University of Vermont students were given the chance to put sustainable and impact investing theory into practice, thanks to a practicum project with money manager Global Evolution.
Emerging and frontier markets specialist Global Evolution, which has $5 billion in assets under management, partnered with the university's sustainable innovation MBA program to offer students a chance for hands-on experience.
Two students also worked with research director Ole Hagen Jorgensen at the firm's headquarters in Kolding, Denmark, for a week, developing recommendations to enhance Global Evolution's environmental, social and governance model and offering strategies in North America, where the firm is expanding.
University of Vermont is the alma mater of Robert Morier, New York-based managing director and head of North America at Global Evolution. Mr. Morier said in an interview that he remains close with the university and "wanted to contribute to the business school's growing sustainable business program."
Mr. Morier said the two students also worked on ways Global Evolution could improve on individual identifiers for ESG and sustainability as well as a "more consultative project" for which they helped improve the ESG process and assisted with the expansion of Global's North America subsidiary, which opened in July 2016.
"We went into it a little bit blind as we had never participated in the program, and (this is) the first time we have engaged in this type of initiative. I think this is going to be a long-term strategic partnership for Global Evolution and the University of Vermont," Mr. Morier added.
