The Cambridge Sustainability Research Digest is a monthly briefing on a selection of the latest global research on leadership in sustainability prepared by Rebecca Collins and edited by Wayne Visser.  The November 2007 issue features :

• Climate Risks Survey (Global: Marsh Center for Risk Insights
• Corporate Sustainability Index (Global: KLD Research & Analytics
• CSR Reporting Survey (Eastern Europe: Partners for Financial Stability (PFS) Program)
• Corporate Citizenship Ranking (US: CRO Magazine)
• Consumer Awareness Study (UK & US: The Climate Group
• Corporate Environmental Disclosure Report (UK: Trucost/Environment Agency)

To download this month's issue please visit the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry (CPI) website here.

We are delighted to announce the online launch of the 2nd EABIS-Ethical Corporation Special Report on Corporate Responsibility and Global Executive Education. Following our pioneering collaboration in 2006, this latest publication delivers a “state of the art” overview of emerging trends, successes and challenges around business in society issues within international management development.

New Insights Into The Changing Face of Business Schools

In an era where managers are increasingly faced with complex social, environmental and economic concerns, which in turn require new skills and competences to address them in corporate strategy and operations, the Special Report is a timely reminder of what business schools are doing to try and keep pace with profound changes in the corporate world.

Featuring surveys, interviews with and inputs from leading figures in European and international Business Schools the report provides thoughtful insights on, among other topics:

• The change catalysts within executive learning
• New essential skills and competencies for today & tomorrow’s managers
• Innovative programmes for board members & directors education Leadership programmes in a global context
• New approaches to experiential learning
• Social enterpreuneurship from a student perspective

The Report also features the European release of the 2007-2008 Beyond Grey Pinstripes Global 100 List, the renowned biennial initiative from the Aspen Institute for Business in Society that classifies MBA programmes according to their integration of social and environmental issues into management research and education programmes.

Official Launch of Report Supported by Host INSEAD and Event Partner Microsoft

The Report’s public unveiling took place at the RESPONSE Project final conference (October 12, INSEAD Business School) in front of an audience of almost 200 global executives and senior stakeholder representatives. The launch was actively supported by Elena Bonfiglioli (Director Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft EMEA & Chair, EABIS Business Network), Prof. Luk van Wassenhove (Director, INSEAD’s Centre for Social Innovation) and John Russell (Managing Editor, Ethical Corporation).

Links & Resources

Click here to download the report. For additional information on the Ethical Corporation Magazine please visit the Ethical Corporation website.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Cross-sector Partnership (PCCP), delivered by the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry in partnership with the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), was created in recognition of the importance of partnership as a key mechanism in raising awareness of sustainable development, and implementing change for mutual benefit through collaboration.

The Programme is designed to provide professionals working in this field with a broad and deep understanding of the key issues and challenges facing cross-sector partnerships, as well as practical tools, skills and techniques to help them to meet these challenges. 

The Programme lasts nine months beginning in April 2008, and includes two residential courses, held in Cambridge, UK. For further information please visit the programme website (http://www.cpi.cam.ac.uk/pccp) or contact the Programme team on pccp@cpi.cam.ac.uk.

ESADE seeks to appoint a faculty member at assistant professor level with a strong background in Business in Society. The position of full-time professor in the Department of Social Sciences will be appointed in September 2008. The successful candidate will contribute to both theoretical and applied aspects of the department’s research and will have an active research agenda. The applicant is expected to play an active role in the Executive Education courses, our graduate courses (MBA & Ph.D. programs) and undergraduate courses (Bachelor in Business Administration).

For detailed information and the application procedure please click here to download the job description.

October's edition of the Aspen Institute's Closer Look at Business Education continues a special fall series highlighting lessons and learnings from the Aspen Institute's 2004-2006 Teaching Innovation Program. This Closer Look stems from the increased public attention being paid to how universities monitor their own social and environmental practices, much like the businesses they examine in the classroom. It considers how business schools have begun examining not only the environmental footprint of their institution, but also the social footprint of their core products - teaching and research.

You can read this month's white paper on the Role of the Business School in Society at: http://www.aspencbe.org/documents/RoleMass.pdf.

This year, for the first time, the Accountability Rating includes performance data from investment research information provider ASSET4 which is contributing information on key global indicators covering environmental, social and governance issues, such as progress towards climate change targets and recent public controversies.

The final top ten list in 2007 is:

1. BP
2. Barclays
3. ENI
4. HSBC Holdings
5. Vodafone
6. Royal Dutch Shell
7. Peugeot
8. HBOS
9. Chevron
10.DaimlerChrysler

To see the full 100 list, please click here.

Key findings of this year’s Accountability Rating are:

• There has been an increase in the accountability of the G100. To “make it” as a global player, accountability needs to be embedded into company operations. This year the average performance has risen 3.6% from 2006;
• Companies headquartered in Europe are the most accountable, with a small sample of Asian companies outperforming American firms. The Rating shows that US companies perform well in managing their impact, with General Electric leading the G-100 on impact score. Hewlett-Packard is the fifth best company at embedding social and environmental issues into its strategy. However, the Rating also shows that US companies are weak on stakeholder engagement, with the 34 US companies in the G-100 scoring an average of 13.6%, lower than the average of 25.8%. Automobile and oil and gas companies score well again in 2007.
• Oil, gas and automotive sectors outperform the average, reaffirming that those in the global spotlight facing the toughest challenges, tend to progress furthest and fastest.
• Retail and FMCG sectors under-perform the average, suggesting that some global brands may need to invest more in strategy, systems and engagement as consumers increasingly hold them to account.
• Accountability is becoming more strategic. G100 companies are learning how to build sustainability into business strategy: year-on-year growth has been greatest (4.1%) in this domain since 2006.

For more information including detailed results of this year's Accountability Rating survey visit www.accountabilityrating.com.