The Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM) at Leuphana University Lüneburg is an internationally recognized competence centre with more than 20 years of experience in management research and executive education.

An interdisciplinary team analyses causes, structures, and processes of environmental, societal and sustainability problems adopting research methods from management science, entrepreneurship, as well as environmental and sustainability sciences.

Based on this work, the CSM develops concepts for sustainability management and effective sustainability solutions that enable companies to operate within planetary boundaries and to create value for stakeholders, societal well-being, and the natural environment.

The CSM leads the MBA Sustainability Management and offers an extensive range of certificate programmes in corporate sustainability management, as well as bachelor and master programmes at Leuphana university and other universities.

The research conducted by the Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM) is based on the insight that companies and entrepreneurship are key drivers of the sustainability transformation of markets and society. While they contribute to ecological and social problems, they can also actively solve them—for example through sustainable business models, supply chains, or climate strategies.

One focus lies on integrating ecological, social, and economic aspects of business activity and on how organizations can effectively implement sustainability transformations. In this context, “change agents” are at the center of attention: professionals and leaders who shape and embed sustainability in practice. The research examines their motivations, decision logics, and the organizational conditions they operate in in order to identify drivers and barriers and derive practical recommendations for action.

Further research areas include factors influencing sustainable consumption decisions, stakeholder theory, sustainability economics, fundamental theory development in sustainability management, and the integration of sustainability into business management practice.

Another important focus is knowledge transfer: the CSM initiates and supports pilot projects, forums, and practical initiatives related to corporate sustainability.

Building on its research expertise, the CSM offers part-time degree and continuing education programs that provide well-founded knowledge and practice-oriented methods. The goal is to firmly embed sustainability in the core business of companies—as a driving force for innovation, efficiency, and value creation.

MBA Sustainability Management – the world’s first “Green MBA”
The part-time MBA Sustainability Management is the world’s first university-based MBA for sustainability management and corporate responsibility, established in 2003. The program equips students with expertise in corporate sustainability and sustainability management—from analysis to implementation—while also developing soft skills and providing access to a strong professional network.

Certificates of Corporate Sustainability Management – focused, academically grounded, and practice-oriented continuing education
For current fields of action in sustainability management—from supply chains and the circular economy to sustainability reporting and accounting, as well as decarbonization management or sustainability management in sports—the CSM offers a range of part-time certificate programs.

In addition, the CSM has for many years successfully cooperated with the FernUniversität in Hagen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in the field of distance learning and continuing education programs on CSR and sustainability management.