Principles for Responsible Management Education
The United Nations’ initiative on the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) aims to support transformative change in management and business higher education institutions (HEI) internationally, and the University of Stirling Management School is proud to be an advanced signatory of PRME.
PRME is a network of business and management schools sharing best practice in promoting responsible management education. Its main goal is to support institutions in preparing future managers, professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs to engage in economic activities in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Advanced signatory
As a PRME advanced signatory, the University of Stirling Management School (SMS) shares these values through teaching, research and public engagement. For example, the SMS has revised its undergraduate and postgraduate courses to include different pathways for an innovative and engaging education in business. We also have a particular focus on responsible business, and teach this as a core element in all our courses.
Furthermore, the Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living (CSPL) is a collaborative initiative between the University of Stirling’s Management School and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. CSPL brings together the public sector, academic research, business and environmental organisations to work collaboratively with sectors and communities towards a more sustainable future and a low carbon economy.
SMS is committed to advance the PRME Principles
Purpose
We will develop the capabilities of students to be future generators of sustainable value for business and society at large and to work for an inclusive and sustainable global economy.
Values
We will incorporate into our academic activities and curricula the values of global social responsibility as portrayed in international initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Method
We will create educational frameworks, materials, processes and environments that enable effective learning experiences for responsible leadership.
Research
We will engage in conceptual and empirical research that advances our understanding about the role, dynamics, and impact of corporations in the creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value.
Partnership
We will interact with managers of business corporations to extend our knowledge of their challenges in meeting social and environmental responsibilities and to explore jointly effective approaches to meeting these challenges.
Dialogue
We will facilitate and support dialogue and debate among educators, students, business, government, consumers, media, civil society organisations and other interested groups and stakeholders on critical issues related to global social responsibility and sustainability.
Operations
Stirling Management School is part of the University of Stirling, which endorses sustainability in its foundations. The University’s vision is summarised as: “To be recognised across the world as a University that addresses the needs of society through innovative interdisciplinary research; learning and teaching of the highest quality; and by sharing our knowledge with the world.”
Our commitments
PRME signatories such as SMS are committed to regularly report on their engagement with and progress with respect to the advancement of the PRME Principles. For a detailed account of the Stirling Management School’s engagement with the PRME Principles please see the below reports:
PRME news
New research publication on marine plastic pollution
New research publication on marine plastic pollution: Abate, T.G., Börger, T., Aanesen, M., Falk-Andersson, J., Wyles, K.J. and Beaumont, N. (2020) Valuation of marine plastic pollution in the European Arctic: Applying an integrated choice and latent variable model to contingent valuation. Ecological Economics 169, 106521.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919307360
(December 2019)
The Management School attended the 20th anniversary year of the VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards
The Management School attended the 20th anniversary year of the VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards on 14th November at the Double Tree Hilton in Glasgow.
It was the 5th year we sponsored the category of Management SME Award. FINDRA was this year's winner. The annual awards ceremony celebrates businesses in Scotland who are taking significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment.
(14 November 2019)
Professor Iain Black gave evidence to the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee Consumer Scotland act
Professor Iain Black gave evidence to the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee Consumer Scotland act. Scottish Parliament hearing on 5th November, the full report can be found here. Andy Wrightman MSP has asked for a follow up meeting to draft an amendment to the bill based on our evidence and the need to extend and widen the definition of a consumer and to include environmental harm in the act.
(5 November 2019)
Professor Ron McQuaid presented his paper on 'Sustainability of Employment in the UK's Work Programme’
Professor Ron McQuaid presented his paper on 'Sustainability of Employment in the UK's Work Programme’ to the department of Economics at the University of Salzburg on 8th
(October 2019)
Green Impact Awards - University Of Stirling Students’ Union
Congratulations to the Students' Union, who announced that they were awarded 'Excellent' in the Green Impact Awards. They also topped the league tables as the 'Highest Scoring Devolved Nation Union' in the Awards.
(September 2019)
The Economics of Marine Plastic Pollution
The Economics of Marine Plastic Pollution: what are the benefits of international cooperation. Professor Frans de Vries will lead a new 3-year project on the Economics of Marine Plastic Pollution and the Benefits of International Cooperation. This project received a £850k grant by the ESRC and NERC to shed light on the economic damages associated with marine plastic, the costs of reducing it, and the benefits of international coordination in addressing the problem.
(March 2019)
UN PRME Funded Research Studies
Dr Darren McGuire and Dr Lila Skountridaki (MWO) were two of five winners of the 2018 PRME UK & Ireland Chapter Research Seed Funding Competition (a UN Global Compact initiative). Darren's proposal was entitled 'Exposing modern slavery policy-makers to management theory'. The study will review theory in management studies plus cognate areas, with the aim of providing a context for engagement with policy-makers working on human trafficking and forced labour. Lila's proposal was entitled 'Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Institution degrees accredited by Professional Associations'. The study will focus on the case of the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) in the UK. Reports of the studies will be available in late 2019.
(December 2018)
The Stirling Management School sponsors the SME Management category at VIBES awards recognising companies leading sustainable initiatives.
The University of Stirling Management School is proud sponsor of the annual Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards. The awards aim to encourage the efficient use of resources, enhance the competitiveness of businesses, improve environmental performance and support the wider goals of sustainable development including social benefits through community and staff involvement. The Management School sponsors the SME Management category at the Awards, recognising SMEs with the strategic vision and management systems that enable them to continuously improve their contribution to Scotland’s sustainable development. Members of SMS have been closely working with small and medium enterprises that uniquely manage sustainable value creation in their business models. The winner of this award in the 2018 VIBES was Hickory who are a catering events company based in Musselburgh.
(November 2018)
Our undergraduate and postgraduate students take the opportunity to engage in sustainability-related research and consultancy projects.
Both at an undergraduate and postgraduate level, our students take the opportunity to undertake research in the intersection of business and sustainability.
Examples of projects that students undertook in 2018 include:
- Reducing the Single-Use Coffee Cups Consumption
- Student consumer Perceptions of retailers’ CSR disclosure
- The use of social norms to nudge consumers into reducing their meat intake
Examples of consultancy projects that students undertook in 2018 include
- An analysis of the effects of GDPR on First European Client
- The Development of a Strategy for Transition Stirling
- The Development of competency frameworks on an example of a Scottish Whisky Company
(September 2018)
Zero Waste Scotland Funded Project
A new project aimed at understanding and reducing food waste among students living in communal housing started in October. It is funded by the government related agency Zero Waste Scotland. A key focus of Zero Waste Scotland is to help Scotland reach its food waste reduction target of 33% by 2025. Main researchers: Dr Craig Anderson (Economics) and Professor Ronald McQuaid (MWO) plus a colleague at Dundee University.
(September 2018)