CEMS Sustainability & Social Responsibility Award
Recognising CEMS MIM programmes that embed sustainability and responsibility into teaching, learning, and the student experience.
Launched in 2025, this new award reflects CEMS’ growing commitment to advancing sustainable business solutions that benefit both humanity and our shared planet.
In line with the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and the CEMS Graduate Profile, the award celebrates schools that go beyond baseline expectations and demonstrate how sustainability and social responsibility are deeply integrated into their CEMS MIM programme.
It aims to highlight best practices, encourage knowledge exchange among member schools, and inspire our community to further embed responsible management into education.
Eligibility & Nominations
- Open to CEMS MIM programmes at member schools.
- Schools may be nominated by their Academic Directors.
Selection Process
- Schools submit a self-assessment report describing their integration of sustainability and social responsibility in the programme.
- The Academic Committee reviews reports and votes.
- Award presented annually (first edition: 2025).
Evaluation Criteria
The award recognises the CEMS MIM programme (not the school as a whole).
Self-assessment reports should notably describe how sustainability and social responsibility are integrated into the curriculum and student experience — from core courses and business projects to co-curricular activities. They should also highlight links to the SDGs, collaborations with companies or NGOs, and best practices that could inspire other schools in the alliance.
Defining Sustainability & Social Responsibility
- Social responsibility (CSR) has roots in the 1950s, focusing on ethical conduct, employee rights, fair wages, community engagement, and moral obligations of business.
- Sustainability gained prominence in the 1980s, focusing on environmental stewardship, resource conservation, climate change, and the responsibility towards future generations.
Today, the concepts overlap: both address the relationship between business and society. This award acknowledges them as complementary dimensions of responsible management education
CEMS Sustainability and Social Responsability Award
Jiri Hnilica, Dean and CEMS Executive Councillor at the Prague University of Economics and Business and Darren Meister, CEMS Executive Councillor at Ivey Business School
Winners 2025 (Inaugural Award) :
Prague University of Economics and Business and Ivey Business School
The first recipients of the CEMS Sustainability & Social Responsibility Award illustrate two complementary approaches to responsible management education.
- Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE) was recognised for embedding sustainability and social responsibility deeply into both teaching and the student experience, notably through CSR content across multiple CEMS courses and extensive hands-on student engagement. CEMS students at VŠE contributed more than 900 hours to social impact projects in 2024, including work with hospitals, hospices, Alzheimer’s centres, and community initiatives. In parallel, VŠE plays a unique national leadership role by organising the Czech Republic’s official ESG rating, positioning CEMS as a visible agent of change in society.
- Ivey Business School was recognised for its rigorous, faculty-led reporting on the number of teaching hours dedicated to ESG topics and climate change solutions across the CEMS curriculum. This structured approach is complemented by 10 sustainability-focused electives, a Graduate Diploma in Sustainability, immersive experiential learning such as the week-long Sustainability & Technology Studio residency in Brazil, and the support of three dedicated centres focused on sustainability, regeneration, and systems thinking.
Explore the CEMS Awards
Discover the initiatives and individuals driving excellence across our global community.