Transnet Programme in Sustainable Development

OverviewHow business functions in the context of the interdependence of the economy, society and the environment forms the basis of sustainable business. Sustainability presents business with unique challenges that, until recently, were dismissed as relatively unimportant. However, the level of awareness and debate of key sustainability issues such as poverty, energy security, climate change, water and food security, has increased exponentially over the past couple of years. Notably, the King III Code of Governance for South Africa places sustainability, responsible leadership and corporate citizenship at the core of corporate governance.

In May 2008 GIBS established, with funding from Transnet, an academic programme in sustainable development. Managed by Claire Thwaits, the programme aims to mainstream sustainability into GIBS’ activities both externally through its teaching and research, and internally in its campus operations. The programme is made up of the following activities:

Academic modules – both core and elective
MBA and doctoral research
Corporate education programmes including: Executive Education courses and Company Specific Programmes
GIBS Forums, conferences and events
Greening the GIBS campus.

AcademicPDBA and PMD

Sustainability is now included in the Programme for Management Development. A half day session is taught on the first day of the PMD to provide context to the Programme. A short session on sustainability is taught on the PDBA.

Topics range from waste management and recycling, biofuels, sustainability strategy, the business case for sustainable development in the finance sector, to environmental communication and awareness at public sector level.

MBASustainability and responsible leadership is currently being taught in the Environment of Business core module. Over 200 MBA students will therefore have exposure to topics ranging from waste management and recycling, biofuels, sustainability strategy, the business case for sustainable development in the finance sector, to environmental communication and awareness at public sector level.

These key sustainability issues are addressed throughout the module, which will then form the basis for more detailed
exploration of issues during the Sustainability elective. The following sustainable development topics are covered in the MBA:

• Sustainable development theory and history
• Corporate sustainability, governance and strategy
• Climate change and carbon markets
• Green buildings
• Sustainable mining
• Sustainable finance
• Environmental and social opportunity and risk.

Students are also exposed to the business cases for sustainability through interaction with executives and guest speakers from top South African companies.

Students are required to complete both an individual assignment focussing on their own company, as well as a short group consulting assignment, focussed on a dilemma faced by the abovementioned companies.

Student Research
Previous MBA research topics include the following:

The retail sector’s response to environmental sustainability
International successes in Clean Development Mechanism implementation: lessons for South Africa
The adoption of the Equator Principles by financial institutions
A model for internalising sustainability into corporate behaviour.
Climate change and the SA banking sector: the potential for competitive advantage
The mining sector's response to environmental sustainability
South African renewable energy investment barriers: an investor perspective
The impact of corporate governance on environmental sustainability
The relationship between corporate responsibility and innovation in the South African banking sector
The impact of reported corporate governance disclosure on the financial performance of companies listed on the JSE
Sustainable corporate social investment in mining through social enterprises
The impact of corporate social responsibility on the financial performance of companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange
The impact of rising food prices on the poor

Faculty Research
Publications include:

Gibson, D.J.D., Ismail, A., Kilian, D.K., & Matshikiza, M. (2009). The State of Our
Environment - Safeguarding the Foundation for Development. In: Kagwanja, P.,

Kondlo, K., (eds)(2009). The State of the Nation – South Africa 2008. Human Sciences
Research Council. HSRC Press.

Executive EducationGlobal Executive Development Programme
Sustainable Development is taught as a half day module on the Global Executive Development Programmes, attended by senior executives.

African Leadership Programme
Sustainable Development in Africa is taught as a half day module on the African Leadership Programme.

Board Development Programme
Integrated Reporting and Sustainability is now taught as a full day module on the Board Development Programme.

Company Specific ProgrammesSustainability as a subject has been incorporated into and taught on numerous company and open programmes. For more information, please see the Company Specific Programmes pages on this website.

Forums, Conferences & EventsForum topics range from “The Green Economy” (held in February 2009) to Sustainable Living and the concept of Transient Caretakers (Mervyn King February 2010) to celebrity environmental heroes like Lewis Pugh (August 2010). Please see the Events pages on this website for current events.

For more information on Transnet click here.

For any qeuries relating to the Transnet Programme in Sustainable Development or GIBS' Sustainability Projects, please contact:

Claire Thwaits
Senior Programme Manager
Transnet Programme in Sustainable Development
thwaitsc@gibs.co.za
+27 11 771 4189