The prestigious ranking ensures it is the only Australian MBA program within the top 10 in the world and the only Queensland program in the top 40.

“We’ve moved from TSR, total shareholder return, to CSR, corporate social responsibility, and now we’ve arrived at TSI or total societal impact,” MBA Director Associate Professor Stephanie Schleimer said.

“An organisation’s responsibilities and financial returns are closely entwined with the environment.

“We have done a lot of work in the last few years to turn Griffith Business School’s MBA program, traditionally the world’s most corporate degree, into a transformational journey centring on student empowerment to create a better future.

“Achieving the number one ranking in the world two years in a row shows the value of a business education that is focused on sustainability and responsibility and being recognised as the top program out of 147 global MBAs is a wonderful achievement.”

MBA Director Associate Professor Steph Schleimer (Image: Supplied)

To determine the ranking, Corporate Knights examined MBAs, including the 2021 Financial Times 100 Global MBA programs, every program that made the 2020 Top 40 in the Corporate Knights Better World MBA Ranking, and select MBA programs accredited by AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS, and/or signatories of the Principles for Responsible Management Education.

Following COP26, where 25,000 people gathered in Glasgow, including world leaders, negotiators and journalists, Associate Professor Schleimer said business should be leading the charge on sustainability.

“It is no longer enough just to learn the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of corporate sustainability but being proactive about sustainability matters,” she said.

“Our MBA program delivers a ripple effect where our students, already business leaders but also the future change-makers of their sectors, become empowered with the skillsets to make much-needed and genuine change.

Griffith Business School’s MBA program was ranked fifth in the Corporate Knights rankings in 2019 before securing top spot for the first time in 2020.

“Every MBA program in the world should be instilling holistic purpose in leaders, ensuring they have the skills, tools and values to build a more inclusive, healthier economy that’s beneficial to society and in harmony with the natural world, and the Better World business schools are leading the way,” said Toby Heaps, Chief Executive of Corporate Knights.