Apr 20 2009
"There is no choice anymore, either businesses become sustainable or they fall by the way side," says Donald Nordeng. "We can't afford to focus solely on how to turn over the biggest profit anymore. We have to consider all the P's together: people, planet and profit."
Donald is among the new intake into the Anaheim University Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute's MBA in Sustainable Management referred to as the Online Green MBA. He joins a growing number of professionals who are looking beyond the traditional MBA and enrolling in an education that will provide the tools to put them ahead in the growing sector of Green Business. As the President of Ecocert S.A.'s Japanese subsidiary, Ecocert-QAI Japan Ltd, a pioneering organic certification company, Nordeng is already well established in the green business sector. So why did he feel it necessary to go back to school for his Green MBA? "We have a lot of practical experience in the Green sector here but I felt that it was time that I quantified the things I have learned in the field now in the classroom. Triple Bottom Line Accountability is one of the subjects I am excited about getting to grips with. This really fits with the business and whole corporate raison d'etre, of how to increase our profit whilst at the same time adding value to the environment and standards of living within the communities we serve," answers Nordeng.
Anaheim University recently signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, joining a growing list of signatories including the likes of Cornell University, Duke University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and University of Pennsylvania. By signing the document Anaheim University promises to within two years, set a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral. "In order to practice what we teach, we are committed to becoming completely paperless by 2010," said Liaison Office Director Darrell Nelson.
In addition to environmental responsibility, Anaheim University is doing its part to be socially responsible by implementing the Tuition Relief Program to assist students in these uncertain economic times. In effect until June 30th, 2009 the program covers fifty percent of the tuition fee for any degree-seeking or Sustainable Management Diploma/Certificate student.