Engage student brains

Part of a broader strategy for a corporation should be to engage their sustainability practice with local Universities.  Nike found it’s famous “just do it” logo and statement by leveraging the fresh nubile minds of higher ed.  Why not challenge those minds with corporate sustainability data to come up with game changing approaches, ideas and opportunities?   When a corporation has an on-demand sustainability software solution it can engage outside resources for analysis and contribution.  Of course standard NDA’s should apply between students and companies and the assignments structured for optimal outcomes.  When you mull this over it is easy to see the “win” cases.  The university gets to deal with real world data and problem solving directly impacting the local communities.  The student gains valuable real world experience.  The company gets cheap – if not free – brains looking into it’s sustainability practice.  Finally, the over-all we move the conversation of sustainability more into finding opportunities – rather than creating costs – issuing reprimands or the ages old play to change minds about  taking care of the environment.  Since a sustainability practice is more than just environmental a broader subject matter expert student body can be embraced.   In fact, maybe any balanced doctorate program should include some form of sustainability contribution/link on that subject matter.   Now that is some good “grist for the mill”.