustainability MSc is a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) dual accreditation degree. This provides the opportunity to stand out from other management graduates by achieving the CMI’s professional management qualification alongside your Cranfield degree.
The CMI is the only chartered professional body in the UK dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence. It is the only organisation awarding Chartered Manager status, and has a 100,000+ membership.
The course comprises thirteen modules, eight covering general management skills and five specialising in corporate sustainability. The ‘Sustainability in Practice’ module provides the opportunity to undertake a practical sustainable business consultancy project. The thesis is also a practical exercise, albeit informed by up-to-date theory. Previous thesis projects have involved working with company sponsors such as Heineken and easyJet. The ‘Managing Corporate Sustainability’ and ‘Creating Sustainable Organisations’ modules provide practical leadership skills in driving sustainable business, from strategic issues such as the circular economy to topics such as sustainable innovation, reporting and employee engagement. The ‘Applied Science and Technology for Environmental Sustainability’ module is taught by environmental experts from Cranfield’s School of Water, Energy and Environment, and provides the specialist skills needed to assess and manage environmental impacts from operations to the supply chain.
Individual project
The thesis will require you to undertake a major research project based on a real sustainability business issue. You will apply your management knowledge, skills and analytical abilities to real-life situations and demonstrate your ability to research issues, critically evaluate data and information, apply tools and techniques to solve management problems, and write a report concisely, informatively and persuasively.
Assessment
Taught modules (65%) are assessed by a combination of group work, written assignments, and examination. The individual thesis (35%) is written individually and submitted at the end of the course.
At Cranfield you will receive support to help you plan an effective career strategy, whether you are looking to secure your first role in corporate sustainability, or wanting to take your career to the next level. The Cranfield Career Development Service will help you to plan your personal and professional development and provide you with lifelong career management skills.
Last year's Management and Corporate Sustainability MSc graduates secured jobs with a diverse range of companies including Coca-Cola Enterprises, Heineken, USB Asset Management and SIRE Life Sciences.
Studying innovations and socio-economic transformations that enhance an environmentally sustainable economy, in particular the role of business and the market.
The private sector plays a crucial role in shaping our sustainable society. Products and services and the way they’re developed, produced, and distributed put a considerable amount of pressure on the world’s resources. The private sector is therefore key to solving structural resource scarcity and environmental problems, notably related to fossil energy use and climate change.
More and more businesses believe they have a responsibility to tackle environmental challenges and, indeed, do so. But how can all businesses be gotten to think of both planet and profit? Does it work best when the pressure comes directly from governance in the form of economic sanctions and legislation? Or is it better that the pressure comes from consumers demanding sustainability? If so, how can public opinion be swayed in favour of the environment?
See on our website: http://www.ru.nl/masters/corporate
In the Master’s in Corporate Sustainability, we’ll look at all these aspects. Therefore, you can expect to learn about behavioural economics, organisational studies and innovation management as well as about different environmentally sustainable economies. Examples of sustainable economy include the we-economy, the bio-economy, the circular economy and the sharing economy. Another crucial question is whether these can exist in the current market where the main focus lies on economic growth.
You’ll be introduced to the latest scientific insights, which will be illustrated with numerous examples from the private sector: from cars and light bulbs to second-hand item web shops to coffee and chocolate. Because of the attention given to both strategy and policy, you’ll be able to work as an advisor for both the private and public sector. You could help governmental organisations and NGOs stimulate companies and consumers to make the needed change. Or you could work for a company in any sector and show them the power of environmental innovation.
The specialisation strongly focuses on the corporate level of sustainability transformations and corporate social responsibility.
There’s particular attention for innovation: not just technological innovations but also on innovating manufactory processes and new business models.
The main focus is on policies and the social-organisational aspects surrounding innovations rather than the concrete innovations themselves.
Related aspects of business administration will be incorporated in this specialisation. You can also take courses from the Master’s in Business Administration as electives for a multidisciplinary perspective.
