The University's International Business School has been ranked one of the "top institutions that offer graduate programs in green or sustainable business fields," specifically highlighting their Master of Business Administration in Socially Responsible Business, by both the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine, wrote Michelle Juergen, editorial assistant at Entrepreneur Magazine, in an e-mail to the Justice."The evaluation process was based on data [that was] collected from administrators during the 2009-10 academic year [and] student survey data spann[ing] the 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic year[s]," wrote Director of Content Development at the Princeton Review Michael Soto in an e-mail to the Justice.

"The full list [of ranked schools] will be published in the April issue of Entrepreneur Magazine," according to a March 25 BrandeisNOW press release.

The results of the evaluation "highlight schools that are taking strides towards building out curriculum based on sustainability in business whether under the umbrella of the environment or social responsibility," Soto wrote.

Soto wrote that to evaluate the different schools, "administrators were surveyed on their school's academics, curricula, campus policies and student services related to sustainability, social responsibility and the environment. Students were polled on how well they felt their MBA programs were educating them for careers in 'Green Business' fields."

The MBA in Socially Responsible Business, also referred to as the Global Green MBA, is a specific part of the general Global Green Initiative, which were both launched in 2008. According to IBS' website, the GGI's "mission is to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of environmental and social concerns on business strategy, and devise new approaches to sustainability and put them into practice."

"Students in this [Global Green] concentration will learn the workings of business, develop analytical skills in economics and finance, and gain exposure and experience in one or more aspects of the emerging "green" economy," according to IBS' website.

Although the program is relatively new to IBS, the mission is not, according to Director of the MBA Program Prof. Ben Gomes-Casseres (IBS). He said in an interview with the Justice that for the past 20 years, IBS has focused "its mission and operations [on] more than [just] a profit objective and traditional view of business," taking into consideration businesses' social and environmental impacts.

He said the program has been a "growing" success, having seen increases in the "number of courses [offered] under the theme, the number of students enrolled, ... and [even] the amount of student activities [pertaining to 'green' business practice]."

Soto also noted other initiatives at Brandeis that he believed stood out from those of other universities, including the Cleantech Investor Conference and the program "Preparing for Green Careers." Soto wrote that "these programs, although relatively new, are steps in the right direction to start the conversation and help define how an institution like Brandeis can move forward."

The focus on green business is a current "mega-trend" that many companies are beginning to adopt, and it is important for Brandeis to follow the movement so that "we're not missing out on making an impact on society," according to Gomes-Casseres.

He attributed the GGI's growing popularity at IBS to students' positive energy and initiative in terms of green business and said the school needs "more students with that kind of energy to help develop [the] program even further."

While he said he and his colleagues are "very proud" to be acknowledged for their green education efforts, they see the recognition "as a reflection of what [they've] done but also of the opportunity that lies ahead.