for Sustainable Business

The Foundation for Business and Sustainable Development (FBSD) - a member of the Forum whose name was later changed to The Foundation for Business and Society - was set up in 1996 by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Its goal is to promote understanding amongst businesses worldwide of the principles of sustainable development - showing that it is not only socially responsible to adopt environmentally friendly practices but indeed a key ingredient for competitive success for both multinationals and smaller companies alike in the coming decades.

In 1998 the Foundation started developing distance learning concepts, to take advantage of the vast communication resource offered by the internet.  A conceptual platform for need-based learning - the Virtual University Program - was born.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 150 international companies from more than 30 countries and 20 major industrial sectors - all committed to sustainable development

Its goal is to build a practical development program offering distance learning courses for WBCSD members and other supporters. People can work individually on-demand or in groups - from anywhere at any time. Most importantly, the courses target the culture of business management, with training offered on corporate social responsibility (including how to understand and manage ethical issues).
The project has been endorsed by two prominent business leaders: Phil Watts (Managing director of Royal Dutch/Shell Group) and Lord Holme of Rio Tinto who are using the training program to raise awareness in their companies of the issues involved.

Several members of the WBCSD have agreed to support these efforts by becoming members of the Virtual Learning Consortium.  The founding members of the Consortium are Aventis (Hoechst),  Deloitte & Touche, Dow Chemical, Environmental resource Management,  F. Hoffmann-La Roche, General Motors, Novartis, Sony Corporation, Storebrand and Zurich Insurance.
 
 
To Visit the Virtual University and see latest information about its role,
go to the FBSD website at: www.foundation.no