Numerous studies highlight a significant gap in sustainable finance and impact investing education in business school programs. While this is being addressed in select specialized programs such as the UVic MBA in Sustainable Innovation, there is a lack of experiential learning opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to develop future talent in this field. For example, student-managed funds are great opportunities for students to gain investment skills. However, our analysis of existing student managed funds in more than 30 Canadian universities reveals that less than a quarter of these funds incorporate some form of ESG principles and the number is even smaller when it comes to impact investing. Other experiential learning opportunities such as case challenges in sustainable finance and impact investing are also lacking in Canada.
Talent Labs
Filling the experiential learning gap in impact investing
Collaborate on a experiential learning program
We welcome the opportunity to collaborate on new experiential learning opportunities for students. Please reach out if you have a project idea related to our focus areas that can benefit from student involvement. In the past, we have collaborated on various projects for students with Foresight Canada, Alacrity Canada, Scale Collaborative, Rhiza Capital, Capital Investment Network, BCCA, UVic Treasury, Ocean Networks Canada, BC Housing, etc.
Our goal
The Hub aims to leverage our connections across UVic and with the larger community to offer students targeted experiential learning opportunities in impact investing. Experiential learning provides students with hands-on experience in identifying, assessing, and investing in companies that generate positive social and environmental outcomes, alongside financial returns. It also help students develop their professional network in the impact investing field, including connections with mentors, peers, and potential employers. We also aim to engage students in our action-driven research allowing them to work closely with community partners and students in other disciplines on various research projects led by the Hub to gain deeper knowledge in topics related to our focus areas. Other experiential learning opportunities will be explored in collaboration with our partners and supporters.
The Hub contributes to advancing UVic’s Strategic Priorities to intensify dynamic learning by providing students with the opportunity to engage in, and be recognized for work-integrated learning, community-engaged research, and other forms of active learning.
Related Resources
Canadian student managed funds
ESG & impact standards, frameworks, and initiatives
University case competitions
Our intitatives
Impact Investing Summer School
Gain ESG-Impact Investing Experience in Private Markets
