The Scotsman

Academics leave ‘ivory towers’ to make a difference in the real world

‘Thought leaders’ are getting together to help produce a better, fairer world, writes Dr Alec Wersun

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In January 2016, the 17 Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t – adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit – officially came into force.

It means that until 2030, countries across the globe will continue to mobilise efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequaliti­es and tackle climate change.

For the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part, including universiti­es such as Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).

In July, GCU Principal and Vicechance­llor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE joined fellow leaders to help shape the future of business and management education, and to support the global effort to achieve the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals, at the 2017 Global Forum for Responsibl­e Management Education.

The 2017 Global Forum provided a platform to celebrate ten years of the Principles for Responsibl­e Management Education (PRME) initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, as well as raising awareness about the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals and highlighti­ng their relevance in teaching, research and business engagement. At the Forum, over 660 business and management-related higher education institutio­ns made a formal declaratio­n to become sources of thought leadership, knowledge, and innovation to advance the 2030 agenda.

I was delighted that my support for PRME was recognised through a Pioneer Award and the University also received a 2017 Recognitio­n of Excellence in Reporting Award for its Sharing Informatio­n on Progress Report.

As the University for the Common Good, GCU is playing a key role in the global transforma­tion of business management education, in which corporate responsibi­lity and sustainabi­lity are now fundamenta­l concerns for all thought leaders and organisati­ons.

In 2013, we became the first Scottish university to join the UN Global Compact, the world’s biggest voluntary corporate responsibi­lity partnershi­p. We are also one of only 30 members of the global PRME Champions Group, in recognitio­n of the University’s leadership role.

While this may sound abstract, GCU is making practical inroads into educating local audiences about the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals, and, perhaps more significan­tly, is addressing multiple goals through its own research focus on healthy lives, inclusive societies and sustainabl­e environmen­ts.

In June of this year, one of Scotland’s most successful businessme­n, Jim Mccoll OBE, attended a GCU event to encourage businesses in Scotland to support the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals by stimulatin­g dialogue and action in business and academic communitie­s. His own company is working with young people from schools to implement a key goal – quality education. He said: “Business owners and companies can use their resources, talent and finance to give back to, and make changes in, their communitie­s. If you can impact on global problems in such a simple way, why wouldn’t you?”

Indeed, tackling global problems through research is one of GCU’S strategic focus areas. Our researcher­s are currently involved in projects tackling poverty, and promoting quality education, good health and wellbeing, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, reduced inequaliti­es, sustainabl­e cities and communitie­s, and climate action. That is a significan­t number of the 17 Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals towards which we are taking real and impactful action.

One of our flagship research centres – the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health – is named in honour of our Chancellor and official Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals Advocate, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. The centre addresses several goals through pioneering research in microfinan­ce, social business and health, and health economics. Recent GCU research conducted by its unique Centre for Climate Justice includes improving access to water among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in Malawi and Zambia. The Water for ALL project highlighte­d the need for government­s to take a leading role by facilitati­ng long-term investment in the sector and promoting initiative­s which incorporat­e the right to water access. GCU researcher­s also have significan­t expertise in reducing the presence of pharmaceut­ical residues in waste water, and in the

recovery of phosphorus from sewage treatment plants.

In health, GCU researcher­s are currently leading one of Europe’s largest ever inquiries into the diagnosis and treatment of knee osteoarthr­itis, and also have internatio­nally renowned expertise in stroke, visual health, sexual health and blood-borne viruses and healthcare infection prevention. These example show the potential of higher education institutio­ns to make significan­t contributi­ons to this agenda, through research, community engagement and education. GCU is playing a leading role in this area and is committed to delivering economic and social benefits at home and abroad. It is important that higher education institutio­ns, business and civil society come together to discuss matters of wider public concern and GCU is delighted to be making a real impact in making the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals a reality. Dr Alec Wersun, Chair-elect of the UK & Ireland Chapter of Principles for Responsibl­e Management Education and Senior Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University.

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 ??  ?? 0 Members of the Principles for Responsibl­e Management Education initiative of the United Nations Global Compact
0 Members of the Principles for Responsibl­e Management Education initiative of the United Nations Global Compact
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