Carleton’s Sprott School of Business achieves second highest level in 2021 Positive Impact Rating
Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business was recognized for its social impact and sustainability achievements when the 2021 Positive Impact Rating (PIR) results were launched today at the UN PRME Global Forum. The Sprott School of Business was one of 47 business schools from 21 countries worldwide that took part in the rating this year and achieved Level 4 of five levels, making it a Transforming school within the PIR.
The PIR is a rating conducted by students and for students. For the second time, students worldwide assessed their business schools on how they perceive their positive impact in the world. The positive impact of business schools goes beyond their contribution to business and the economy; it addresses the need for their positive impact for society.
“We are encouraged that students from Sprott School of Business view us favourably in most aspects of the Positive Impact Rating with a Level 4: Transforming (7.7) rating, yet the real value for us has been using the PIR as a starting point in engaging our students – at all levels – to collectively work with us to have a tangible positive impact on our community of learners, the organizations they will work in, and the global societies to which we all belong,” said Dana Brown, dean of the Sprott School of Business.
In 2020, Sprott launched an ambitious strategic plan entitled Vision 2025: Business For A Better World that contains a myriad of impact-focused goals through a mission to “harness the potential and opportunity for business to improve lives worldwide”.
“Our students are recognizing our continuing efforts in this area in our governance and culture, as well as our academic programs and student support,” added Dana. “For Sprott, we have a lot more to offer with respect to positive impact and are excited about the prospect of enhancing our impact through co-creation with our faculty, staff and, most importantly, our students.”
Students assessed how the Sprott School of Business addresses societal and sustainable challenges and prepares students to be responsible business leaders. The data collection was organized and led by the Sprott Business Students’ Society, along with the student societies for Sprott’s MBA, Master of Accounting and MSc in Management programs, who distributed the PIR survey to their fellow students.
The rating survey asks students 20 questions in seven relevant impact dimensions that sit within three areas: Energizing, Educating, and Engaging. The overall PIR score of the business school is used to position the schools across five levels. The different levels refer to the developmental stage of the business school, rating it by a certain level of achievement. Business schools are provided with a defined social impact and a tool that they can use for change.
“PIR is designed as a tool to improve and transform business education. It enables schools to understand what a positive impact for society is, according to their students. The PIR highlights the potential for improvement, even for leading schools,” said Katrin Muff, President of the Positive Impact Rating Association
The PIR was created by concerned business school experts together with global NGOs – WWF, Oxfam, and UN Global Compact. International student associations oikos, AIESEC and Net Impact are also part of the PIR, which is supported by VIVA Idea and Fehr Advice.