PRME Recognizes Global Student Leaders Advancing Sustainability through Innovation and Impact

PRME, an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, announced the Global Winner and Finalists of the 2026 PRME Students Sustainability Awards and 2026 PRME Students Innovation Studio during the 2026 PRME Student Summit, as part of Responsible Management Education (RME) Week at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business in Cairo, Egypt.

Together, these initiatives celebrate the next generation of responsible leaders who are advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through student leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

2026 PRME Students Sustainability Awards

PRME was thrilled to announce Beta Alpha Psi Xi Epsilon, also known as BAP Monash, from Monash Business School in Australia, as the Global Winner of the 2026 PRME Students Sustainability Awards. The Awards recognize student organizations from PRME Signatory Members for their leadership, creativity, and impact in advancing sustainability, responsible management education, and the SDGs.

Beta Alpha Psi Xi Epsilon was selected as the Global Winner of the PRME Students Sustainability Awards for its strong “learning-through-impact” model, which connects professional development in accounting and finance with direct social impact through initiatives such as Cause Consulting. The jury recognized the organization for demonstrating how students can apply business and financial skills to support community partners, advance the SDGs, and model ethical, inclusive, and socially responsible leadership in practice.

Utter Rubbish from Keele Business School in the United Kingdom was recognized as the 2026 Global Runner-Up. The initiative was commended for its creative use of behavioural science, digital innovation, and sustainability education to help students move from awareness to measurable action. Through its platform and app, Utter Rubbish supports students in building sustainable habits and has demonstrated strong potential for scale across institutions and communities.

PRME Students received submissions from over 15 countries. Many of the submissions showcased examples of activities that highlight the student organization’s innovative approach to student agency and how it has incorporated the SDGs and responsible management concepts into its goals and actions while driving change in the university ecosystem, serving local and regional communities, and impacting other stakeholders.

REGIONAL WINNERS:

• Africa: Strathmore Environmental Sustainability Community (Strathmore University)

• East and Southeast Asia: Business Management Society (Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business)

• Europe: Utter Rubbish (Keele Business School)

• Latin America: Agents of Change: From Waste to Learning, from Action to Impact (Universidad Privada del Norte)

• Middle East: Sustainability Committee (S P Jain School of Global Management PTE LTD)

• North America: Enactus Guelph (Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics)

• Oceania: Beta Alpha Psi Xi Epsilon (Monash Business School)

• South and Central Asia: FIIB Girl Up Club (Fortune Institute of International Business)

2026 PRME Students Innovation Studio Winner and Finalists

PRME also celebrated the winner and finalists of the inaugural PRME Students Innovation Studio, supported by Project Management Institute (PMI) and FyrstGen, and designed with the District 3 Innovation at Concordia University and Deakin Business School, Deakin University as Knowledge and Strategic Partners.

The six-week global incubator brought together 38 interdisciplinary student teams from 21 countries, providing mentorship, business development support, and entrepreneurial training before six finalist teams pitched their ventures live at the PRME Global Forum.

First Place

KAWSAYCORE from INCAE Business School was awarded US$30,000 in seed funding for their developed biopolymer-based fertilizer coating that improves nutrient efficiency while reducing environmental damage caused by agricultural runoff.

KAWSAYCORE was selected as the winner of the PRME Students Innovation Studio for its innovative and practical approach to improving agricultural sustainability through a biodegradable fertilizer delivery solution. The jury recognized the venture for its strong potential to increase nutrient efficiency, improve crop yields, and reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer use while offering a scalable solution connected to food systems, climate action, and responsible business.

Student team:

• Raúl Ulate Sancho

• Samuel Garzón

• Sofía de los Ángeles

• Marín Rivera

• Andrea Garcia

Runner-Up

Fainin from the University of Hamburg, led by Maximilian Lehmann, received US$15,000 in seed funding.

Fainin is a trust-enabled sharing marketplace that helps businesses and communities increase product utilization by renting and lending underused items rather than purchasing new ones.

Finalists

Mifie, Newcastle Business School
Team: Armel Konan, Nojood Alaqeel, Ashlene Robinson, Ismael Akoumou
A micro-investment platform enabling small investors to fund climate-smart farming projects while improving farmers' access to capital.

Healink, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®
Team: Helin Hussein, Matthias Hansen, Jannis Pohl, Benedikt Grosser
A MedTech Startup that measures glucose levels accurately non-invasive, the first worldwide.

Freshelf, Newcastle University
Team: Esraa Omnia, Shu Li, Muhammad Shafiqul Hoq Akand
An AI-powered visual inspection tool that identifies potato spoilage early to reduce food waste across supply chains.

Cleanvestia, Strathmore University Business School
Team: Lewis Sange, Ian Omwenga, Preston Ndegwa, Hope Wanjohi
A digital marketplace connecting waste collectors, recyclers, and manufacturers to improve recycling efficiency while creating new income opportunities.

The session concluded with a celebration of the creativity, collaboration, and determination demonstrated by all participating teams, in addition to announced plans to expand the PRME Students Innovation Studio in 2027, with the goal of doubling its global reach and impact.

PRME congratulates all of the students, organizations, mentors, judges, and partners who made this year's Awards and Innovation Studio a success and looks forward to continuing to support the next generation of responsible leaders driving sustainable change around the world.