Impact Focus: Sustainability

Welcome to Sustainability at INSEAD

Explore INSEAD’s sustainability programmes, initiatives, frameworks and resources designed to empower responsible leaders. Discover how we are shaping a more sustainable world and join us on this journey.

We are convinced that every individual and every organization has a role to play in our time's greatest challenge. The time to step forward and act collectively is now.
We are changing business education today for a better tomorrow, delivering both prosperity and positive social and environmental impact.

Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD

Sustainability framework

Led by the Hoffmann Institute, INSEAD’s sustainability strategy is built on four pillars: Knowledge, Learning, Engagement, and Walk the Talk.

This framework allows for the transformational integration of sustainability across all functions of the school.

"We refer to sustainability in business as the integration of social and environmental issues in business decisions."

INSEAD's definition of sustainability

Knowledge

INSEAD is a leading institution for management education and research. Our faculty develop new theories, insights, and business models to drive private sector prosperity and societal progress.

Learning

INSEAD inspires, educates and equips future leaders to create value both for their organisations and for society – from our MBA, Masters and PhD programmes to Executive Education.

Engagement

INSEAD engages with the alumni community, build relationships with public and private sector organisations, and other stakeholders to create real-world impact.

Walk the Talk

INSEAD is a school that leads by example in integrating societal impact into its operations, and contributes to local and global progress and prosperity.

A History of Sustainability at INSEAD

For more than 60 years, INSEAD has played an important role in developing responsible business leaders, reflecting on the link between business, environment and society.

1968

INSEAD becomes one of the first business schools to admit female graduates.

1989

Creation of the Centre for the Management of Environmental and Social Responsibility (CMER) becoming of of the first formal mechanisms at INSEAD to examine social responsibility.

2002

Creation of the Humanitarian Research Group to identify best practices for disaster preparedness and response coordination.

2006

Creation of the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programmes (ISEP), now running as the Hans Wahl Impact Entrepreneurship Programme.

2007

Creation of the INSEAD Social Innovation Centre (ISIC) to bring together experts and research streams as a resource for business leaders and students to mainstream these issues into learning activities.

2018

Creation of the Hoffmann Institute through a historic donation of €40 million commitment from André Hoffmann and his wife Rosalie. Established to coordinate and reinforce all sustainability action across the school.

2020

Creation of the INSEAD Gender Initiative to tackle gender inequality.

2023

INSEAD launches its renewed MBA curriculum, embedding sustainability into all its 14 core courses and introduces a mandatory capstone challenging students to integrate sustainability learnings across all management areas.