The University of Vermont’s Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) in the Grossman School of Business continues to bolster its reputation as one of the world’s top sustainable business MBA programs by climbing from the No. 5 to the No. 4 spot on the 2019 Better World MBA rankings compiled by leading sustainable business magazine Corporate Knights.

In addition to its No. 4 ranking globally, the program was again the top-rated U.S. based school in the Corporate Knights rankings.

The accolade comes on the heels of the program’s rank as the #1 “Green MBA” for 2019 in the Princeton Review, the second year in a row it achieved the top spot.

“We are thrilled to be recognized again by Corporate Knights as we continue to reinvent business education at the University of Vermont,” said Caroline Hauser, director of the Sustainable Innovation MBA. “We are lucky to have such an incredible network of support as we train the business leaders of the future to address global challenges like climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation through the lens of business and entrepreneurship.”

“MBA programs focused on educating business leaders for a better world are critical for success in the rapidly evolving business environment where managers have to make decisions to balance profits with the planet and society,” said Grossman School of Business dean Sanjay Sharma. “Congratulations to our entire Sustainable Innovation MBA team and faculty for delivering such an outstanding and relevant program.”

Sustainable Innovation MBA students work with Burlington-based firm Resonance, creating a Blockchain assessment tool.

To determine the rankings, Corporate Knights evaluated 146 business schools, including all of the 2018 Financial Times top 100 MBA programs, every program that made the Top 40 in the Corporate Knights Better World MBA Ranking in 2019, and select business programs accredited by AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS, and Principles for Responsible Management Education signatories that responded to our outreach.

Eligible programs were assessed on the number of core courses, institutes and centers, and faculty research produced in the last three years related to sustainability, including corporate responsibility, human rights and ethics.

"As the climate emergency alarm bell sounds and social tensions threaten to unravel the compact on which capitalism depends, The Better World Business Schools are at the forefront of a sea change in business education focused on preparing tomorrow’s business leaders to be a force for good,” CEO of Corporate Knights Toby Heaps said.

Details of the 2019 Better World MBA rankings can be found on the Corporate Knights website.