The transformation into a sustainable society is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Business schools are called on to contribute. They must ensure that their students understand the interrelationships between their actions and ecological and social challenges, and that they reflect on their responsibility as future specialists and managers. Moreover, their graduates will need to know the models and tools that enable companies to understand and implement sustainability and social responsibility as a success factor. At the ZHAW School of Management and Law, we are aware of this task. Our lecturers, researchers, and staff have been committed to it for years. The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) are the ideal tool to develop our organization further in this respect. In 2014, the ZHAW School of Management and Law made a clear commitment by signing up to the PRME initiative.

PRME is a seven-principles, globally oriented initiative founded in 2007. PRME has the following objectives:

• Support of business and management schools in implementing responsible management education using the seven Principles. The scope of responsible management education includes degree programs, continuing education, research and services, operations, and governance.
• Development of a platform for collaboration and exchange between universities.
• Advancing the dialogue and raising awareness concerning the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the meantime, more than 800 universities from more than 85 countries have joined the initiative. It has one mission: "PRME is the UN Global Compact’s initiative to transform management education and develop the responsible decision-makers of tomorrow to advance sustainable development." And it has one vision: "To create a global movement and drive thought leadership on responsible management education."

The members of the initiative are organized in regional groups (“chapters”), which, as largely autonomous networks, look after the interests of the member universities in the various language regions. For the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, this is the PRME DACH Chapter. The DACH Chapter organizes regular events and other activities for its members and the interested public. These include DACH Chapter meetings, workshops for the DACH Working Panels, the PRME Research Conference, and the SDG Roadshows.

Some of the most experienced and dedicated universities are part of the PRME Champions Group for a period of two years. The mission of the Champions Group is to take a leadership role in thinking and acting in the context of responsible management education within the framework of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The ZHAW School of Management and Law joined the PRME initiative in August 2014. In the following, we present a selection of our activities to implement the seven Principles.

Why PRME?

• PRME contributes to the strategic development and quality of the university.
• Exchanges with other universities in the PRME DACH Chapter as well as the PRME Champions Group support the ZHAW School of Management and Law in its efforts to embed responsible management education.
• The commitment by the university's executive board to support PRME also helps employees and students to be committed to responsible management and social responsibility.