The 3^rd Global Forum will bring together leaders in academia with leaders in business, government, and civil society, to discuss and identify best practices on how to integrate sustainability and responsibility into management education. The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative facilitates change, inspiring and recognizing educational institutions that embed corporate responsibility and sustainability into their mainstream curriculum - thereby producing business leaders equipped to manage the complex challenges facing business and society. Since its launch in 2007, over 400 institutions have signed up to PRME and have been implementing change to their curriculum. Inspiring examples will be presented at the forum, including the Hong Kong Baptist University School of Business, China.

“Based on our experience, the student-centered activities, such as organizing and hosting international inter-university competitions and intra-university open debates, are effective in raising students’ awareness of the importance of PRME. We motivate our students and engage them in research on topics related to responsible management. This is also in line with the education philosophy of our School of Business – “Whole-Person Business Education” – as we prepare our students to become well-rounded, value-conscious business graduates and future leaders” explains Stephen Y. L. Cheung, Dean, School of Business and Professor (Chair) of Finance, Hong Kong Baptist University.

PRME signatory schools and universities have been working innovatively to improve responsible management worldwide. At the 3^rd Global Forum, working groups will be showcasing their achievements including the development and promotion of the Women’s Empowerment Principles; the changing of curricula to include anti-corruption content; the advancement of research on the relationship between management education and poverty reduction; and the encouragement of cross-sector partnerships.

The 3^rd Global Forum will take place as part of the Global Compact Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum and as the official side meeting for the management education sector at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). At Rio+20, governments will discuss and build a consensus on how best to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability. Registration for the 3^rd Global Forum is by invitation only for signatories of PRME and academic participants of the UN Global Compact. To be eligible, institutions can sign up to PRME and/or the Global Compact. Additionally, all institutions of higher education are encouraged to play their part by signing the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative for Rio+20 declaration.

By teaching current and future business leaders, management educators are uniquely positioned to facilitate the transition to a sustainable future. Indeed, as the business sector increasingly demands an understanding of sustainability, educational institutions must adapt in order to produce graduates equipped for a changing business environment.

Background Information

• PRME was initially developed in collaboration between the United Nations Global Compact and representatives of business education. The Six Principles were first unveiled at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in July 2007.
• There are currently over 400 organizations signed up to the PRME initiative, listed here.
• The agenda of the 3^rd Global Forum for Responsible Management Education can be viewed here
• The outcomes of the 3^rd Global Forum will feed into the Global Compact Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
• Higher Education Institutions can sign the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative for Rio+20 declaration