Aston Business School has been selected to join the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Champions cohort 2026-2027 as one of ten UK institutions and 50 institutions globally.
PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative that connects more than 800 signatories worldwide committed to advancing the profile of sustainability and responsible leadership within business and management education.
Being selected as a UN PRME Champion for 2026-2027 is a significant recognition of Aston Business School's commitment to responsible management education and real-world impact.
The Champions programme represents the highest level of engagement within PRME. It focuses on collaboration among institutions leading the integration of sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility across education programmes, research, and engagement.
As a PRME Champion, Aston Business School will contribute to the global community through both thought leadership and practical action. This includes developing and delivering collaborative projects, sharing effective educational models, and contributing expertise to PRME and the United Nations Global Compact on priority issues related to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The school will also take part in shaping new approaches for demonstrating and sharing progress in responsible management education and contribute examples of institutionalised and transformational sustainability practices that can be adapted across different contexts.
Participation in the Champions programme will further strengthen Aston's collaboration with local businesses, peer institutions, and international partners, including active involvement in PRME Chapters, regional meetings, and engagement with the UN Global Compact networks.
Students at Aston Business School will also benefit from enhanced access to opportunities linked to the PRME and UN Global Compact communities, including participation in student-focused projects, competitions, and international events connected to responsible leadership and sustainability.
As PRME's flagship initiative, the PRME Champions programme provides a collaborative space for faculty to develop and share innovative approaches to management education. It functions as a 'living lab' for advancing sustainability-driven education and preparing future leaders to address complex social, economic, and environmental challenges.
PRME lead at Aston University, Dr Galina Goncharenko, says: "PRME Champion status is a meaningful recognition of the work we do at Aston Business School.
"It reflects our distinctive approach to responsible management education, fostering sustainability, ethics and accountability across programmes, research, partnerships, and impact activities. I am delighted by this recognition and excited about the opportunity for us to further advance our collaboration with the global UN PRME community and add value to the transformative projects of the 2026-27 Champions agenda."
The executive dean of Aston Business School, professor, Marian Garcia adds: "Being selected as a UN PRME Champion for 2026-2027 is a significant recognition of Aston Business School's commitment to responsible management education and real-world impact.
"It reflects the strength of our distinctive approach, embedding sustainability, ethics and social responsibility across our curricula, research and external engagement, so our graduates leave with the skills, values and mindset to lead responsibly in a rapidly changing world. We are proud to join this global cohort and look forward to contributing practical solutions and thought leadership that advance the Sustainable Development Goals."
