On 5 December 2024, the PRME London and South East network were hosted at Richmond American University London for the annual local meeting. The day convened academics from PRME signatory universities, industry leaders as panellists, and students as representatives of the next generation of responsible management leaders. Attendees relished the opportunity to meet and learn from colleagues across the Local Network, as well as representatives from industry at the forefront of delivery sustainability solutions, highlighting the unique scope of the local meeting, noting the presence of interactive activities, industry perspectives and shared best practice from academics across the UK and Ireland.
The day began with opening remarks from Inma Ramos, Co-Lead of the London and South East Network, Professor Kelly Coate, Provost of Richmond American University London, Professor Sabine Spangenberg, Deputy Provost at Richmond, followed by Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas, Chair of PRME UK & Ireland Chapter.
Attendees were then immersed into the world of joy, active engagement and play through Professor Natascha’s Stage 2 i5 workshop. During this 90-minute workshop, attendees learned about the development of the PRME i5 Playbook, how to incorporate i5 principles into pedagogy, but not in the format you may expect. In true i5 style, the session began with a breathing exercise centred on colour, catching the group’s attention instantly. Following this, Professor Natascha presented examples of successful i5 pedagogical approaches citing successes achieved using case studies and global co-operation to engage students.
To find out more about the i5 project and download the i5 playbook, click here.
The first activity of the workshop, “Business and Buttons”, saw attendees sew a button, while learning about the i5 characteristics of joy and active engagement. An attendee commended the element of surprise woven into the workshop, bringing forth reminders of childhood and thoughts on the resourcefulness of her grandparents' generation that may not be present to the same extent today. This insightful discussion served as an example of the power of i5 principles to spark wider topical exchanges of cultures and solutions.
Professor Natascha spoke of the potential of linking activities to events e.g. World Values Day to encourage students to surface those values which are important to them in their personal and professional lives. Similarly, using facilitation methods e.g. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) to scaffold discussions taking part in our global classroom contexts, which was particularly well-received by the group, reflective of the increasingly global demands of higher education spaces.
The second part of the workshop was a lively LSP exercise, where participants worked in pairs, to build models of their own sustainability (s)hero! This activity built an appreciation for the potential of using creativity to build narratives and engage with wider concepts.
The final section of the day consisted of a Sustainability and Employability panel session which presented the opportunity for industry professionals and academics to collaborate with the shared aim of shaping the next generation of responsible business leaders. Attendees heard from Neil Jones, Head ESG International Walgreen/Boots, Jake Hallam, Vice President at NatWest Markets, Bryan Cortright, from Water Unite and Pedram Parhizkari, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Beurzbyte. The panellists shared projects from their respective sectors and engaged with attendees detailing the skills that the business community are seeking. There was a thoughtful exchange of both perspectives, highlighting the potential for closer collaboration between industry and the higher education sector.
PRME UK and Ireland extend our thanks to our London and South East Co-Leads Inma Ramos and Dr Smirti Kutaula, the team at Richmond University London including the student ambassadors who ensured the event ran smoothly. Thank you to our panellists and attendees for joining us.
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