Media Release

October 22 2009

South Aussie MBA makes international top 100

UniSA's MBA is among the best in the world for integrating social, environmental and ethical issues. UniSA has been named in the top 100 world-wide for integrating social, environmental and ethical issues into its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, positioning it as one of the best in the Asia-Pacific.

The ranking comes from an international survey ‘Beyond Grey Pinstripes’ which is undertaken by the Aspen Institute Centre for Business Education every two years to map the landscape of teaching and research issues pertaining to business and society.

UniSA is one of only three MBAs in the Asia-Pacific to make the top 100 for 2009-10.

Director of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Business Education, Rich Leimsider, said the top 100 schools are thoughtfully pursuing new approaches to business.

“They are preparing students who take a more holistic view of business success, one that measures financial results as well as social and environmental impacts,” Mr Leimsider said.

UniSA MBA Program Director Bob Gilliver said sustainable business courses were introduced at UniSA in 2007, in line with the changing needs of businesses.

“For a business to stay competitive, they need to incorporate sustainable business practices into their planning and governance,” said Mr Gilliver.

“With the issue of climate change, there is a community drive towards sustainable living, and many of the measures and mandates in business have shifted.

“Much of the drive to incorporate sustainable business practice into our business programs has come from industry who are grappling with the complex issue of a competing marketplace that is dominated by the issues of climate change.

“We are very pleased to be recognised as a global leader for our specially designed, innovative courses.”

Joining UniSA's International Graduate School of Business in the top 100 list are, Stanford, London Business School, Yale, Cornell, Copenhagen and Glasgow Universities.

The top 100 accolade is the third time in the past month that UniSA’s MBA program has been recognised – it was one of eight Australian universities to receive a maximum five star rating from the Graduate Management Association of Australia’s Good Universities Guide, and was also ranked sixth in the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS magazine for leading MBAs in Australia.