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A New Era for SIP Reports: Transparency, Accountability, and Action

mduffy486
2 days ago

Open on Monday (31st March) A New Era for SIP Reports: Transparency, Accountability, and Action



Laura Steele

Preparing and submitting a Sharing Information on Progress (SIP) report is a key commitment of all PRME Signatories. Historically, the requirements in relation to the content and structure of SIPs were relatively limited. While this afforded Signatories a high degree of flexibility, the quality and consistency of reports varied significantly. Some institutions produced well-structured, illuminating accounts of their responsible management education initiatives, while others were much less detailed and easy to follow. As a result, comparison within and across institutions overtime was challenging. In 2024 PRME launched a new approach to SIP reporting (referred to as “SIP 2.0”), that takes the form of a structured questionnaire, aligned with the Seven Principles, completed on the new Commons Platform. This marked a major step forward in business school reporting on responsible and sustainable business and management education.


A More Structured Approach


SIP 2.0 aims to ensure that the claims made by PRME Signatories are supported by evidence, including institutional policies, publications, narratives, and statistics -increasing the reliability of the data presented. Additionally, a fully searchable and filterable database will soon be available, allowing business school stakeholders, including current and prospective faculty and students, to explore progress across institutions.


What We Heard at the PRME Conference


At the 2024 PRME UK & Ireland Chapter Conference, we held a workshop to discuss the new SIP framework. The feedback was positive, with participants highlighting its potential to elevate the quality, credibility, and value of reporting.


Strengths of the New Framework


  • Enhanced trust: Standardized reporting fosters greater confidence in shared data.

  • Collaboration opportunities: Institutions can compare strategies and learn from each other.

  • Driving action: Being required to select “no” to a question in the SIP can be a catalyst for change, prompting leadership to address gaps in policies and practices.


However, the transition doesn’t come without challenges.


Key Challenges


  • Time and resource constraints: Business school faculty and professional services staff are already under significant pressure and the new reporting requirements may add to rather than alleviate this, particularly during the transition period.

  • Clarity of terminology: Some participants expressed concerns about ambiguous language that could be interpreted differently across diverse institutional and geographic contexts.

  • Risk of greenwashing: While the new reporting framework aims to improve transparency, there remains a risk that institutions will use it as a PR tool rather than a means to provide an honest account of progress.


Making the Most of the New SIP Reports


To maximize the impact of the new SIP framework, institutions should keep a few guiding principles in mind:


  • Prioritize honesty and transparency over self-promotion. Stakeholders want to see the full picture, including areas for improvement.

  • Keep reports concise and focused. Too much data can obscure key takeaways.

  • Highlight challenges as well as celebrate successes. Progress isn’t linear, and acknowledging setbacks can foster trust.

  • Use the platform to improve internal communication. SIP reporting shouldn’t exist in a silo; the process can help institutions break down barriers and encourage collaboration.


Upcoming Webinar and Support Sessions


For those looking to deepen their understanding of SIP reporting, PRME Chapter UK & Ireland is hosting a webinar;


📅 When: Tuesday 8 April 2025, 11am to 12.30pm BST

📍 Where: Online. To register, please click here.


This session will cover:


  • Navigating the PRME Commons

  • Key requirements of the 2025 SIP report (including changes from 2024)

  • Resources to support SIP preparation

  • Insights from UK & Ireland Chapter members who submitted in 2024

  • Maximising the value of the SIP (including for stakeholder engagement and business school accreditations)


Additionally, the UK & Ireland Chapter will be hosting online drop-in sessions for ongoing support and discussion on the following dates:


For further details and helpful resources, visit the PRME Chapter UK & Ireland website. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at PRME@bcu.ac.uk 


The move toward structured reporting represents a significant shift, but one that holds huge potential for the future of responsible management education. By embracing transparency and using SIP reports as a tool for continuous improvement, we can turn this framework into a catalyst for real change.

 
 
 

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