Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation (CSSI)

Monika Winn MA, (Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany), MBA, PhD (University of California), Director

The Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation is an intra-faculty centre of the Gustavson School of Business. It exists to facilitate the work of Gustavson faculty, staff and students in the areas of sustainability and corporate social responsibility as they relate to business.

CSSI work focuses on three areas: research, education and operations. Faculty research ranges from climate change strategy to health and wellness to poverty and social entrepreneurship. CSSI hosts regular presentations to encourage faculty to share their research within the school, on campus and with the business community.

Integrating sustainability into Gustavson’s courses and specializations is the emphasis of the education arm of CSSI. In addition to an annual commitment to the United Nations Global Compact Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), faculty share cases, guest speakers and readings to encourage students to consider the triple bottom line in all their business decisions. Specific courses in sustainability are required in the BCom, MBA, MGB, and PhD course offerings. The Centre supports faculty teaching as well as student activities such as Carrotmobs and the BCom Sustainability Challenge.

The Gustavson School of Business is committed to sustainability in all its operations, so the CSSI operations committee undertakes an annual inventory of the school’s carbon footprint. In addition, the faculty, staff and students participate in activities such as Bike to Work Week, and a UVic-sponsored energy-reduction competition. This committee also initiated the move to low-energy copiers and double-sided printing.

Strong links to local and international communities allow CSSI to share best practices, recruit guest speakers for the classroom, and further develop the three arms of CSSI.

Website: <www.uvic.ca/gustavson/cssi>