Sustainability

Asper School earns two new distinctions for sustainability and responsible research

New RRBM partnership and an upgraded Positive Impact Rating show a dedication to keeping community in business

Bruno Dyck teaches a class
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
Bruno Dyck (left) is Director of the Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community
Bruno Dyck (left) is Director of the Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes

The Asper School of Business has earned two global recognitions for its commitment to advancing research excellence and nurturing sustainability values within the business school. 

Joining Responsible Research in Business & Management 

The first is a partnership with Responsible Research in Business & Management (RRBM), which now counts the Asper School as a partner in its global network. RRBM has distinguished the Asper School for its commitment to responsible research. 

Its principles recognize business schools that take an active role in doing good for society. Schools of this Partner Institution help students, organizations, and communities develop effective systems that lead to innovations, positive employee and customer well-being, and a thriving natural environment. 

“At the Asper School, our business education and research culture contain a unified message: that every business decision you make has implications for human beings, for society, and for the environment.” said Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business. 

“Advancing research excellence” is a main tenet guiding the vision within the Asper School’s 2025-2030 strategic plan Building Community, Inspiring Innovation.

“The RRBM partnership is a meaningful step on the journey of realizing the goals we set out to accomplish in our current strategic plan, but it is not our last step. We aim to continuously improve, innovate, and inspire in our commitment to keeping community in business.” 

Positive Impact Rating upgraded in its second year 

The 2026 Positive Impact Rating (PIR) for Business Schools has recognized the Asper School with an improved PIR of Level 4 Transforming (5 being the highest rating). The rating indicates that Asper has visible strides in energizing, educating and engaging students in our responsibility and sustainability goals. 

In Asper’s first year of participation, the school was recognized with a PIR of Level 3 Progressing. This prompted Asper’s Director of Sustainability, Minelle Silva, along with the Asper Green Team, to host events that had students talking during the 2025-26 academic year.

October 2025 marked the first annual “Asper Sustainability Month”—in which the Drake Centre was host to guest speakers (including Gerald Dieleman, Senior Director of Horticulture at Assiniboine Park Conservatory) and a book exchange. The initiative will return in October 2026.

Book exchange
Asper staff at the Sustainability book exchange in October 2025

As a signatory member of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), the Asper School also advanced student interest in the organization’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of research targets designed to achieve a better future for all.

Student volunteers spread the word through cookies, each printed with a different SDG. Students were eager to pick a cookie holding the goal that mattered most to them, whether that was clean energy, gender equality, or economic growth. 

It is inspiring to see students engaging with sustainability in their everyday lives. As we go forward into the 2026-27 academic year, we plan to host more student-led events, which we hope will make sustainability not just a meaningful conversation, but a fun and engaging one for the whole Asper community.

Minelle Silva

Minelle Silva.

The Asper School’s accreditation efforts, Positive Impact Rating progression, and research centres like the Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community, are all markers of Asper’s commitment to nurturing sustainability values. You can learn more about community events, curriculum integration, and more on Asper’s sustainability page.