Does a student driven Ranking make sense to push ESD forward

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Does a student driven Ranking make sense to push
ESD forward?
Evaluating European Business Schools on their
contribution to Sustainable Development

• Heiko Spitzeck (University of St. Gallen,
  Switzerland)
• Claude Patrick Siegenthaler (Hosei University
  Tokio, Japan)

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The influence of Rankings
Being aware of the pitfalls of rankings one
must, however, recognise that our efforts to
belong to one of the internationally accepted
research institutions are reflected in our
ranking reputation

• Homepage of the University of St. Gallen
  (Switzerland) refers currently to their excellent
  standing in two rankings (SwissUp and
  Wirtschaftswoche)
• The University of Mannheim celebrated its
  Ranking-Successes togehter with students.

Source Quotation of Prof. Winiger Dean of the
University of Bonn (Germany)
Rankings influence on University policy and
their strategic orientation.
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Rankings Motivation for ESD?
Mapping the territory
Results
Pitfalls
Design of BESD Ranking
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Mapping the territory I
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Mapping the territory II
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Methods of Evaluation I
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Methods of Evaluation II
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Mapping the territory III BESD Ranking
Method
Publishing

• Schools on the leading edge (6)
• Schools with significant activity (9)
• Schools with moderate activity (21)

• Self-declaration of institutional support,
  course-work and faculty research of 100
  institutions
• Expert panel supervision (sustainability
  experts, business representatives, academic
  advisors)
• Initiated by WRI and the Aspen Institute

Beyond Grey Pinstripes

• Global Outreach
• 17 European Schools
• MBA-Programs only

Outreach
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Results
Low generalESD focus
BESD evaluation concentrated in MBA education
No Ranking in Europe (only EABIS Database)
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Pitfalls to be considered

• Possible Reaction
• Focus strictly on a stakeholder perspective
• Scientific and stakeholder-dialogue approach
• Start with students questionnaire

• Pitfalls
• No sustainability standard
• Media hype
• Resource intensity and complexity

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Aim of BESD Ranking
Creating a platform for dialogue
Best Practice Sharing
Create a leverage for sustainability oriented
students organisations
Facilitate a Race to the Top in BESD Education
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Summary
BESD
Ranking

• Rankings are a
• good leverage for BESD
• Rankings currently reflect low
• ESD orientation especially in Europe
• A student driven BESD ranking could motivate
• Business Schools to integrate ESD objectives