PRME Working Groups

PRME Working Groups deepen collaboration in and across PRME Signatory institutions on specific issues relevant to corporate sustainability, responsibility, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each Working Group brings together educators, faculty, and researchers to advance responsible management education through shared research, dialogue, and resource development.

Working Groups contribute to the PRME community by developing and publishing resources that raise awareness and strengthen knowledge around responsible management education and other thematic areas in business and sustainability.

Over the years, PRME has strengthened the shared purpose and to support deeper collaboration across the global community. This process was grounded in the belief that the Working Groups are most effective when they bring people together, align around a clear mission, and generate meaningful contributions to responsible management education.

This included clearer leadership pathways, more consistent opportunities for engagement, and processes that reflect PRME’s commitment to equality, diversity, and global representation. These updates were designed to help Working Groups collaborate with greater clarity, share knowledge more effectively, and create outcomes that reflect their collective expertise.

PRME has moved forward with a renewed sense of focus and alignment, ready to continue meaningful collaboration with the Working Groups that remain dedicated to the PRME community, the shared global purpose that guides our work, and the thematic issues that define each group. We offer our sincere thanks to all members who contributed their insight and energy throughout this transition, and especially to the Working Group Chairs whose steady leadership supported their communities and advanced this collective effort. Their commitment has strengthened the foundation of the Working Group community, and we look forward to building on this strengthened structure in the years ahead.

All Working Groups are committed to advancing responsible management education within a particular issue area related to the SDGs, while maintaining unique goals. Explore each group below to learn more about their purpose, objectives, engagement opportunities, and developed resources.

PRME Working Groups bring together faculty, staff, and researchers to advance responsible management education around specific thematic areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will be accepting Working Group expressions of interests on a rolling basis starting July 2026.

The following steps outline how to express your interest and begin the community building process:

Develop a Proposal

Start by defining a Working Group theme that is distinct from other existing groups and aligned with PRME’s mission, strategic goals, and relevant SDGs. You may consider inspiration from UN Global Compact issue areas or the SDG Action Groups. The focus or theme of the proposed Working Group which would serve as the Group name or title.

• Proposed objectives or initial priorities (research outputs, resource development, events, or community-building goals, etc.)

• What initial support or commitment (if any) do you have from other PRME Signatories or partners?

• Plan of how you intend to engage and grow the Working Group community.

Submit an Expression of Interest

We are looking for submissions which expand the areas of work that the PRME Working Groups presently cover, with priority for new thought leadership groups, greater geographic diversity, and thoughtful, creative contributions that advance quality education, responsible management education, and sustainable development.

Submissions will be reviewed within one month of being received and the designated point of contact (Chair) will hear back via email from the PRME Secretariat.

Note: The PRME Secretariat will review your proposal and make a determination on whether the proposal will be considered for full WG status. A submission does not guarantee the establishment of a Working Group community. Once the Secretariat confirms the status of the submission, you may continue to the future points of establishment.

Approval

Once your submission is approved, the following steps will take place:

1. Grow Interest and Stakeholder Support: Connect with colleagues, institutions, and relevant experts who share your focus to build a foundational network for your focus area. We encourage leveraging the PRME Common’s Member Directory to identify and connect with potential collaborators.

2. Define Leadership Structure: To ensure effective coordination, clearly define your leadership structure. Identify at least one Chair (two are ideal) who will serve as the primary liaison with the PRME Secretariat. You must establish a steering committee as the primary governance body. You may structure your steering committee as you see fit (ex. potential steering committee roles), but at least 51% of members must represent PRME Signatories. We encourage you to think broadly and inclusively, identifying colleagues from different regions and institutions so that the group begins with global representation and community engagement at its heart.

3. Plan Activities and Outputs: Once your leadership and committee are established, it is time to determine your group's operational plan. Clearly outline how meetings will be conducted and how members will collaborate on an ongoing basis. Develop a strategic overview of key activities for the first year, such as webinars, research initiatives, or educational resources.

4. Sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Steering Committee Code of Conduct (CoC): To move forward as a Working Group, all members of the steering committee and chair(s) must sign the CoC and the Chair(s) must sign the MoU. These resources are designed to guide our shared work with clarity, accountability, and purpose, while ensuring that every Working Group continues to contribute meaningfully to Responsible Management Education (RME) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These documents include:

• Clear expectations for how Working Groups operate, govern themselves, and engage with the Secretariat and broader PRME Community.

• Clear expectations for how the Secretariat will engage, and support the Working Groups to ensure robust infrastructure and communication channels for content alignment and delivery are provided.

• Commitments to inclusivity, transparency, and accountability that ensure our work reflects PRME’s Principles and values.

• Provisions for both individual and group responsibilities, including guidance on leadership transitions and the natural lifecycle of Working Groups.