CEMS Sustainability & Social Responsibility Award

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