Since the inception of the UN-backed PRME initiative in 2007, there has been increased debate over how to adapt management education to train a new generation of business leaders capable of managing the complex demands faced by business and society in the 21st century. While the Six Principles provide a guiding framework, not many schools have successfully demonstrated broad scale implementation yet. The Rio Declaration of the 2012 PRME Global Forum included a call from the PRME community for the creation of a leadership group.

In 2013, PRME launched a two-year pilot group of engaged PRME signatories committed to working collaboratively to develop and promote activities that address shared barriers to making broad scale implementation of sustainability principles a reality. In the 2nd cycle (2016-2017), as leaders in the space of responsible management education, PRME Champions undertook advanced tasks and game changing projects that responded to systemic challenges faced by the PRME community, as well as to key issues identified by the United Nations and the UN Global Compact. In the 3rd Cycle (2018-2019), PRME Champions focused on taking transformative action on integrating the SDGs in curriculum, research and partnerships, with the aim to produce a comprehensive Blueprint for SDG Integration in Business Schools to be made available to the wider PRME community (first version expected end March 2020).

The mission of the PRME Champions group is to contribute to thought and action leadership on responsible management education in the context of the United Nations sustainable development agenda.

In so doing, PRME Champions commit to:

• Work collaboratively to achieve higher levels of performance in transforming business and management education in five key areas: curricula, research, educational frameworks, sustainability-based partnerships, and thought leadership.
• Serve the broader PRME community through active engagement with existing PRME Chapters, PRME Working Groups, Global Compact LEAD, and other global opportunities, as well as to support broader and deeper implementation of sustainability principles in the institutional context of the PRME initiative.
• Contribute to broader UN goals and issues, particularly helping to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2020, the PRME Champions programme enters its 4th cycle and participating institutions have joined a two-year journey of amplifying commitment to the Six PRME Principles and transforming business and management education in support of the SDGs. Guided by the collective work and output from previous Champion cycles and in line with the Champions Mission, the focus of this cycle will be on thought and action leadership, knowledge sharing and peer-learning with the aim of future-proofing participating institutions and demonstrating the impact of their sustainability efforts.

In this flagship PRME programme, faculty members, students and industry leaders will be provided with a safe space for innovative collaborations and a 'living lab' for ambitious new ideas for developing the next generation of sustainability-driven business schools and management-related higher education institutions in support of the SDGs.

Participation in the Champions group enables highly engaged PRME signatories to:

• Be recognised as a thought and/or action leader in the responsible management community: Help to develop and implement "game changing" projects and serve as a sounding board for PRME, Global Compact, and the UN on timely issues, such as the SDGs.
• Collaborate with leading HEIs and UN Global Compact companies on projects that are of value to the PRME community by contributing to the flagship project on the SDGs, and by initiating, engaging with, or leading a PRME Champions sub-project.
• Be recognised as an ambassador for the PRME community: Engage and support local businesses and peer institutions, including by playing a visible role in PRME Chapters, at PRME Regional Meetings, and/or with Global Compact Local Networks. Serve as a role model for the PRME community.
• Receive exclusive access to UN Global Compact meetings: Hear directly from, and interact with companies and their representatives on priority sustainability-related issues.
• Receive preferential access for students to UN Global Compact opportunities, including internships and volunteer opportunities with the PRME Secretariat and the UN Global Compact, as well as PRME related student competitions.