Torrens University Australia, Think Education (AU) and Media Design School (NZ) have been recertified as Certified B Corporations for the third time, confirming their commitment to positively impact the lives of students and staff, to improve communities and environmental impact. The three institutions together form Torrens Global Education, the ANZ arm of Strategic Education, Inc.
The rigorous B Corp certification process recognises for-profit companies who utilise business as a force for good through exacting standards for social and environmental performance. Unlike other certifications for businesses, the B Corp certification is unique because it measures a company's entire social and environmental impact.
Torrens University Australia President and CEO Linda Brown said the recertification as a B Corp demonstrates the university's commitment to continuously improve the impact of the business as an education provider and to produce global graduates who have an intrinsic sense of social responsibility.
"Torrens University Australia was founded with a fundamental belief that profit and purpose go hand in hand. We want to disrupt the traditional models of tertiary education and prove that private enterprise can and should deliver significant public good.
"We are proud to be the only university in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand to be a certified B Corporation and part of the community of over 6000+ certified B Corps globally who have one unifying goal: to redefine success in business," said Ms Brown.
The recertification is recognition of Torrens Global Education's commitment to social and environmental impact through education. This includes AUD $137 million in university scholarships in 2020 and 2021, AUD $2.6 billion economic impact, improving access with 22% of students coming from traditionally underserved populations, having over 275K people accessing free short courses and digital learning during the pandemic, and our Media Design School in Auckland achieving 6 Green Star rating with a design that features recycled rainwater for the living wall, solar panels on the roof and electric vehicle charging points in the carpark
Vice Chancellor, Professor Alwyn Louw said that students benefit from the rigorous academic learning combined with opportunities to gain work experience with social-impact focused industries through Torrens University's Social Enterprise Hub, by completing social entrepreneurship subjects and by being encouraged to enter prestigious, global social enterprise competitions such as Oxford University's Map the System competition.
"B Corp certification is a philosophy that underpins all our courses and approach to research. Our researchers actively use their expertise and knowledge to create positive change in areas such as health, workplace culture, virtual reality, artificial intelligence - and their work is shared with everyone through our Research that Matters podcasts, blogs, and media articles. Our researchers can be instrumental in influencing important changes in policy, which then lead to changes with key people such as doctors and healthcare workers, who play a critical role in improving the lives of many.
"All students are encouraged to become changemakers who think about how they can be part of a solution that balances people, profit and the environment," said Professor Louw.
"Torrens University Australia's certification as a B Corp is a celebration of our commitment to be a profitable and sustainable business that transforms lives through education."
About Torrens University Australia (TUA)
As Australia's fastest-growing university, Torrens University Australia brings a careers-focused and global perspective to Australian higher education. With over 20,000 students from 118+ countries, Torrens University boasts a credible industry-immersive difference for its students and strong research output. Offering high-quality, undergraduate, graduate, and specialised degree programs in a wide range of academic disciplines, Torrens University proudly delivers programs at campuses in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, China and online. As an accredited B Corporation, Torrens University Australia is committed to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
About B Corp
Certified B Corporations™ (also referred to as B Corps™) are for-profit businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corp™ businesses are required to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders, customers, employees, the community, and the environment. B Corp™ companies are accelerating a global cultural shift to redefine success in business and build a more sustainable and inclusive community.
