The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) UK and Ireland Chapter’s
annual Responsible Business and Management Student Writing Competition not only highlights student innovation but also relies on the dedication of expert volunteer judges like Angie Lench, whose insights ensure the competition’s rigor and impact.
As we await the 2025 results, we celebrate Angie’s contributions to fostering ethical leadership through her role in this year’s judging panel.
A Judge’s Perspective: Angie Lench on Championing Responsible Business
Angie Lench, retired Programme Director from University of Arts, London College of Fashion, Fashion Business School, brings a wealth of experience in sustainability and management education to this year’s competition, having been a long-term champion of PRME and judge of this writing competition.
Reflecting on her role, Angie emphasizes the importance of platforms like PRME’s writing contest in shaping future leaders:
This is an important writing competition for students to get involved in, as it demands that they see their studies having real-world relevance. It also enables them to engage across a wide range of subjects and media. We are not just looking for academic excellence and relevance, but also critical understanding and innovative thought processes. We want students to demonstrate their understanding of the impact of responsible business and their role within the challenge of a sustainable future.
With 106 entries submitted from 27 universities across the UK and Ireland, including—for the first time—Wales, Angie notes the growing diversity of perspectives:
It has been exciting to see the growth of this competition over the years, and this year to have an even greater number of institutions involved is inspiring! It shows that responsible management and sustainable practices are really becoming the bedrock of business education. That will feed into the economy of the future, which gives us hope.
Rigorous Evaluation: Balancing Creativity and Impact
As a judge in the Undergraduate category, Angie highlights the academic skills of research, analysis and critical thinking used in order to address real-time business issues.
The Undergraduate entries cover many different subjects from the car industry to fashion to homelessness and many more which shows that students are being provided the opportunity to address real issues and present real solutions. It is so important for students to have that opportunity to question what happens in business and by engaging with the PRME writing competition they can demonstrate their commitment to responsible business practices.
Entries across all categories were evaluated by panels of academics from 10 PRME member schools, with judging criteria emphasising alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), originality, and actionable insights.
The passion shown by students in their subject focus makes judging both rewarding and challenging. It is wonderful to be able to learn new things from reading the entries and it is exciting is the way the SDGs are addressed showing their relevance to a sustainable future. However it is also challenging to judge across so many topics but a great deal of time and effort is put in by all judges and the collaborative efforts across the judging panels means each entry is read multiple times and discussed in depth.
Celebrating Institutional Collaboration
This year’s record participation reflects the strength of PRME’s network, with 27 institutions involved, including newcomers like the University of South Wales. Angie applauds the collaborative spirit of the competition:
The growing number of participating schools signals a shared commitment to responsible management education. It’s heartening to see academics and students alike embracing PRME’s mission.
Why Judges Like Angie Matter
Judges play a pivotal role in mentoring future leaders by recognising excellence and providing constructive feedback. Angie’s work exemplifies how academia bridges theory and practice, ensuring students are equipped to tackle global challenges.
Looking Ahead
With results announced by 30 April 2024 we encourage you to keep an eye on official PRME channels.
A Final Note of Gratitude
PRME UKI extends heartfelt thanks to Angie Lench and all judges for their time, expertise, and dedication to advancing responsible management education. Together, we celebrate not only the students’ achievements but also the mentors who guide them toward a sustainable future.
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