Climate change, poverty, pollution, sweatshops, AIDS, water scarcity, food shortages – what used to be the domain of non-profit organisations and governments is now creeping into board room conversations and strategic plans of businesses all over the world. Some see this as a threat, others as an opportunity, but few global business leaders can avoid it altogether.

This leads to many questions: What is the role of business in society? Who is responsible for these problems? What role can businesses play in addressing these issues? Or should they play any role at all? What opportunities exist to transform the economy? How do you, as a manager, make decisions about your firm’s response?

These are all questions that INSEAD MBAs have the opportunity to study and debate, through club activity, research and coursework, and networking. The following is an all-too-brief summary of what INSEAD offers to those who are interested in finding the answers to the above questions.

Student leadership
Founded in 1993, INDEVOR is the student-led organisation for social impact, and is INSEAD’s chapter of Net Impact. The largest and most active student club on campus, INDEVOR hosts numerous student and external speaker events to raise awareness of social impact opportunities, work with the administration to provide educational and career resources to the MBAs, and maintain an active network of alumni and professionals around the world.

Some notable INDEVOR events include ‘The Great Debate: Sustainable development tool or just smart marketing?’ where finance, economics and sustainability faculty engage students in a lively discussion. They also hosted a conference in May 2007, featuring Unilever CEO Patrick Cescau as the keynote speaker. In June 2008, INSEAD was co-host to the first Net Impact Europe Conference.

Spun off from INDEVOR in 2006, the INSEAD Energy Club focuses on climate change and energy issues. INDEVOR and the Energy Club will be hosting a joint conference in October 2008. Members of both clubs have formed an initiative in collaboration with the school administration to understand and reduce INSEAD’s environmental footprint.

INSEAD Social Innovation Centre
In September 2007, six INSEAD research groups and initiatives that all shared a common interest in social and environmental issues in business, joined together to form the most comprehensive research centre of its kind. The INSEAD Social Innovation Centre is a platform for cross-disciplinary research and engagement in the area of ‘social innovation’. We define social innovation as the introduction of new business models and market-based mechanisms that deliver sustainable social, environmental and economic prosperity.

The Centre works closely with the students through club activities in INDEVOR and the Energy Club, and provides a portfolio of interesting courses in the areas of social innovation, including:

• Economics & Management in Developing Countries
• Environmental Management in a Global Economy
• Managing Business Ethics & Corporate Responsibility
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Building Social Ventures Fieldtrip
• International Development Field Projects

Spotlight on International Development Field Projects
The International Development Field Projects course offers MBA students a unique opportunity to undertake a real 12-week project for a client organisation whose work benefits economically under-privileged groups. Teams of MBAs, faculty members and mentors from major consulting companies work with social entrepreneurs or development organisations on key business challenges. It aims to strengthen participants’ project design, planning and management skills and broaden their experience in applying those skills to client situations. Visit the website for more information.

Think global, act global
One of the unique benefits that INSEAD offers is at its core mission to be The Business School for the World®. Because of its global perspective and reach, countless international companies and organisations engage with INSEAD faculty and students for dialogue and recruitment. This means that MBA participants have the opportunity to interact with thought leaders, executives, and social entrepreneurs from around the world.

Yet arguably the greatest benefit of an INSEAD MBA is the alumni network. Over 36,000 INSEAD alumni live in over 160 countries across all continents, and are active in all types of roles from sustainability and CSR to social entrepreneurs and NGOs. Providing information, contacts and career opportunities, they continue to be active in the INSEAD community.