CPI wins environmental business education award

It is the first time in the award's 27-year history, that a Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE) Award has been presented to a university. The award was presented at a ceremony on the 29th January by the Rt Hon Margaret Beckett and President of the scheme, Sir Anthony Cleaver.

Sir Anthony says:
"BCE has been a trailblazer in the promotion of the environment as a fundamental part of business management for over a quarter of a century. Through its awards it continues to highlight excellence, innovation and enthusiasm for the environment within British business."

The University of Cambridge Programme for Industry runs several cutting edge programmes and events for environment and sustainability education in the corporate sector, working with partners and associates from all over the world. Polly Courtice, Director of the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry, comments:
"Education and training is vital if industry is going to be able to respond effectively to the sustainable development challenge, and the BCE scheme is helping to highlight this. We are delighted that the University's contribution is being recognised in this way, and hope that the award will encourage the development of further educational provision for the business community."

Founded in 1988, CPI is now an integral part of University's lifelong learning provision and pioneers closer links with business, industry and the professions. CPI's activities are divided into four divisions: executive education, professional development, e-learning and sustainability education.

Major projects within these divisions include the hugely successful Prince of Wales's Business & the Environment Programme, with its alumni network of over 550 people from 300 organisations. The Business & the Environment Programme for senior executives, running since 1994, holds annual seminars in the UK, Europe and the US, and will soon be holding its first South African seminar in January 2003. CPI also runs a series of seminars for BP senior executives on the BP Cambridge Executive Programme.

In addition to these projects, CPI also runs a number of accredited courses, such as the Diploma in Inter-Cultural Management, and the Sustainability Learning Networks Programme. In March this year, the Postgraduate Certificate in Cross-Sector Partnerships is to be launched, a programme to train those in business, government and NGOs to promote and manage collaboration across sectors.