PRME and oikos International Collaborate to Empower Sustainability Researchers

In an effort to foster innovation and collaboration in the realm of creative pedagogies, PRME and oikos International have partnered to host a new cohort of LEAP Researchers, an oikos program for the joint personal and professional development of early career researchers.

Comprising master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral researchers as well as educators specializing in sustainability, this cohort boasts a diverse representation, with 64 individuals hailing from 42 different nationalities. Selected for their commitment to advancing their understanding of creativity and pedagogy in the context of sustainable development, participants are poised to embark on an enriching journey of shared learning and collaboration.

The LEAP Research Cohort, designed to cultivate connections and facilitate joint learning, will undergo an intensive 8-month program facilitated by oikos International and the PRME Impactful Five (i5) project. Through monthly online sessions, participants will co-create their learning experiences, fostering a supportive environment for exploration and growth.

Central to the program's mission is the empowerment of early-career researchers in addressing pressing sustainability challenges within the realms of economics and management. According to surveys of past LEAP cohorts, many early-career researchers find it difficult to pursue innovative, out-of-the-box research addressing urgent sustainability challenges, especially in these fields. The strategic partnership with i5 equips researchers to be better prepared to tackle these challenges. Through the application of the i5 characteristics—joy, meaning, social interaction, active engagement and iteration—the researchers leave the program with a more holistic skill set, enabling them to explore innovative solutions to complex problems and ultimately fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment to responsible management research.

"Our aim is to inspire a new generation of leaders who are not only well-versed in understanding the deep connections of sustainable development but also equipped to spearhead transformative initiatives within their respective institutions," remarked Dr. Meredith Storey, Senior Manager of the i5 project.

Beyond individual skill development, the LEAP Research Cohort seeks to foster a community of changemakers, united in their dedication to embedding sustainability into the fabric of economic and business education. Participants will emerge from the program equipped not only with enhanced research capabilities but also with a network of like-minded individuals poised to drive positive change on a global scale.

As the cohort embarks on this transformative journey, the collaboration between PRME and oikos International stands as a testament to the power of partnership in advancing sustainability education and research. With this LEAP Researcher Cohort, a new chapter in the pursuit of sustainable development is set to unfold, driven by the passion and dedication of its diverse participants.

Introducing the 2024 cohort of LEAP Researchers:

• Abdyrakhman Sulaimanov, University of Notre Dame

• Abir Sinno, ICN Business School

• Aleksandra Szlachcic, Wrocław University of Economics and Business

• Alex Lew Wen Jie, Chulalongkorn University

• Anna-Zoë Herr, Universität Heidelberg

• Bara’ah Al Shirawi, Franklin University

• Bhagwan Das, Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia

• Chantal Esperance, The University of Nairobi

• Charlotte Griestop, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

• Christine Danner, Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Claire Andaya, Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Crespen (Cris) Ndlovu, University of the Free State

• Curtis Boodoo, The University of Trinidad and Tobago

• Dushyanthi Wijethilake, Université Paris Cité

• Ebru Metin, Tallinn University of Technology

• Edwin Alejandro Hurtado Pimienta, Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Florian Grossmann, UPC Barcelona

• Francesca Hector, Liverpool John Moores/ Alef Trust

• Hasnain Afzal, Università degli studi di Padova

• Ijeoma Priscilla UGWUANYI, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

• Irie Ewers, University of Louisville

• Isabel Wolf-Gillespie, Stellenbosch University

• Jackie Colmar, Harvard University, Extension School

• James Pérez, Universidad de La Sabana

• Joana Ramanauskaitė, Kaunas University of Technology

• Jozef Cossey, KU Leuven

• Juan Andrade Rivera, Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Keerthi Police, ICFAI Business School Hyderabad

• Konstantinos Ploutarchou, University of Nicosia (UNIC)

• Lamin N. Sanneh, University of Graz

• Laura Maria Rodriguez Uribe, University of Leeds

• Leah Moehlig, Harvard University

• Maiwand Qayomi, Université Paris Cité

• Maria Kütt, Tallinn University of Technology, TalTech

• Mariam Farid, German University in Cairo (GUC)

• Marina Schmitz, IEDC-Bled School of Management

• Mehdi Mansour, Université Paris Cité

• Mohammad Hasan Senan, ICN Business School, France

• Mona Al Dana, American University of Beirut + Beirut Arab University

• Muhammad Faisal, Abu Dhabi University, UAE

• Naomi Larasati, University of Sussex

• Ojus Tyagi, South Asian University

• Oussama Chaabouni, University of Leeds

• Roberto Ruiz, Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Sachin Gulati, Indian School of Business (Last Completed Qualification)

• Sadie Walton, Liverpool John Moores University

• Saja Al Addasi , Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Saloni Sinha, Birla Institute of Management Technology, Gr Noida

• Sarah Williams, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

• Simone Cornelsen, FGV - Fundação Getúlio Vargas

• Sinead Mellett, University of Limerick

• Stefano Turrini, University of Wuppertal (application for a phd in progress)

• Tatjana Minulla, HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration & Technical University Berlin

• Thérèse Peterschmitt, TH Köln

• Tracey Edwards, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

• Vera Betz, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

• Victoria Yavorskaya, University of Graz

• Vinayak Sharma, University of Exeter, UK

• Virginie Cauderay, University of Potsdam

• Yash Arya, Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)

• Youmna Soliman El-Sherbiny, German University in Cairo (GUC)

• Yuri Rezende Tavares, Cologne University of Applied Sciences

• Yusuf Armayau, Bayero University Kano

• Yuxi Zhao, Concordia University