An MBA or MA degree with concentration Environmental Economics, a new academic offering at Brussels business school UBI, unique in Europe. Business needs leaders who understand the enviro-issues, wo are 'sustainability-literate' and who can turn these challenges into competitive advantages.

UBI is a well established Brussels business school at the heart of Europe. Both MBA and BA students have profited from the experience of professionally active lecturers.

Renewable Energy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development, etc. are not relevant only to people in energy generation or in developing countries: any business and organisation will have to handle the current and future environmental issues well if it wants to avoid getting behind.
There might even be a chance to gain competitive advantage …

Why?
During this last decade the 'green' concept has moved from a merely marginalised political idea to an economic reality. Our current and past ways of doing business are detrimental to the natural environment we are part of.
Institutional platforms such as the Kyoto Protocol, EU directives on renewable energy, the European Emissions Trading scheme, etc. help bring these matters to the forefront, and more importantly set targets quantifiable and measurable.

More and more organisations are asking themselves
"How does this affect us?"
"How should we come to grip with this new reality?"
"How can we contribute and come out on top?"
"Could we use this to get a competitive advantage?"

Moreover, the financial industry is being pulled in by the big-ticket deals in RE, often backed by state-guaranteed revenues.

There is a growing need for business leaders who can handle this kind of questions, who are 'literate' in these topics.
E.g.:
- London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, won mostly on green issues,
- Virgin boss Richard Branson dedicating €3 billion to enviro solutions,
- JP Morgan Chase's €1 billion investment portfolio in renewable energy, or
- the FTSE4good index outperforming regular investment products.

Students both in MBA as in MA programs will be able to follow such courses as:

- Environmental Economics:
an analysis into mechanics and context of economic development and pollution. Providing a broad understanding of pollution types, with a specific emphasis on energy related topics. The mechanics behind smart environmental policy forming.

- Environmental Policies and Sustainable Development:
This course focuses on the central question; what regulatory strategy & framework could be best for promoting sustainable development? Specific attention goes to current international accords (e.g. Montreal, Kyoto), EU environmental policies and a few success-stories on national level (100,000 roofs program in Germany).

- Renewable Energy and Environmental Entrepreneurship:
A comprehensive investigation into current-day business opportunities created by environmental policies and the ensuing new corporate needs. Using real-life cases, pitching to real investors and Venture Capitalists, who will be UBI's first eco-millionaire?

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

François d'Anethan, UBI Dean,
+32 (0)2 548 04 80

United Business Institutes
Avenue Marnix 20
Brussels 1000
Belgium