Deakin and PRME

Professor Iain Martin, Vice Chancellor,
Deakin University

At Deakin, I believe we have a duty to use our capabilities and assets to demonstrate leadership in sustainability. Our strategic planning and governance are aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and these strong commitments represent Deakin’s next stage in our stewardshipof the environment and how we will realise a better future for our communities.

Professor Iain Martin
Professor Mike Ewing, Executive Dean,
Deakin Faculty of Business and Law

We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

– Ancient Indian proverb

“As an advanced signatory to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) since 2012 and PRME Champions for the second time in 2020-2022 cycle, we are committed to supporting the PRME initiative as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2020 has certainly been an eventful and challenging year for everyone on many fronts. Despite many challenges, we have undertaken a multifaceted, scalable yet sustainable approach in response to COVID 19 as specified in this report. Our value and purpose remain focused on sustainability but in a different way. As a student focused university, we have built on our values of sustainability to develop a strong culture of safety, mutual respect and inclusion with safety and wellbeing of our community as a top priority. In line with our new Strategic Plan Deakin 2030: Ideas to Impact announced in 2020, we have engaged with the SDG framework to advance responsible management education in an impactful way. We are doing it through pursuing meaningful and relevant research, embedding sustainability in our educational programs, engaging with the community and providing thought and action leadership to build sustainability-based partnerships as well as meaningful operational changes.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.” There is no question that in the post pandemic world, we have to adjust to a world that is going to be very different. At Deakin, we remain positive and open to opportunities so that we can come out of this crisis stronger as a responsible and sustainable institution that we can rightly be proud of.”

– Professor Mike Ewing

Our continued efforts to provide quality teaching, research programs and building partnerships for employability, innovation and inclusiveness is reflected in our 5 star ranking by Quacquarelli Symond. Deakin is internationally recognised for our quality of research and teaching, ranking in the top 1 % of the worl’d universities according to the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) in 2020. Deakin is also well regarded in terms of impact. In 2021 the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, ranked Deakin 79 out of 1115 universities globally and 14th in Australia for our contribution to the UN SDGs.

The Faculty of Business and Law was recognised by the UN PRME secretariat for Excellence in the Sharing Information on Progress (SIP) report at the 2020 Virtual PRME Global Forum. Selected by a peer review group under the guidance of Giselle Weybrecht, author, Editor to the PRiMEtime Blog and expert in sustainable business education, this SIP Recognition highlighted the significant achievements in our work with the Six Principles of higher education set by the PRME (Purpose, Values, Method, Research, Partnerships and Dialogue).

Deakin Business School (DBS) contributed to the Blueprint for Sustainable Development Goals Integration in Business Schools at the 2020 Virtual PRME Global Forum. Associate Professors Fara Azmat and Harsh Suri from DBS headed this contribution as research and curriculum leads, respectively. The Blueprint is a step-by- step guide for all Business Schools to implement SDGs across their curriculum, research and partnerships. It was developed in collaboration with the global PRME signatories and was launched officially at the forum.

Deakin Business School continued to serve as a ‘Champion for PRME’ for the 2020-2021 period after being selected by the UN PRME secretariat to serve for a second time.

Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce

As part of our commitment to the Principles for Responsible Management Education, the Faculty of Business and Law launched its Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce in 2021. The taskforce has a particular focus on reducing inequalities (SDG10), achieving gender equality (SDG 5), and building an effective, accountable, and inclusive institution (SDG 16).

By using a taskforce model, we hope to provide a work and learning environment within the Faculty of Business and Law which is inclusive and respectful, enabling all staff and students to feel welcome, safe, and supported to thrive.

The Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce consists of three streams provide that provide leadership, guidance and support the implementation of initiatives in the areas of:

  • indigenous respect
  • equity and opportunity
  • inclusive culture.

Deakin Business School PRME contacts

Associate Professor Fara Azmat
Deakin Business School PRME Director
Ph: +61 3 925 17095
Email: [email protected]

Dr Ameeta Jain
Deputy Deakin Business School PRME Director
Ph: +61 3 924 46151
Email: [email protected]

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