The Griffith Business School (GBS) is the first Australian university to sign-up to the UN Global Compact Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), leading the way for the advancement of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a new generation of business leaders.
The Principles provide a framework for academic institutions to advance CSR through universal values in curricula and research. Developed by an international taskforce of deans, university presidents and leading business schools, the UNPRME will become the standard for business schools in the development of sustainable business education.
Griffith Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) Professor Michael Powell said the UNPRME membership put a stake in the ground indicating where Griffith stood on the issue.
“The GBS is committed to developing a new generation of business leaders who contribute to the creation of sustainable and inclusive markets,” Professor Powell said.
“Business now necessarily involves a triple bottom-line, where people and planet are important as well as profit. The current concerns over global warming, climate change, drought and floods indicate just how critical it is for business educators to be actively engaged in preparing graduates for this new environment.”
“Signing-up to the UNPRME signifies our leadership on these issues. Our degree programs incorporate courses in CSR and we are embedding sustainability into our curriculum. Furthermore we are making senior appointments with expertise in these areas.”
The GBS also has an active CSR and sustainability research program with numerous academics working in the field, across disciplines, from accounting, finance and economics to tourism, international business, Asian studies and more.
“Through the UNPRME the GBS commits to developing the capabilities of students to be future generators of sustainable value for business and society and to work for an inclusive and sustainable global economy,” Professor Powell said.
“Creating an environment where these skills will be fostered and conducting research to better understand the role, dynamics and impact of corporations in the creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value are part of the principles.”
The UNPRME also involves interacting with businesses to explore solutions for challenges they face in meeting social and environmental responsibilities, and facilitating dialog among educators, business, government and consumers on global social responsibility and sustainability issues.
“The GBS has moved beyond awareness of these issues to action, accommodating the evolving environment of our world and being a catalyst for positive change,” Professor Powell said.
“The GBS wants to be part of a global movement for responsible management education and so is committed to a continuous process of improvement surrounding the UNPRME.”
For further information on the UNPRME visit www.unprme.org