Assessing progress in implementing UN PRME: international perspectives and lessons from South Africa

Abstract

As of August 2013 there were 506 organizations, mainly business schools and universities that had signed the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME). From South Africa, eight universities were signatories. At the center of PRME are issues pertaining to corporate responsibility, sustainable development and sustainability. In a world that has defined a future it wants drawing from the concept of green economy in the context of sustainable development, PRME is more relevant today and into the future than was envisaged during its launch in 2007. Drawing from publicly available information, this paper serves as a dip stick in assessing progress made by selected PRME members internationally and from South Africa. The findings reveal major breakthroughs across the six principles, especially in reorienting curricula, delivery methods, research and developing win-win partnerships and dialoguing platforms. There are business schools that have moved from establishing standalone modules addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to mainstreaming ESG aspects across the whole spectrum of programmes offered and wholly transforming business schools ethos towards sustainability. Teaching methods are migrating from traditional chalk and talk, case studies and syndicate approaches to hidden curricula that, in addition to drawing from traditional teaching approaches; embraces experiential, reflexive and action oriented learning methods. To take ESG issues further, some business schools have revamped their governance and put in place sustainability policies assisting them to walk the talk. Examples of business schools having climate change and energy management policy statements confirmed this business unusual transition.