A partnership between Brock University’s Goodman School of Business and the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) has earned the School a prestigious award.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has recognized the partnership as part of their Innovations That Inspire initiative. The collaboration, Local Roots, Global Reach, allows students the opportunity to gain a global business perspective while addressing community issues during a co-op work term with a United Nations agency.

Goodman is the only Canadian business school recognized this year out of 24 initiatives from around the world.

“The Goodman School of Business has embraced the call to create positive societal impact and it is our privilege to recognize Local Roots, Global Reach among the 2021 Innovations That Inspire initiatives,” said Caryn Beck-Dudley, AACSB President and CEO.

The program consists of a paid internship at a United Nations agency outside of Canada that is open to all Goodman undergraduate and graduate co-op students. Goodman students can work in any country that has a UN agency for an eight-month economic development work term.

The partnership was motivated by Goodman’s desire to provide learning opportunities that focused on sustainable development, local economic growth and impacting society in meaningful ways beyond the boardroom, said Goodman Dean Andrew Gaudes.

“I believe our school is truly contributing to a global need and that in itself is an award,” said Gaudes. “To be recognized by AACSB, a respected organization which has accredited more than 900 business schools worldwide, provides a grace note on an already beautiful piece of work.”

Recent grad Ahmed Jawa (BBA ’20) got to experience the impact of this partnership first-hand. During his work term with the United Nations Development Program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he evaluated the success of landmine removal projects, introduced silk production back to local farmers and promoted the rapid growth of modernized industrial projects.

The work he did not only made a significant difference in Cambodia, but also changed him as a person.

“The experience will grow you personally more than you can think,” said Jawa, who now works as a Business Consultant at IBM. “You are never going to get a chance to work on projects that are this big and this valuable, not just for economic growth but also for the people. The societal impact changes you.”

As placements with UN organizations are typically unpaid internships, Goodman students are paid for their work through a collaboration with Brock’s Co-op Education office and support from Goodman made possible by a legacy gift from the Goodman Family Foundation.