Courses in Sustainability
Yes
Sustainability course is
Required
Description
In support of its mission to ?improve the world by developing and inspiring responsible leaders and by advancing knowledge? the Darden School was one of the first business schools to require Business Ethics as a first year course. Now the Darden MBA program incorporates ethics, social responsibility and sustainability throughout the curriculum. Through real-time case studies and experiential opportunities, students are encouraged to think deeply about the nature of business, responsibilities of management, and need for business to achieve profitability in an ethical, socially minded and environmentally responsible manner.
The Innovation for Sustainability concentration (available in the Second Year) prepares students to design and implement sustainability strategies such that their future organizations not only expand their positive impact on society, but also realize revenue growth, cost savings and/or brand enhancement.
For more information on Darden’s 17 elective courses that solely or partially focus on sustainability and ethical leadership/decision-making visit www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/academics/electives/sustainability/.
Research Opportunities in Sustainability
Yes
Description
During the academic year, students can participate in a variety of for-credit research projects. Previous student research and case study projects focused on sustainability and social impact issues include; Design Thinking Tech for Good; Economic Inequality: Causes and Consequences; Ethics of Disruption; Impact Investing; Integrating Philosophy, Business and Literature; Precision Farming; Prisoner Reentry Education Program; Solar ITC use by Municipalities; Women in the Technology Industry; Investing in Green Energy Markets.
Darden?s Sustainability Centers also provide research and educational opportunities for students. These include the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS) and the Institute for Business in Society.
To learn more visit www.darden.virginia.edu/faculty-research/centers/sustainability/.
School's environmental commitment 1:
1. Sustainable Operations at Darden
Carbon Neutral: In 2018 Darden fulfilled on the commitment made in 2008 to be a carbon neutral business school. The UVA Hollyfield solar project (https://news.darden.virginia.edu/2018/10/23/uva-hollyfield-solar-facility/), which is owned and operated by Dominion Energy, produces approximately 12 percent of the University?s electric demand. The Darden School, a participant in the partnership, has assumed responsibility for about 25 percent of the electricity production, which enables the school to achieve its long-term carbon neutral goal.
Sustainable and equitable food purchasing: UVA and Darden have set the goal by 2030 to achieve 30% sustainable food sourcing. To support achievement of this goal, Darden participates in the long-standing UVA Sustainable Food Collaborative (https://food.virginia.edu/) which has developed a robust sustainable and equitable food action plan in collaboration with UVA and regional stakeholders.
Waste Reduction - Composting Program, Recycling Program, and Elimination of Single-Use Plastics: As part of the University's goal to reduce landfill-bound waste to 30% of 2010 totals by 2030, and reduce reactive nitrogen losses to the environment to 30% below 2010 levels by 2030, Darden has an extensive recycling and composting program. Composting takes place in public areas as well as in kitchens. Recycling pick-up includes plastic #1-7, plastic bags and plastic cutlery. As of fall 2021, Darden and UVA have adapted to meet Executive Order 77 which eliminates single-use plastics in Virginia's government agencies and higher education institutions. UVA's sustainability plan, in which Darden participates, may be found here (https://sustainability.virginia.edu/sites/sustainability/files/2020-10/UVA_Sustainability_Plan_2020-2030-FINAL_0.pdf).
School's environmental commitment 2:
The Darden School?s Centers of Excellence (below) focus extensively on climate change, cleantech, ESG investing, new models of capitalism, water and other related topics, showcasing the work of a deep bench strength of world-renowned faculty:
The Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS https://corporate-sustainability.org/), a global consortium of top universities and scholars, was founded at Darden in 2009 and operated at the school for five years. Darden is an active member of ARCS, which convenes leading researchers from business and other disciplines, such as law and public policy, to advance rigorous academic research on corporate sustainability issues, and to develop greater understanding of the opportunities and limits of policies and strategies to create sustainable businesses.
The Business Innovation and Climate Change Initiative (https://www.darden.virginia.edu/innovation-climate), part of Darden?s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, researches the potential for disruptive technological innovation and decarbonization of key industry sectors. In addition to research, stakeholder discussions such as the Jefferson Innovation Summit (http://jeffersoninnovationsummit.org/) focused on climate change form the basis for white papers and Policy Playbooks (http://jeffersoninnovationsummit.org/policy-playbook/) for government and business leaders. Books published under the Initiative include Can Business Save the Earth: Innovating Our Way to Sustainability and The Decarbonization Imperative: Transforming the Global Economy, complemented by podcasts and webinars (https://www.darden.virginia.edu/innovation-climate/research) on specific industry sectors.
The Global Water Initiative (GWI https://www.darden.virginia.edu/global-water) led by Darden?s Peter Debaere, engages scholars from across the University of Virginia to examine the world?s most difficult water challenges. Research, policy advice and educational activities tackle topics including: how to balance demand with supply; the global interconnections of water issues; and water regulations around the world. With more than 25 UVA professors contributing their expertise across fields including architecture, business, economics, engineering, environmental sciences, history, law, leadership and public policy, and nursing, the GWI represents a unique, pan-University collaboration.
The Institute for Business in Society (https://www.darden.virginia.edu/ibis) creates and leverages a body of multidisciplinary research and thought leadership to transform the way that academics, students, practicing managers, policy makers and the public see the role of business in the creation of a fairer, and more productive, abundant and connected world. Nationally-recognized initiatives include Giving Voice to Values, the Tri-Sector Leadership Fellows Program for Darden and other UVA Law and Policy graduate students, and the P3 Impact Award in collaboration with the Department of State and Concordia.
The Mayo Center for Asset Management (https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mayo-center) advances the study and practice of asset management through research, education and career development. Each year, numerous programs (https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mayo-center/research) led by Darden faculty such as Prof. Pedro Matos, along with industry experts, focus on the topic of ESG Investing research (https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/research/foundation/2020/esg-and-responsible-institutional-investing). The Mayo Center also advises the student-led Darden Capital Management (https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mayo-center/darden-capital-management), including the Rotunda Fund which invests in companies with best-in-class ESG metrics.
School's environmental commitment 3:
3. Sustainability-Related Curriculum: Darden MBA Electives (2021)
Darden offers MBA students an extensive number of choices among courses covering a breadth of sustainability topics and cases. See this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=5N0LolRuoIs) re. Darden?s sustainability-focused faculty and co-curricular activities.
1. Sustainable Global Value Chains
2. Business and Climate Change
3. Climate Change: Science, Markets & Policy
4. Managing Sustainability from the Inside Out
5. Impact & ESG Investing
6. Global Economics of Water
7. Transforming Societies
8. Darden Capital Management (Rotunda Fund)
9. Markets, Government, and Society
10. Business Ethics through Literature
11. Business-Government Relations
12. Leading in Uncertainty and Crisis
13. Thinking of a Master Plan: Non-Profit Management, Metrics & Impact Making in the Field
14. Ultimate Questions: Responsible Management and Value in Business
15. Philosophy and Business: Business in Society
16. Managing Innovation
17. Strategic Corporate Governance
18. Strategic Thinking
19. Strategy in the Digital Age
20. Supply Chain Management
To complement its curricular offerings, in February, 2020 Darden hosted ClimateCAP: The Global MBA Summit on Climate, Capital and Business (https://www.climatecapsummit.org/climatecap-2020), bringing together 200 MBAs and 45 topic executives working on climate change in the arenas of Finance, Agriculture, Transportation, Energy, Retail and Real Estate for two days of discussion.
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