"Our course content includes topics like Sustainable Venturing. We coordinate TEAM (Transforming Energy and Markets), which is our outreach program for an energy initiative, between the private sector and researchers," said Paul Jerde, Executive Director of the Deming Center. "Students benefit from having access to our relationships with hundreds of cleantech companies [to get] internships; and to test market feasibility business plans and ensure they have not drifted off course," he said.

Jerde said student interest in sustainability is very high, which is why they drafted a round-robin letter to request more exposure. "Taking these courses enables them to understand the tenets of sustainability and apply it to any industry. Our students [get jobs] in natural products, renewable energy and consulting, where they help companies become more sustainable," he explained, adding that the Leeds school has won recognition because of its strong fundamental courses, which have been infused with cleantech entrepreneurialism.

Courses in the pipeline include one for second-year MBA students on CSR principles, which will be heavily based on the latest research; and another on principles of sustainability for developing communities. Jerde feels strongly that sustainable practices have to be incorporated into the mainstream subjects like supply chain management, logistics, marketing and finance and the Leeds curriculum committee is working towards that goal.

Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill - Center for Sustainable Enterprise

The Wall Street Journal ranked this MBA program 5th for corporate social responsibility, based on a national survey it conducted in 2007, which assessed recruiter's perceptions of business schools and their students. This review of their opinions is different from the Aspen Institute's survey, which focuses on actual course content and student opportunities.

The Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE) was established in 2001, when Kenan-Flagler began offering MBA students the opportunity to graduate with an enrichment concentration in Sustainable Enterprise. There are 12 electives which count as SE courses and the core program in SE was taken by more than half of their 280 first year students.

A recent major project that the school undertook in partnership with UNC's Institute for the Environment was for Bank of America. "We did a corporate environmental footprint analysis of their domestic operations and suggested ways to reduce their carbon footprint," said Katie Kross, Executive Director of the CSE.

Students are offered a host of programs and experiential learning opportunities to hone their knowledge in sustainability, a key reason for Kenan-Flagler's popularity and high ranking. The CSE conducts a venture capital investment competition and offers practicum projects where they can consult on diverse projects.