You’ll also benefit from the advantages of the Master’s programme in Environment and Society Studies in general.
See on our website: http://www.ru.nl/masters/corporate
Join us for our Master Open Day to find out more about our courses.
The Sustainability and Consultancy Masters offers a grounding in the broad range of sustainability topics beyond just environmental issues (from project development to corporate sustainability strategy). It will also develop the professional skills you’ll need.
Sustainability is an integrated issue across our teaching, rather than separating the environmental, economic and social elements.
Specialist modules are delivered by academic staff, practising consultants and other practitioners, giving you exposure to real-life, international case studies with a good understanding of contemporary management techniques and solutions.
This course aligns closely with the challenges of sustainability and the skills that employers say they need to tackle those challenges, with a strong emphasis on project skills.
Course highlights:
This is an approved Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) course:
This means once you graduate you are eligible to become an IEMA Graduate Member – GradIEMA - the first stage towards full professional chartership.
You are also eligible to take-up free student membership.
IEMA supports individuals and organisations to set, recognise and achieve global sustainability standards and practice.
The global pursuit of progress has led to widespread industrialisation, overpopulation, resource depletion, pollution and other threats to our planet. Through the research and teaching of environmental and social sustainability we aim to preserve our world and its resources for future generations.
Study Sustainability and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll develop the skills to communicate with experts across a variety of backgrounds, helping you to become an expert in sustainability and an attractive prospect for business, governmental agencies and NGOs.
The MSc Sustainability and Management is taught jointly by the Department of Geography, which is recognised for expertise in the research and teaching of environmental and social sustainability and the School of Management, which has a long tradition of research into sustainable businesses and corporate social responsibility.
Follow your passion for Sustainability and Management at Royal Holloway and you’ll graduate with an interdisciplinary Masters degree offering excellent employability prospects, and be well equipped with the skills and knowledge you need to tackle some of today's most pressing sustainability issues.
Core modules
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
You will benefit from innovative teaching including real-life case studies, seminars with practitioners, field work and volunteering.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.
Sustainability and Management graduates from Royal Holloway, University of London are highly employable, with a range of attractive transferable skills. You’ll gain the most current, up-to-date knowledge, with expert teaching augmented by lectures from a wide range of highly respected guest speakers on current sustainability and business issues.
This highly-regarded programme will place you in a good position to progress to doctoral-level study. Our recent alumni have gone on to enjoy fulfilling careers, including Director at Sustainable Travel International, Consolidations and Reporting Analyst at Tetra Pak International, Researcher at the Institute of Business Ethics and Carbon Consultant at DHL.
Address urgent global issues, find just solutions for all communities.
The New School is at the forefront of addressing global environmental issues, thanks to Milano's Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management (EPSM) program. This program is designed to turn students' passion for environmental change and sustainability into careers with impact. Our students benefit from small, customized classes, a rigorous program of critical theory and practice, and close attention from a faculty engaged in research, scholarship, and cutting-edge professional practice. Our practice-based learning places students front and center alongside organizations working on the most pressing environmental issues of our time, from climate change and environmental justice to food systems and sustainable development.
Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management students also have access to the Tishman Environment and Design Center, a university-wide institute committed to bringing an interdisciplinary and environmental justice approach to contemporary environmental challenges. The Tishman Center's Student Scholars program provides a competitive grant that funds student-designed research and projects related to climate change, environmental, or sustainability issues. Students in the program also benefit from an array of courses and programs throughout the university, including the International Field Program, graduate courses across a variety of disciplines like economics and media studies, sustainable design at Parsons, and other Milano courses in management and policy.
While studying in New York City — a global hub for major environmental and sustainability organizations — our students tackle real-world challenges at government institutions, corporations, small, innovative start-ups, companies, and nonprofits throughout the city. The EPSM program culminates in a capstone project in which students bring their knowledge and critical perspectives to a real-world challenge. For a sample of recent capstone projects, visit the Milano School blog.
