TAMPA, FL (July 21, 2009) — Sustainability is no longer just a marketing buzzword—the business world is rapidly shifting to greener resources and sustainable practices—and business schools must update their curricula and approaches to accommodate the new era. By teaching the fundamentals of corporate social responsibility and ethics, business schools will lead the development of a new breed of leaders.

Members of the media are invited to join a diverse group of business experts and management educators as they discuss elements of sustainable business, corporate social responsibility, ethics, and ways to implement effective change at AACSB International's 2009 Sustainability Conference. To date, over one-fourth of institutions attending are signatories of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Global Compact, the UN-backed global initiative developed to promote corporate responsibility and sustainability in business education.

This two-day conference, held at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center, July 30-31, 2009, features the latest in sustainability best practices – providing business schools with new ideas and innovative ways to engage students and surrounding communities.

Internationally recognized as a visionary on universal healthcare reform and the emerging new green economy,
Lois Quam, founder and ceo of Tysvar LLC, will open the conference by exploring the skill sets needed to succeed in this new "green" era, and will discuss how b-schools should to invest their time and financial resources to better prepare students for tomorrow’s opportunities.

The luncheon keynote will feature Elizabeth Haas Edersheim, director of New York Consulting Partners. Drawing upon her expertise in planning and executing sustainability strategies, Hass Edersheim will discuss past experiences, current challenges, and the future of sustainability.

John Danner, senior fellow at the University of California-Berkley, John F. McVea, assistant professor at the University of St. Thomas-Minneapolis, Carol Seagle, faculty director for the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and moderator Alison Davis-Blake, dean of the Carlson School of Management, at the University of Minnesota will discuss their experiences providing innovative, quality social entrepreneurship programs to the students and communities they serve.

Other vital topics to be explored include: Deeply Integrating Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility into Business Schools; Driving Change through Student Engagement; Building a Sustainable Business School; Teaching and Learning Through the Economic Meltdown: Lessons in Corporate Social Responsibility; "What Gets Measured Gets Done" - Measuring Sustainable Performance; Growing the Green Curriculum: Practical Tips for Those Who Teach; Alliances and Collaborations Across Borders; and Alternative Approaches to Sustainability Curriculum.

For complete information, including session descriptions, please visit the 2009 Sustainability Conference section on the AACSB International website.

Media Credentials:
Members of the media are invited to attend this conference without charge. For conference credentials, or to arrange an interview with a management education expert, please contact Amy Ponzillo at 813-367-5207, or mediarelations@aacsb.edu.

About AACSB International
AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), founded in 1916, is an association of almost 1,200 educational institutions, businesses and other organizations in 71 countries. AACSB’s mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. AACSB accreditation is the mark of quality distinction most widely sought after by business schools – less than 5% worldwide have earned the achievement. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at locations throughout the world. AACSB’s global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA and its Asia headquarters is located in Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.aacsb.edu.