Revolutionizing Responsible Management Education: Introducing the PRME Commons Digital Platform

NEW YORK, 28 March 2024 - Today, the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) launched their innovative digital platform, the PRME Commons. This new platform will serve as a self-reporting database for business schools globally to track and enhance the transformation of their teaching, research and thought leadership in alignment with the Seven Principles of PRME, which embody the core values of sustainability, responsibility, and ethics. Backed by the United Nations and initiated in 2007, PRME's commitment to digital transformation marks a significant stride towards integrating sustainable development across higher education institutions.

A comprehensive portrait of the business school landscape and its strides toward sustainability will be available, utilizing self-reported data from over 800 business schools across the globe who have signed onto PRME, known as Signatory Members. Previously, Signatory Members uploaded PDFs of their required Sharing Information on Progress (SIP) reports - static and locked documents which posed challenges in tracking progress and fostering collaborative learning amongst Members. Now, PRME Commons introduces dynamic SIP reporting which not only streamlines annual reporting but also encourages an interactive exchange of knowledge and best practices among institutions.

SIP reports have also been restructured alongside the launch of PRME Commons. At the foundation of the new SIP report is a questionnaire designed to gauge each institution's commitment to the Principles. The reporting framework encourages schools to support their questionnaire responses with a variety of "objects" - ranging from policy documents to event summaries and multimedia content. These, alongside descriptive narratives, offer a rich, multi-dimensional view of how principles are being actualized, facilitating a deeper, more nuanced sharing of insights and achievements for enhancing teaching practices.

“PRME’s Sharing Information on Progress (SIP) reporting is a vital component of what it means to be a Signatory to the Principles of Purpose, Values, Teach, Research, Partnership, Practice, and Sharing. These are the ties that bind our wonderful PRME community in the pursuit of business education for a better world. In easing the exchange of knowledge, the new PRME Commons will only help to amplify and leverage the best of teaching, learning and research for our community.”

• Andrew Karolyi, Dean, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business; Vice-Chair, PRME Advisory Board

Beyond serving as a digital repository, PRME Commons will be a vibrant hub for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Distancing itself from the competitive frameworks that often foster competition and rank business schools, PRME seeks to cultivate a culture of shared growth and mutual learning. This ethos underscores the belief that achieving sustainable development is a shared mission, transcending individual institutional achievements in favor of collective progress. By championing a collaborative culture, PRME Commons aims to harness the collective experiences of its diverse members to address complex global challenges and drive positive change in management education and practice. PRME eagerly anticipates the forthcoming rollout of the collaborative feature slated for August.

By integrating diverse perspectives, real-world examples, and practical applications of the Principles, the SIP reporting in PRME Commons will support educators with the resources to weave sustainable development themes into their curricula and pedagogy. Ultimately, this digital platform serves as a valuable tool for building a sense of community among educators, students, and practitioners alike, aligning business and management education more closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering a culture of responsible leadership within business and management education.

About PRME

The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 that aims to raise the profile of sustainability in their classrooms through Seven Principles focused on serving society and safeguarding our planet. As a voluntary initiative with over 800 signatories worldwide, PRME has become the largest organized relationship between the United Nations and management-related higher education institutions.

Media Inquiries:

Cheyenne Maddox

Senior Manager for Communications, PRME

maddox@unglobalcompact.org