A recent report put out by the American Solar Energy Society, found that renewable energy and energy-efficient industries were responsible from the creation of nearly 8.5 million jobs in 2006, and by 2030 that number is expected to reach 40 million. Not a small number by anyone’s standards, the increase in demand has already seen a growth in student population in areas such as urban planning, forestry, and environmental law. Universities are beginning to add specialized degree programs into their curriculum along the lines of eco-commerce, environmental accounting, green and social marketing, and ecological economics; but when the Universities have been slow to respond, students have joined forces to request more out of their education.

At the University of Colorado at Boulder, a majority of MBA students at the Leeds School of Business, made a strong recommendation to the University to increase its courses in opportunities related to leadership in sustainability and sustainability management. The growing demand and change in the marketplace for a more sustainable curriculum have also provided opportunities for school’s like the Presidio School of Management to gain in popularity, being founded on the concept of integrating sustainability within the business education.

It appears that the mainstream business schools are beginning to make the shift in curriculum and research, something that is evident with The Aspen Institute’s biennial survey and rankings regarding innovative full-time MBA programs that are integrating social and environmental stewardship into their programs titled, Beyond Grey Pinstripes. The results of the survey are presented in their Global 100, or the top 100 schools that take a broad look at student exposure and opportunity, general course content, and faculty research related to environmental stewardship. Within the top 20 you can find the usual Ivy League Schools, along with a few that might surprise you, proof evident that those who wish to continue to carry-out their monikers as leaders in education have already developed and integrated sustainability within their core curriculum and research investigations.

Although it may look as though we are well positioned for the increase in green collar jobs, even the Global 100 of the Beyond Grey Pinstripes, is touching the tip of the 40 million anticipated jobs available in renewable energy and energy-efficient industries. While there are obvious indications in the growth of business and management programs trending towards sustainable curriculum, there is only sporadic evidence showing growth in other fields including design and engineering, but we’re hopeful that they will catch on sooner rather than later.

+ Green Colleges
+ The Eco League