Free online short course to discover how
Public expectations are changing around the world about what corporate social responsibility should look like against
the backdrop of COVID-19. Surveys conducted during the pandemic highlight the global resurgence of corporate citizenship
and the shift in opinion of people wanting businesses to focus on measures to help society and people(1) to ensure
social progress, so that no one is left behind as post-pandemic recovery begins.
Certified B Corporations (B Corps), the growing global movement of businesses committed to positively impacting society
and the environment, are at the centre of this.
To support those interested in the global B Corp movement, Media Design School (a B Corp) through its sister school,
Torrens University Australia, in partnership with B Lab Australia and New Zealand (the global non-profit entity that
certifies B Corps) has launched a free online short course that will provide an introduction to the values, processes
and standards that underpin B Corps.
The Championing Organisational Change – Introduction to B Corps course outlines the benefits of certification and provides an overview of the certification process. It encourages
participants to apply B Corp thinking to their role and their business.
The course is offered 100% online and is mobile friendly, allowing participants the flexibility to study anywhere, at
any time, at their own pace. It is run over five modules and there are no entry requirements.
B Corps are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public
transparency and legal accountability in order to balance profit and purpose. B Corps consider their impact on
employees, the physical environment and the community, taking a holistic assessment of their business. They are
accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
There are currently more than 3,500 B Corps globally, with over 300 in Australia and New Zealand (34 of those are in New
Zealand). That number has grown since 2013, when there were around 13 businesses certified as B Corps in Australia and
New Zealand (one in New Zealand).
“COVID-19 has tested businesses in how they treat their stakeholders. As a B Corp, we have a longstanding commitment to
making decisions based on the impact to our students, our employees and society more broadly – not just our shareholders
– and we have remained steadfast in this approach as we’ve addressed the challenges of the pandemic,” said Bryce Ives,
Vice President of Public Affairs at Media Design School and Torrens University Australia, which have been Certified B
Corporations since 2015.
“The societal values that business leaders apply now during the COVID-19 crisis are critical to how businesses will
recover in the future. Our B Corp certification will continue to guide us in understanding and improving our impact in
the ‘new normal’ of business,” Bryce said.
Media Design School and Torrens University’s commitment to change lives through education and make a positive, enduring
impact in the community is demonstrated through the mission: ‘to champion the power of people to connect the world for
good’.
This online short course is among 15 being offered for free by Torrens University Australia until the end of the year.
Since April, more than 15,380 free online short courses have been undertaken, equating to a contribution from the
University of over $2.1 million worth of learning.
To register for Championing Organisational Change – Introduction to B Corps, go to: https://bcorp.torrensonline.com/catalog/info/id:359.
All participants will receive a certificate of completion.
(1) In a global poll conducted by Kekst CNC in June 2020 from a representative sample of 6,000 people in six countries about their environmental, social and governance (ESG)
priorities, consumers were asked to choose between environmental, social and governance issues. While all of these
topics are interconnected, Kekst CNC found that there has been a shift to the ‘S’ of ESG, with a significant proportion
of those polled wanting to see businesses focusing on the measures to help society and people.