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: : aT a GlanCe : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
location:
rotterdam, Netherlands
number of students:138
of Rotterdam students are net impact members
100%
of those members are active“
GolD Net imPAct chAPter
30%
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The MBA program at Rotterdam School of Manage- ment, Erasmus University (RSM) applies itself to creating wealth generators who are also active, empowered citizens of the world—integrated, participatory, and open-mind- ed—by incorporating environmental, social, and gover- nance issues into teaching and research. Students are en- couraged to closely examine these issues and become pro- active in their studies and discourse. The core curriculum at RSM readily adopts social and environmental themes implemented through required modules in Business Soci-
ety Management, Economic Environment of Business, and Marketing Management. Elective courses during the fi-
nal quarter of the program provide another opportunity for those interested in strategic management to consider
the role of their companies in a wider stakeholder con- text. In addition, the RSM Personal Leadership Develop-
ment course, which runs throughout the MBA program,
provides ample opportunity to explore and develop wider issues regarding one’s role both in business and in society at large. Outside the MBA track, RSM has several profes- sors studying various areas of business sustainability under their Business-Society Management department, includ- ing the university-appointed Professor Gail Whiteman, Director of the Center for Corporate Eco-Transformation and Ecorys NEI Professor of Sustainability and Climate Change. Professor Michael Braungart also holds the En- dowed Chair “Cradle to Cradle.”
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RSM activities provide plenty of opportunities for stu- dents to become involved in social and environmental business issues. Student life at the RSM MBA program is naturally busy due to being condensed into a single year, and the RSM Student Association attempts to consoli- date activities within the small student body by encourag- ing the clubs to work together. For example, the Net Im- pact chapter often works closely with the Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship and Consulting clubs. In addition, STAR, the student association of the Bachelor’s and Mas- ter’s students, has a Global Business Club which covers business sustainability issues, and members from the Net Impact chapter have attended their events. The Net Im-
pact chapter is partner of the Greening RSM initiative, aimed at empowering the RSM community to achieving the lasting commitment of the RSM community to the performance of environmentally sustainable business op- erations. The RSM Charity Foundation is presided over by a member of the Net Impact chapter, and has orga- nized a successful Games Night, an internal fundraiser for social microfinance endeavors. The chapter members participated in the Hult Global Case Challenge, and also teamed with university students in Africa in building a social enterprise. These events allow all the students in the MBA program to gain awareness of the Net Impact chap- ter and become active participants in its activities.
rotterDAm school of mANAGemeNt, continued
: : : : : : : : : : : Career servICes & alumnI : : :
The RSM Student Association operates quite indepen- dently from the program administration. This means the Net Impact chapter is free to organize events as it sees fit, but also receives some financial support from the school. Internal and external fundraising efforts are used to sub- sidize events, speaker visits, and conferences. The school administration is generally cooperative when it comes to the activities of the chapter. School support in the form of facilities and event hosting is given freely. The adminis-
tration and admissions office express neither positive nor negative bias towards activities or applicants with social and environmental interests.
Prominent Alumni
Bjørn Dudok van heel (2007) – Founder & Managing
Director, Veneti Capital
frederic Petrignani (2003) – Program Manager, Oxford
Sustainable Group
rokus Wijbrans (2000) – Managing Director & Owner,
CarbonCapital Solutions
marcelle Askew (1995) – Partner, Eco Commerce
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RSM Career Services places emphasis on equipping students and graduates with the tools they need to find jobs; students use these resources, as well as the school’s alumni network to aid in their career search. RSM, located in the Netherlands, one hour from Amsterdam and half an hour from The Hague, is at the center of one of the most socially and environmentally innovative areas of the
world. One can find opportunities with companies rang- ing from clean technology startups to CSR-aware multi- nationals in this region. The Netherlands is also home to many international NGOs and nonprofits. RSM’s empha- sis on diversity in its students, curriculum, and post-school resources help make transitions into these sectors possible.
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The strengths of the RSM MBA programs are its em- phasis on personal growth and its diversity. While aca- demically rigorous as any other business school, the RSM MBA programs are also designed to actively develop stu- dents into cross-sector leaders. This is achieved through the curriculum (particularly the Personal Leadership De- velopment program), a heavy emphasis on group work,
and in its commitment to maintaining an incredibly di- verse international student body. The school’s atmosphere is one in which social and environmental themes are both easy to pursue and often challenged by people with com- pletely differing viewpoints. This culture allows for people to explore their interests, create strong individual view- points, and develop unique skills.
P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdom, The Netherlands • Phone: +31 010-408-1111 • Email: [email protected] http://www.eur.nl
164 Business as UNusual: THe sTudenT guide To graduaTe programs 2011