AACSB awards Gabelli School for interdisciplinary impact

Announcements | Feb 14, 2017 | admin

Regardless of majors, dream jobs, or post-graduation plans, one thing is true of most college students: they want to make a positive impact on the world.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s largest business education network, recognized the Gabelli School of Business this month for its commitment to socially conscious business education, selecting it as one of the winners in the 2017 Innovations That Inspire competition.

The award was given for the school’s involvement with the Fordham Social Innovation Collaboratory (FSIC), which gives the entire Fordham University population—students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as the outside community—a structured way to make real changes in society.

Out of 315 international submissions to Innovations that Inspire, only 35 were selected by the AACSB.

Fordham was highlighted in the Engagement Across Disciplines category for the collaboratory’s commitment to bridging disciplinary divides.

Through this group, students and faculty from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds get involved together toward the same goals. And the collaboratory benefits from a greater network of ideas.

Some of the recent initiatives? A social-innovation course on electric vehicle adoption and sustainable urban mobility, where students work closely with executives responsible for BMW’s new i3 car series; a sustainable finance initiative that includes an elective in impact investing; a student-initiated sustainability in fashion practicum; and a changemaker storytelling video designed and produced by student leaders.

Carey Weiss, director of sustainability initiatives, said that “the collaboratory is a place where each student can create a unique pathway toward a career with purpose and a life filled with passion for giving back to the world. By blending academic knowledge, experiential learning, and leadership opportunities, each student can build his or her own impressive story to tell prospective employees.”

For those wanting to leave the world better than it was when they arrived, it’s a natural place to start.