Students customize their course of study in consultation with a program advisor, focusing broadly on either environmental policy or sustainability management. The program also offers further areas of specialization, including the option for students to create their own specialization by taking elective courses from across the university. The program is flexible and convenient for working professionals as well as recent college graduates. Students can study full-time and complete the program in two years, or study part-time for three to five years. There are numerous external scholarships available to graduate students with an environmental focus.
The EPSM faculty works closely with each student to provide mentorship and guidance as they explore their professional development goals. Faculty with extensive professional experience help students learn about environmental and sustainability careers and provide connections to networks of peers and professional organizations that can lead to future opportunities. The Milano School also has specialized career services staff that advise students and graduates as they search for internships, fellowships, and employment opportunities.
Students will be prepared to work in a variety of sectors, including government, nonprofits, advocacy and social change organizations, policy and research institutes, as well as and corporate and other private sector firms. EPSM graduates hold such positions as Director of Environment and Sustainability at Information Technology Industry Council, Sustainability Project Manager for the City of Orlando, Chief Sustainability Officer for the town of North Hempstead, NY; Green Business Support Specialist at the Center for Eco Technology; and Project Manager at the Sustainable Development Solutions Center. Others have started their own businesses or consulting firms, or have gone on to pursue doctoral degrees. See where some of our alumni are working. These alumni stay connected through a robust online Alumni Network group and the program hosts an annual on-campus Alumni and Student Mixer to strengthen the connections our students have with professionals pursuing their passion in the environmental field.
Internships enable students to acquire firsthand knowledge and skills that complement their degree. Full-time students who enter the program without related work experience and those planning a career change are required to complete a noncredit professional internship (400–900 hours).
Global organisations are realising that their corporate communications and marketing functions need to work closely to communicate with stakeholders. This growing interdependence has partly been driven by the impact of online communications on organisational reputation.
This course recognises this industry shift and explores the drivers and dynamics of modern corporate communications and its relationship with marketing and public relations. You focus on stakeholder management, global marketing, brand management, reputation management, media relations and social media.
Taught by researchers who combine their professional experience with the latest research expertise, you’ll examine key theories and concepts and gain the practical professional skills employers are looking for.
You’ll benefit from our corporate connections, as senior figures working in the sector regularly visit to offer a practitioner’s view during guest lectures. Many also provide case studies and practical projects.
Academic excellence
The Marketing division at Leeds University Business School is one the leading centres of research in marketing in Europe. As part of our research, we engage with companies, senior executives and academics across the globe.
Our research makes an important contribution to your learning on the programme; our academics bring their world-leading expertise to you in the classroom. The Global and Strategic Marketing Research Centre (GLOSMARC) is the Business School’s established and esteemed centre of excellence for scholarly research work.
The course provides you with an essential foundation in communications theory, marketing strategy and public relations practice.
You’ll explore the history and theory of corporate communications, connecting communications to overall corporate strategy. Alongside this, you’ll study the latest thinking in important areas of marketing such as international marketing, marketing strategy and marketing research, as well as understanding how organisations manage their brands and identities, marketing communications and key priorities such as sustainability.
During the Public Relations in Practice module, you’ll work alongside classmates in interactive workshops that focus on the practical applications of some key PR tools and techniques. You’ll cover essential skills such as campaign planning, personal communication skills, influencing techniques and writing for PR.
In addition, you’ll choose from a selection of optional modules that allow you to focus on a topic that matches your interests and career plans.
In the final semester you will apply your skills and knowledge to either a research dissertation or a practical consultancy project. Our consultancy projects give you the opportunity to work with a live business situation, make links with industry and gain work experience that can be exceptionally rewarding.
Compulsory modules
You’ll study nine compulsory modules, plus either a dissertation or consultancy project.
Optional modules
You’ll also choose one optional module.
