Informative discussions focus on need to embed sustainability and responsible management into business education
Dubai, UAE: The 3rd Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) MENA Regional Conference, held under the Patronage of His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, the Chairman of Dubai Chamber, came to a successful close. The event, which was recently hosted by the University of Dubai in the Dubai Chamber, was chaired by His Excellency Majid Al Shamsi, the Chairman of University of Dubai Board of Trustees and 1st Vice Chairman of the Dubai Chamber.
Commenting on the event, His Excellency Hisham Abdulla Al Shirawi, Chairman of Economic Zones World and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Chamber, said, “On behalf of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it was my pleasure to inaugurate the PRME Regional Conference for MENA. As patrons, Dubai Chamber is committed to support the development of business education in the UAE and the wider MENA region.”
Speaking about the importance of increasing corporate social responsibility and sustainability amongst the business community, Al Shirawi said, “As representatives of Dubai’s private sector, we see these concepts as vital to growing Dubai’s economy and developing the transparency and accountability that is expected of a global leader. An essential part of this is educating the young people of today so that they can build a legacy for generations to come. We formed the University of Dubai in 1997 to meet a growing need to educate and prepare young people to enter the workplace or start their own businesses. We are immensely proud of its achievements. The University of Dubai is a leader in the region and is helping to cultivate the next generation of ethical business leaders through its CSR teaching.”
The first day of the conference was attended by His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair and His Excellency Hisham Abdulla Al Shirawi. Following the inaugural address by His Excellency Hisham Abdulla Al Shirawi, His Excellency Dr. Eesa Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, delivered the opening remarks and keynote address titled, “Leadership and Innovation.” Highlighting the ways in which University of Dubai has aligned its practices and education with the 6 PRME principles, Dr. Bastaki also presented Expo Live, an initiative of Expo 2020 Dubai, which underlines the proposed Expo 2020 Dubai subthemes – Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity.
Prominent plenary speakers on the first day included Dr. Bouchra Al Mulla, Director of Social and Cohesion Department at Community Development Authority; Jonas Haertle, Head, Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Secretariat, UN Global Compact Office; Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group, and President, UN Global Compact Network, GCC States and Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Meguid, Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Accounting, Director of the MBA Programs – The American University in Cairo (AUC) – School of Business & PRME MENA Chapter Coordinator. The opening day’s program also included a panel discussion titled, “Impact of Leadership on Principles of Business Education and Society” and a PRME MENA Conference networking meeting.
Held at the University of Dubai’s Campus in the Dubai Chamber, the second day of the conference was attended by His Excellency Majid Al Shamsi. The event witnessed participation from several eminent speakers such as: Dr. Nehme Azoury, Secretary-General of the Arab Society of Faculties of Business, Economic and Political Sciences; Dr. Sadig A. Malki, Associate Professor of Economy and Administration, King Abdulaziz University; Lina Hourani Director of CSR Division, Al Ahli Holding Group; Luma Jasim, Vice President of Corporate Communications, du; and Hessa Al Ghurair, Head of Human Resources, Tanfeeth. The event concluded with a PRME Non-Signatory session moderated by Jonas Haertle and Dr. Eappen Thiruvattal, CBA Assistant Professor and PRME Coordinator, University of Dubai, followed by closing remarks by Dr. Genanew Bekele, CBA Assistant Professor and PRME Coordinator, University of Dubai.
Upon the event’s closing, Dr. Eesa Bastaki, said, “The successful PRME conference, hosted by The University of Dubai – the first signatory to its principles in the Middle East – concluded with a clear statement of intent. Sustainability and responsible business management are critical to the economic and social development of the region. It is essential that these elements are built into business management education in order to instill sound principles within our future leaders. I believe that this conference has moved the debate on this important topic forward. We have heard from a number of prominent speakers and panelists, all of whom agree that it is essential that sustainability and responsibility are included in business management education. It is imperative that these discussions continue in order to provide a more stable economy and healthy planet for future generations. The University of Dubai is committed to ensuring that its graduates are taught sustainable and responsible business practices within our accredited business management programs and we will continue to promote these values within the region and around the world.”
About University of Dubai:
The University of Dubai (UD) is one of the leading higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates offering a Bachelor and Master degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science degree in Computing and Information Systems and a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Management. Licensed nationally by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research UD became the FIRST University in Dubai to hold the AACSB international accreditation in 2009 and the FIRST University in the UAE to hold the ABET-CAC accreditation for its Computing and Information Systems (BS) program in 2006. The AACSB accreditation makes the University of Dubai part of an elite group in which only 5% of the world’s business schools are a part. UD delivers a premium education aided by a team of professors with extensive experience in their respective disciplines. The Dubai Chamber founded UD in 1997 to prepare generations with the tools to become world leaders. Visit our website at www.ud.ac.ae or call +971 4 207 2787 for more information.
About PRME:
PRME is an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, committed to championing responsible management education, research and leadership globally. It was created in response to the recent financial crisis, bringing together the signatories of the United Nations Global Compact to investigate methods of preventing a similar situation. While many companies have since adopted stronger responsible management practices, it is the view of the United Nations Global Compact that these practices should be taught to future business leaders and decision makers as well.
Since the University of Dubai’s signatory membership to the UN-PRME, several other institutions have joined from the Middle East while more than 500 universities and business schools have signed up around the world. The conference hosted by the University of Dubai will feature regional and international speakers who will be addressing the audience about the issues of responsible management, leadership, its effects on the MENA region and the implications responsible management has for the regional and global economy.