Insights from RME Week 2025
At Responsible Management Education (RME) Week 2025, global leaders in business education came together to explore how academic institutions can enhance societal relevance through strategic alignment in research and education. Co-hosted by AACSB International, PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education), and RRBM (Responsible Research in Business and Management), the event spotlighted a shared commitment to responsible research and transformative impact.
Unity in Purpose: Key Highlights from the Panel on Strategic Alignment
The session, “Shaping Impact: Connecting Responsible Research & Education Through Strategic Unity,” brought together distinguished voices across accreditation, academia, and research advocacy:
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@Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB, emphasized the need for business schools to rebuild public trust by amplifying their relevance to students, employers, and communities. She highlighted AACSB’s new efforts to connect with Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and global HR professionals at SHRM, along with the launch of a research impact initiative uniting scholars across 10+ disciplinary academies.
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@Dr. Andrew Karolyi (Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management / RRBM Chair) marked RRBM’s 10-year anniversary, celebrating its collaborative journey with institutions like AACSB. He spotlighted three impactful RRBM initiatives:
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Discipline-based faculty awards
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An SDG-aligned Honor Roll
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PhD scholarships focused on research for societal good
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@Alfons Sauquet (EFMD Global / EQUIS) introduced updates to EQUIS Standard 5, co-created with 25 global deans. These updates prioritize practitioner relevance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and broad dissemination over conventional academic metrics.
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@Dr. Morris Mthombeni (GIBS Business School) provided a Global South perspective, urging schools to ask whether they are “improving the wrong things.” He called for greater co-authorship, research equity, and stronger PRME–UN Global Compact collaboration.
During the Q&A, speakers addressed challenges of disciplinary silos, impact measurement, and societal engagement. As Lily Bi succinctly put it:
“We can’t define impact alone.”
This session made one message clear: Driving research impact requires unity, visibility, and a collective sense of purpose.
Rethinking Accreditation and Rankings Through the Lens of the SDGs
In another standout session—“Accreditation, Rankings, and the SDGs”—AACSB’s Professor @Dr. Eileen McAuliffe, PhD, joined leaders from EFMD, PRME, and Times Higher Education to explore how accreditation can enable, not constrain, impact.
McAuliffe emphasized:
“Hope is in the strength of our community.”
She advocated for global inclusion, digital equity, and stronger international partnerships to amplify sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Engaging the Next Generation: Student Voices and Collective Action
Twelve emerging scholars from India, Sweden, Australia, Egypt, and Uganda brought the event to life by sharing innovative solutions for a more sustainable future. One student-led session concluded with a powerful moment of cultural connection—closing with a performance of “Jai Ho.”
Hands-On Learning: AACSB's Impact-Centered Workshop at Cornell Tech
As part of RME Week, AACSB hosted a dynamic workshop at Cornell Tech focused on bringing societal impact into the heart of business school curricula. The event emphasized experiential learning, cross-disciplinary thinking, and action-based pedagogy.
Shared Tools and Teaching Strategies:
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📘 UNESCO SDG Competencies and EU GreenComp
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🧠 Simulation games on conscious capitalism and ethical supply chains
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🎥 Media-based learning with films and expert panels
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🛠️ Community-rooted case studies and experiential learning modules
However, participants also surfaced honest reflections:
“Faculty are scared of change.”
“Too much focus on grades, not enough on impact.”
“Students feel passionate—but lack the tools.”
“Sustainability is still seen as a soft option.”
Despite the challenges—ranging from curriculum overload to limited faculty incentives—the session concluded with optimism. Attendees called for new metrics of success rooted in student leadership, critical thinking, and societal contribution.
What’s Next?
As RME Week 2025 drew to a close, one theme stood out: Progress isn’t success without lasting impact.
This reminder, echoed during the opening session, set the tone for what lies ahead:
→ Collective action
→ Global collaboration
→ Purpose-driven education
Continue the conversation by joining our Responsible Management Education Affinity Group
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