UCD Smurfit Launches an MSc Program in International Law and Business

At a number of business schools, experiential learning has always been a strength of their MBA programs, but it’s the case study method that has underpinned management education for the past several decades. 

Not long ago, an MBA degree was regarded by many people as a passport to a lucrative professional job in a field such as investment banking or strategy consulting. While many students still pursue these career paths, a growing portion of them are looking for purpose as well as profit in their jobs.  In fact, making a positive social or environmental impact has overtaken pay and other perks as the top reasons MBA students pursue their career, according to an often-cited survey by Bain & Company, which, ironically, is a consultancy firm.  Curriculum changes are underway as business schools respond to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) revolution. Schools have been criticized for their apparent role in the global financial crisis and for focusing too heavily on maximizing shareholder return. Today many top MBA programs include an impact-related module, such as impact investing or social entrepreneurship.  The career opportunities in this field have flourished. CSR was previously something many companies merely paid lip service to, but they are making “impact” a fundamental piece of their business plans. There are now 2,655 certified “B Corporations”, or firms that verify their high social and environmental performance, across 150 industries and 60 countries, including the ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s and the social media company Hootsuite.  Picking the right program, however, is crucial. So we’ve ranked the best MBAs for social or environmental impact, below. 

Online MBA degrees have exploded in popularity. Time-conscious managers have warmed to them, rather than taking time out of work to pursue a traditional, campus-based course. See the top 10 most affordable AACSB-accredited Online MBA programs.

The UK offers a range of great MBA programs. These are the top 10 MBA programs in the United Kingdom.