University of Exeter, The Business School

THE ONE PLANET MBA

The first joint programme of its kind anywhere in the world and a true partnership between academia and an NGO, the One Planet MBA marries the experience of a business school with the values of WWF, the global environmental organisation. Sustainability runs through the heart of the curriculum and draws on examples and case studies from some of the world’s largest organisations as well as social enterprises and the third sector.
Many other programmes offer modules in sustainability. Where the One Planet MBA differs is that the core values of responsible management and sustainable business are integral, from the topics covered to the learning and teaching style adopted. We believe the one Planet MBA is a unique and powerful vehicle to help achieve long-term changes in the way businesses respond to the environmental and social challenges the world faces. An MBA has a major influence on how managers learn and the models, tools and techniques they eventually apply. At Exeter we have taken a bold step to make changes to our MBA curriculum to hopefully influence future mindsets, and we hope this innovation will also inspire others.

The One Planet MBA has attracted a lot of interest in the business press for its far-sighted approach and was placed 47th in its inaugural year in the Aspen Institute’s Beyond Grey Pinstripes MBA rankings, which are based on how well MBA programmes prepare their graduates for social, ethical and environmental stewardship.

We have a range of scholarships supported by our corporate partners including Atos, Canon, Coca Cola, The Cooperative Group, IBM, IKEA, Lafarge, Lloyds Banking Group, Nokia, Sony and Thomson Reuters. Other scholarships are also available, please visit the Funding page of our website for further details,

The Programme

Available in both Full-Time and Executive formats, the One Planet MBA begins with a core module entitled The Changing Business Environment which introduces the themes of the programme in the context of the 21st Century global economy and draws on WWF’s experience of consulting with major businesses and governments. Core modules in accounting, finance, marketing, operations, leadership and macroeconomics then form stage two of the programme.

Stage three focuses on strategy, innovation and change and explores the role of innovation in transforming organisations to behave in a more sustainable way, how this needs to be embedded in the organisation’s long-term strategy and, most crucially, how to enact behavioural change at both the individual and organisational levels.

Stage four is comprised of elective modules, allowing participants to specialise in areas most relevant to their careers and interests, which include Sustainable Supply Management, Collaboration and Partnering, Entrepreneurship, Creative Communications and Governance and Ethics.

The last stage of the programme involves either a consultancy assignment or a more traditional research dissertation. Recent consultancy projects have been undertaken with a number of major corporations including Coca Cola, the Environment Agency, KLM, Sony and Thomson Reuters.
About us

The University of Exeter Business School is one of the top business schools in the UK. We are currently ranked 10th in the Times Good University Guide for Business, with the University of Exeter ranked also ranked 10th overall. The University of Exeter is placed 156th in the Times Higher Education Supplement World University rankings, putting us in the top 1% of institutions globally.