Celebrating Business Leaders in Sustainability: SUMAS Graduation 2024

What Happened at the SUMAS Graduation 2024?

On Friday 6 July 2024, the SUMAS graduating class of 2024 gathered at the SUMAS headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, to officially mark the completion of their degrees. The Sustainability Management School (SUMAS) brought together graduating students, faculty, families and staff to celebrate the milestone in person at the school's Lake Geneva campus. The 2024 cohort spanned every level of study offered by SUMAS, from undergraduate to doctoral candidates. The ceremony recognized the academic achievement of each graduate while underlining a shared purpose that defines the school: preparing professionals who treat sustainability not as an add-on, but as a core business discipline. For many graduates, the day in Gland represented the transition from structured study to professional practice in sustainability management across sectors and regions.

Which Programs Did the 2024 Graduates Represent?

The SUMAS graduating class of 2024 represented the full academic range of the Sustainability Management School, from first degrees through to doctoral research. Graduates completed programs at the following levels:

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) graduates, building foundational management skills oriented toward sustainability.
• Master's graduates, deepening expertise in sustainability strategy, reporting and operations.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduates, combining advanced management training with a sustainability focus.
• Doctorate (DBA) candidates, advancing applied research in sustainability management.

Why Does a SUMAS Graduation Matter?

A SUMAS graduation matters because it marks the moment when a new group of sustainability-literate professionals enters the workforce ready to lead. The Sustainability Management School positions sustainability as central to sound management rather than a peripheral concern, so each graduating cohort carries that conviction into the organizations they join. Across the 2024 class, graduates leave equipped to connect environmental, social and governance priorities with commercial decision-making. The Gland ceremony recognized this dual capability: graduates trained both as competent managers and as advocates for responsible, low-impact business practice. As organizations face rising expectations from regulators, investors and customers on sustainability performance, the demand for managers who can translate those expectations into action continues to grow, and the SUMAS class of 2024 steps directly into that need.

How Does SUMAS Support Graduates After the Ceremony?

SUMAS supports its graduates beyond the graduation ceremony through an international alumni network and a portfolio of programs that span every career stage. The Sustainability Management School draws students from many countries to its campuses in Gland, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy, creating a global community that graduates remain part of after completing their studies. For prospective students inspired by the class of 2024, SUMAS offers pathways from undergraduate BBA degrees through to MBA and doctoral (DBA) study, alongside continuing-education options. Whether someone is starting an undergraduate journey or returning for advanced study while working, the school's programs are designed to build the management capabilities and sustainability fluency that employers increasingly require. Graduation marks a milestone, not an endpoint, in a longer trajectory of sustainability leadership.