We use a range of teaching methods so you can benefit from the expertise of our academics, including lectures, workshops, seminars, simulations and tutorials. Company case studies provide an opportunity to put your learning into practice.
Independent study is also vital for this course, allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.
Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.
Graduates have a rounded and reflective approach to communications strategy and practice. Many become effective communications professionals, either in internal corporate and marketing communications roles or in PR, digital and social media agencies.
Links with industry
A number of senior figures from the world of corporate communications, marketing and public relations are invited to deliver guest lectures, providing a practitioner's view of the latest industry developments.
Recent contributors include: Sainsburys, Creative Concern, Ikea UK & IE, Sustainly, Marks and Spencer, Search Laboratory, Twentysix and Brand 24.
We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support as part of the course.
Our dedicated professional development tutor provides you with tailored academic and careers support. They help you to develop essential skills to successfully progress through the course, and also the professional skills you need to gain employment in your future career.
You can expect advice and guidance with your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, as well as one-to-one coaching for interpersonal skills.
Read more about our Careers and professional development support.
How can we work towards a sustainable future? There are plenty of new sustainable technologies, smart governmental instruments and new ideas on organising the market to become more sustainable, but very often we don’t use them. Why is that? What can we learn from successful examples of societal change in other countries?
This programme focuses on the way society deals with its physical environment. We’ll look at experiences of countries all over the globe, at good and bad practises and at the role of markets and governments as well as society itself. You’ll become part of the quest for sustainability. How can we green our economies and change daily behaviour? With the help of other disciplines like sociology, psychology, political science and administration, you’ll gain the complete picture.
Our multidisciplinary programme allows you to look beyond country borders and you’ll discover what is needed on different levels, from the United Nations to Europe, from individual countries to the local level. What is the role of the EU in promoting the 20-20-20 Agenda? And what can be done by people themselves, through, for examples, citizens’ initiatives? In short, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to guide and influence societal transformations towards sustainability.
See the website: http://www.ru.nl/masters/ess
More than many other Master’s programmes, this programme focuses on the political transformations needed for societal change. Scientific insights are illustrated with numerous social and political issues from all over the world.
All lectures, seminars and literature deal with internationally comparative studies on environment, sustainability and social and political change.
Theory is put into practice. During the programme, you'll be in close contact with the professional field by means of guest lecturers and practical assignments, allowing you to assess how well key theories and dynamics perform in practise.
Seminars are interactive so you can acquire the needed skills. For example, participation in negotiation games and debates will strengthen your ability to match the interests of various stakeholders in environmental planning.
There is an obligatory internship (chosen from a list of well-established (inter)national organisations) that will help you to expand your professional network.
For a multidisciplinary perspective, we cooperate with other groups within the department of Geography, Planning and Environment and other departments of the Nijmegen School of Management.
You can choose a specialisation that best reflects your passion for the environment, sustainability and governance. Radboud University offers the following five specialisations in this field:
In this specialisation, you'll study the way complex global sustainability issues are addressed by international governance arrangements, rules and organisations, both public and private. Among the pressing issues are those related to climate change, biodiversity, water quality, the quality of ecosystems and natural resource suppliers.
The private sector plays a crucial role in shaping our sustainable society. In this specialisation you'll study innovative environmental partnerships, specifically focusing on the role of the societal and ethical responsibility of business and the market with regards to the environment.
In this specialisation you'll focus on the local level of sustainable transformations, in particular the development of sustainable cities and regions. You'll analyse and reflect on sustainable futures, measures and instruments with regard to waste, energy, water, transport and climate-proofing cities and regions.
This specialisation will teach you to become a spatial planner who can engage with EU policies, cooperate with planners across borders and coordinate with other sectors like environment and economic development.
The aims and objectives of PLANET Europe are similar to those of European Spatial and Environmental Planning. With PLANET Europe you’ll gain two diplomas in two years from different universities if you successfully complete the programme.
See the website: http://www.ru.nl/masters/ess