Transforming business with a week of sustainability: graduate programs at IE Business School

4 min read

Sustainability is a core driver of our philosophy at IE Business School. And it’s with good reason that sustainable practices have become more important than ever across various industries. In this article, we’ll cover methods for sustainability business, our top sustainability graduate programs and the IE University Sustainability Week 2024—stay tuned to see how all of these tie into our innovative Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation. 

What is sustainability? 

Sustainability is a single word that covers a broad spectrum—a natural indicator that nuance is being lost somewhere. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it’s defined as either “the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment” or “the ability to continue or be continued for a long time”.

So, what is sustainability in relation to business? According to Apiday, “the more a company cares about society, the environment, and its employees, the more successful it will be in the long run. Customers and stakeholders turn to companies they can trust and believe in… taking a hard look at sustainability is key in ensuring all stakeholders’ expectations are met.”

Graduate programs strive to cover the topic’s three core concepts: economic, environmental and social sustainability. This means reducing sustainability footprints, embracing sustainability investments and learning how to create meaningful practices that don’t fall under “greenwashing”. This all contributes to the aforementioned “ability to continue or be continued for a long time”. 

Sustainability Week 2024: a unique opportunity for our Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation 

IE Business School educates for professional impact. To this end, we’ve established initiatives like the annual “Sustainability Week” to bring students of our Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation closer to real-world industry. It’s an opportunity for students to network with sustainability experts and companies and see how their studies can have an impact. 

During Sustainability Week 2024, students enjoyed discussions on global sustainability challenges, transformative business practices, sustainability’s role in health and the effect of volunteering on social, economic and environmental change. Our Talent & Careers team also leveraged the event of a Careers Fair; students came face-to-face with international recruiters who specialize in sustainable industries.

IE University’s very own Sustainability Office, a team dedicated to nurturing our sustainability graduate programs, also supported the event. We were delighted to host spokespersons from international organizations who discussed issues from the COP and the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Students also used the week to visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and learn about volunteer opportunities at the Volunteerism Fair. 

Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation: a top choice for sustainability graduate programs 

In search of the best master’s in sustainability? We’ve devised our Master in Sustainability & Business Transformation for you. We understand that businesses are key players in meaningful change; our unique approach to project-based learning embraces that fact. Applicants to our world-leading program can expect a deep dive into social environmental and economic issues that expands the influence of their given professional field. 

We prepare graduates to be adaptable across sectors, including health, tourism and technology—all of which fields focus on sustainable innovations. “Sustainable tourism” is a key priority of the UN, while organizations like Sustainable Healthcare are focusing on developing systems that are socially inclusive.

Your learning journey at IE Business School utilizes real-world case studies, practical methodologies and immersive experience. The resulting skill set is diverse enough to make you an asset to any organization. We guarantee graduates will be capable of fostering positive change and are robust enough to lead a long and successful career. 

How to be more sustainable in business 

At Uncover, we believe the best things in life are free. Here’s a short-but-sweet taster of our course content—here are three ways that you can be more sustainable in business: 

1. Train up employees 

Want successful initiatives? Educate your employees on sustainability issues and include them in strategy. This will up buy-in on every level, which means sustainable change will last. It also empowers your employees to play their part. 

HR trends are making these kinds of innovations easier with AI upskilling. You can also arrange webinars, lunches and lectures to get everyone up-to-date. 

2. Partnerships with non-profits 

Sustainability initiatives may be uncommon ground. Partnering with non-profit organizations is such a good idea. You flatten the learning curve by utilizing the knowledge of experts, which ultimately makes the whole process less strenuous. 

See where your business might serve the needs of an existing non-profit and vice-versa. You can then pool resources and find policies that improve your sustainable practices. These new policies could include anything from gender equity to environmental issues. 

3. Nurturing volunteerism 

Encourage volunteerism in your business. It’s an engaging way for employees to connect with sustainability and can have tangible, local impact. 

A way to do this is providing paid time off for volunteers aka VTO. Or you could organize volunteer drives where employees help local charities for causes they’re passionate about. Every little helps.

Sign up to one of the top sustainability graduate programs in Europe

Think the Master in Sustainability and Business Transformation could be what you’re looking for? Find out more about what’s on offer and join our next cohort.