Business, management schools and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) convened at the 2017 Global Forum for Responsible Management Education – 10 Years of PRME, of the UN-supported Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative, held at UN Headquarters and Fordham University in New York City from 18-19 July 2017. Here, they reaffirmed their commitment to the role that responsible management education has in society towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN PRME serves as an interface between the United Nations and business schools worldwide, with the goal of the integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into curriculum development. The Forum took place in conjunction with the United Nations High-Level Political Forum and the UN Global Compact Annual Forum. Representatives from government, civil society, business, NGOs and business schools from all over the world attended.
Outcomes Declaration
At the conclusion of the conference, attendees outlined a road map for responsible management education for the future based on their perception and evaluation of the global situation and challenges.
Their vision and outlook for 2030—in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals—is a world where extreme poverty is eradicated, all human beings are able to fulfil their potential in dignity and equality, the human rights of all are realized, gender equality is achieved, the planet is protected from degradation, urgent action has been taken on climate change and to achieve net-zero emissions in the second half of this century, and all live in peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. Business and management education will be designed to help make this new reality happen and sustain it into the future.
Participant reactions
Michael Leeds
Leeds keynoted the closing session of the conference, "PRME's Next Decade,” where he highlighted some of the main learnings of the 2017 Global Annual Forum and provided his reflections on a vision for the future of responsible management education, the next phase of UN PRME.
As the named gift donor of the Leeds School of Business, Leeds is president of FlightStar, Inc. and a board member of the Leeds School and the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR). Considered the “ideal closer” by the United Nations Global Compact Office, he shared his accomplishments in the responsible management education field and his commitment to integrating corporate social responsibility and ethics into the fabric of business schools.
Leeds remarked, “Engaging the transformation of business in society was our original goal in late 2001 when I began my partnership with the University of Colorado’s college of business, now the Leeds School of Business.”
In looking forward to the evolution of business schools over the next decade, Leeds said, “It will be a decade where there’s an outside-in orientation, where curriculum development and course delivery will be structured in relation to the most pressing problems we face as a species, problems captured by the SDGs.”
Mark Meaney, UN PRME Chapter North America Chapter Chairperson and executive director of the Center for Education on Social Responsibility at the Leeds School, attended as well.
About the UN PRME Global Annual Forum
The high-level Global Forum explores major themes in the responsible management education community, taking stock of a decade of achievements of PRME, and developing a roadmap for the future of business and management education by bringing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into classrooms worldwide.
Speakers included leaders from business, civil society, academia and the United Nations who helped to identify global trends in sustainable development and corporate sustainability and highlight the role of educators.
About PRME
The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative is the first organized relationship between the United Nations and business schools. Launched in 2007, the PRME initiative provides an engagement framework based on universal values and the goal to inspire and champion responsible management education, research and thought leadership globally. To date, over 650 leading academic institutions from 85 countries have joined this vibrant learning community.
CESR and PRME
CESR Executive Director Mark Meaney chairs PRME's North America Chapter. Learn more about the chapter.