The Principles For Responsible Management Education (PRME)

The Principles for ResponsibleManagement Education (PRME)“Transforming business and managementeducation to achieve the United NationsSustainable Development Goals”

Introducing the Principles forResponsible Management EducationWhat is PRME?The Six PrinciplesThe Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a United Nations-supportedinitiative founded in 2007 as a platform to raise the profile of sustainability in schoolsaround the world, and to equip today’s business students with the understanding and abilityto deliver change tomorrow.PurposeAs a voluntary initiative with over 650 signatories worldwide, PRME has become thelargest organised relationship between the United Nations and management-related highereducation institutions.ValuesWorking through Six Principles, PRME engages business and management schools to ensurethey provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic and sustainabilitygoals, while drawing attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligningacademic institutions with the work of the UN Global Compact.MethodPRME’s Mission and VisionResearchBusiness and management schools play a key role in shaping the mindsets and skills offuture leaders, and can be powerful drivers of corporate sustainability. PRME’s mission is totransform academic institutions to become advocates for an inclusive and sustainable globaleconomy by incorporating values of business responsibility and sustainability into theirteaching, research, and thought leadership.Our vision is to realise the Sustainable Development Goals through responsible managementeducation.PartnershipDialogueGovernance of PRMEPRME is governed, along with the UN Global Compact, by the main business schoolaccreditation bodies and specialised regional associations: AACSB, EFMD, AMBA, CEEMAN,AABS, CLADEA, ABIS, ACBSP, and GRLI. Strategic advice is provided by individuals within thePRME community, in particular through the PRME Advisory Committee, as well as duringGlobal Fora held every two years.2

Our Global Network650 Signatories84Countries14Regional Chapters7Issue-areaWorking GroupsWhy Join?Higher education institutions that become signatory to PRME are joining a powerful and growing movementto embed principles of sustainability, ethics and responsibility into business and management education.Schools are provided a United Nations-supported framework for systemic transformation that enables themto become sustainability leaders.Faculty and staff in PRME institutions gain access to a dynamic global platform of thought leaders andlearning communities that collaborate on projects, research and events, and address the complex challengesfaced by business and society in the 21st century.Crucially, students from PRME signatories are exposed to sustainability and ethics in their courses andresearch - a key feature of employment in many of the most successful global businesses, and a demandfrom current students worldwide.EligibilityPRME is a voluntary initiative open to higher education institutions regardless ofsize, location or level of engagement with sustainability topics.Institutions that wish to join must be: Publicly recognised (i.e. legal/government recognition)Degree grantingIn addition, prospective signatories must submit a Letter of Commitment signed bytheir institution’s highest executive to demonstrate top-down support for PRME.3

How to EngageShare Information on ProgressThe only requirement for signatories to PRME is the submission of a Sharing Informationon Progress (SIP) report once every two years. As its name suggests, the SIP report is acommunication to stakeholders -- faculty, staff, students, partners, and the public -- ofthe progress made implementing the Six Principles in teaching, research, and thoughtleadership. For more information about the SIP Policy, visit this page.Become an Advanced SignatorySignatories to PRME are divided into two categories: Basic and Advanced. Basic signatoriesare compliant with the SIP Policy, and have limited engagement with the PRMEcommunity. Advanced signatories are compliant with the SIP policy, but also make anominal contribution to the Annual Service Fee. This contribution entitles a signatory toadvanced engagement and leadership opportunities within the PRME community. For moreinformation on the fee structure and the opportunities, view this resource.Join a Thematic Working GroupPRME facilitates thoughtful research and collaboration through thematic Working Groupsexploring issues like poverty, anti-corruption, climate change, gender quality, peace, humanrights, and sustainability. Join a PRME Working Group today to learn about the most cuttingedge research into these critical focus areas. For more information, visit this link.Learn from Regional ChaptersPRME Chapters are regional platforms that advance the Six Principles of PRME within aparticular geographic context, performing an important role underscoring the diverseglobal network of different national, regional, cultural and linguistic academics. Chaptersalso facilitate the growth and engagement of PRME with respect to implementing the SixPrinciples. View the regional PRME Chapters and their activities here.Student EngagementInvolving students and youth will be crucial for achieving the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals. Today’s business and management students will be the leaders of tomorrow, and theirrole will be pivotal in tackling the challenges of the 21st century. The recently launchedPRME SDG Student Engagement Platform empowers students to support and advance theSDGs by proactively identifying, analysing, and sharing the sustainability achievements ofcompanies’ activities and business operations. More information will be launched soon!Learn from PeersPRME is a learning community. With a wide variety of institutions as signatories, each hasa different story, program or accomplishment to tell, always with different challenges andoutcomes. Learn about some great examples from PRME schools in our widely-acclaimedblog, PRiMEtime!4

Implementing the Six PrinciplesPrinciple 1 PurposeWe will develop capabilities of students to be future generators of sustainable value for business andsociety at large and to work for an inclusive and sustainable global economy.ExampleInclude sustainability language in your institution’s vision or mission.Principle 2 ValuesWe will incorporate into our academic activities and curricula the values of global social responsibility asportrayed in international initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact.ExampleAssess how ethical values are assimilated into the culture of the institution.Principle 3 MethodWe will create educational frameworks, materials, processes and environments that enable effectivelearning experiences for responsible leadership.ExampleDevelop or expand courses, programs or degrees that focus on sustainability and ethics.Principle 4 ResearchWe will engage in conceptual and empirical research that advances our understanding about the role,dynamics, and impact of corporations in the creation of sustainable social, environmental and economicvalue.ExampleEstablish a research team, centre or unit exploring trends in business ethics.Principle 5 PartnershipWe will interact with managers of business corporations to extend our knowledge of their challenges inmeeting social and environmental responsibilities and to explore jointly effective approaches to meetingthese challenges.ExampleInitiate a joint project with new stakeholders in business, civil society, and academia.Principle 6 DialogueWe will facilitate and support dialog and debate among educators, students, business, government,consumers, media, civil society organisations and other interested groups and stakeholders on criticalissues related to global social responsibility and sustainability.ExampleWork with student organisations on PRME-related topics.5

The PRME Steering CommitteeCall or Email for More InformationPRME SecretariatFoundation for the Global Compact685 3rd Avenue, 12th FloorNew York, NY 10017United Statesinfo@unprme.org (212) 907-1349Join TodayTo join, fill out this short online form and attachthe signed Letter of Commitment from yourinstitution’s highest executive.www.unprme.org6

dynamics, and impact of corporations in the creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value. Example Establish a research team, centre or unit exploring trends in business ethics. We will interact with managers of business corporations to extend our knowledge of their challenges in