Sustainability at Gustavson
Sustainability and social responsibility (SSR) are fundamental to what we do at Gustavson, from research to curriculum development and how we engage with our local and global communities. Social responsibility and environmental sustainability is a key pillar in our strategic plan, and we are constantly striving to live this value.
Here is a look at sustainability at Gustavson by the numbers:
1 centre dedicated to integration of sustainability
The Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation (CSSI) was created in 2011 and is a critical resource driving SSR initiatives at Gustavson. CSSI brings sustainability into the classroom, supports SSR researchers and threads it into the culture and operations of the school.
Sustainability is 1 of 4 key pillars in our strategic plan
There is a deep sense of purpose within the school and a strong desire to make the world a better place. That sense of purpose is embedded in our strategy.
11 years of tracking carbon emissions, 7 years of being fully carbon neutral
Gustavson began tracking its carbon footprint in 2013. In 2017, we committed to offsetting our Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. We are one of the first business schools – very possibly the first – in the world to be carbon neutral. The Carbon Neutrality Plus Committee continues to explore how Gustavson can reduce its emissions, while offsetting what we do emit.
UVic ranked 9th in the world for meeting Sustainable Development Goals
The 2023 Times Higher Education rankings measure the environmental, social and economic impacts of 1,591 institutions worldwide as related to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to finishing #9 overall, UVic also finished 3rd in the world and 1st in Canada for climate action.
Canada’s 1st MBA in Sustainable Innovation
In 2020, we relaunched our MBA with a new curriculum designed fully around sustainable innovation. We believe it’s a requirement for business – so why wouldn’t it be required in an MBA? In 2022, we graduated our first cohort of this program.
94% of required courses included sustainability content
In 2022, 65 out of 69 required courses included content on sustainability. Our BCom, MBA and PhD programs each have a required course dedicated to business and sustainability. This is in addition to deliberate integration of sustainability content throughout the curriculum.
14% of peer-reviewed publications on sustainability topics
Over the course of five years, Gustavson researchers published research in eight main research areas. Sustainability and social responsibility was the fourth highest research area at the Gustavson School of Business.
3-year, $180,000 research project on climate finance
This research project started in 2021 with an aim at expanding the potential of the finance and investment sector to support the transition to a climate-friendly, low-carbon economy. Led by the Gustavson School of Business, this project is in partnership with the BC Investment Management Corporation (BCI) and Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), and is funded by PICS.
Learn more
Visit the Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation to learn more about Gustavson’s commitment to sustainability in our classes, research and daily operations.