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Published: 2015-03-03

Umeå School of Business and Economics Environmentally Certified

NEWS Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE) has become Umeå University’s first ISO 14001–certified unit. This results in students better prepared for a more environmentally friendly way of working.

"Umeå University has made a strategic effort towards the Umeå School of Business and Economics, and we’re pleased to see that the certification went through so quickly. The environmental certification will also be an important platform for our future development", says Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University.

"USBE was already actively engaged with sustainability issues, so it was logical to take the next step and develop a management system to integrate sustainability into all areas of the organisation in a clear, systematic manner. By providing our students with an understanding of sustainability issues, we have the best chance of making an impression and contributing to change", says Lars G Hassel, Rector at USBE.

USBE has chosen to broaden its commitment by adding social and ethical perspectives to environmental issues, with sustainable development and corporate responsibility as key areas of focus. The aim of the venture is to create collaborative knowledge in order to educate responsible leaders of the future with a focus on sustainability.

USBE students will be expected to perform economic assessments. However, it is just as important to adopt a critical approach and be able to understand, for example, the business opportunities that arise from climate adaptation. Sustainable development issues will therefore be a common thread throughout the USBE degree programmes.

At USBE, leading research is already being conducted in the field of sustainable development. As a result, USBE introduces two new specialisations in its Master’s programme in Economics in autumn 2015: one focusing on environmental and resource economics, and one focusing on health economics. The former will be run in collaboration with the Department of Forest Economics at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and the latter in partnership with the Epidemiology and Global Health Unit at the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University. 

"The ISO 14001 certification will strengthen and highlight our profile as a school of business and economics. Moreover, we are committed to promoting sustainable development, as stipulated by the Swedish Higher Education Act and the Ordinance on Environmental Management in Government Agencies. The project has been keenly supported by Umeå University, and we are proud to demonstrate that even an academic institution can take the step towards systematic environmental and sustainability work", concludes Hassel.

Read more about USBE's sustainability and responsible management work

For more information, please contact:

Lars G HasselRector, Umeå School of Business and Economics, Umeå University
Phone: +46 73 735 78 00

Jeanette DareblomHead of Administration, Umeå School of Business and Economics, Umeå University
Phone: +46 90 786 61 55

Editor: Andrea Gillgren