The Online MSc in Sustainability Management at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is now open for applications after having received its accreditation from the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie, NVAO). RSM’s new 24-month programme enables students to study the theoretical foundations of sustainability management at a world-class business school entirely online from wherever they are in the world, and to apply those theories to solve real-world problems and obstacles. The first cohort begins their studies in September 2025.
This new online programme is part of the movement to speed up the transition to a more sustainable economy through management education. The aim of this programme is to create a generation of new thought leaders who can deal with the responsibilities of corporations and businesses in times of global economic, social and environmental challenges.
Associate Professor in the department of Business-Society Management at RSM, Emilio Marti, is the academic director of the programme. The kinds of techniques and skills taught in this new programme come from the most recent research. Prof. Marti has given an example by explaining how he has recently been able to demonstrate how organisations can tell if they are going to be effective at implementing sustainability measures.
Addressing slow progress
“In recent years,” said Prof. Marti, “many companies have implemented an array of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities: they invest in CSR, employ dedicated teams, and produce annual CSR reports. Yet, despite these efforts, the transition to a more sustainable economy is going painfully slowly. Why is progress lagging, even though so many organisations claim they want to make a positive impact on the environment and society?
“A common explanation is greenwashing – companies using superficial CSR efforts to appear sustainable without making substantive changes,” he explained. “Certainly, greenwashing is part of the issue. However, it does not tell the entire story. Some firms genuinely aim to do good but fail to achieve meaningful environmental and societal outcomes. The problem is not always a lack of good intentions – it may be that companies are implementing CSR the wrong way.”
In a blog post for RSM Discovery about his findings, Prof. Marti referred to research in which he and his co-authors identified a key difference between the successful and the less successful attempts at CSR of four multinational companies, and further suggested two main ways in which the companies can foster it. He summarised: “A company’s capacity for CSR experimentation often indicates whether it will be able to deliver the environmental and social impact it purports to create.”
The researchers’ open access paper has also been interpreted as a practitioner summary published on HBR.org. and in a short video.
Insights from research
Using online and hybrid learning and live sessions, these are the kinds of insights from research that will be taught in the new online MSc. Students are expected to commit around 18 hours a week during lecture periods.
For more information about the Online MSc in Sustainability Management, those interested can sign up here to receive updates. For an introduction, watch this first episode in a series of webinar to this programme.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers.
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For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Erika Harriford-McLaren, communications manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at harriford@rsm.nl.
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