It is incredible how quickly we have moved away from business as usual into a whole new space. Some of us have already been working in this new, COVID-19 reality for several weeks, while others are just starting, or hopefully preparing, for what is perhaps, unfortunately inevitable.
I too have been glued to the screen watching things unfold around the world (while my city is generally still business as usual – but likely to change very soon). Because of this I have been thinking about how I can help support PRiMEtime readers while you quickly adapt curriculums, testing, research, engagement and everything else you are working on. Your health, of course, comes first, but for those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to continue to focus on our work I will continue to use PRiMEtime as a platform to bring together tips, tools, lessons learnt, questions and anything else the PRiMEtime community needs to help not only deal with the current situation but, hopefully, come out of this stronger than before.
Please send me any stories, examples, tips, research, online events, successes, challenges anything you are willing to share that is helping you or that you believe may help others adapt quickly, move forward and survive in these incredibly difficult times. It doesn’t have to be perfect, or look pretty, whatever it is please send me your examples (gweybrecht@thesustainablemba.com). Feel free to also send your questions and I will be bringing the information together and sharing regularly.
To start with, here are ten thoughts for moving forwards with some links to past PRiMEtime posts that may help you.
- Focusing in on mental health initiatives now more than ever
Health and Wellbeing at Vivekanand Education Society, India believes that there are three key emotions that affect the mind: fear, anger and negativity, “hence it is essential for us, in VES, to help our students learn the science and art of mind-management”.
The Importance of Mental Health in Higher Education, Henley Business School where mental health is seen as crucial in enabling the flourishing of their students and their ability to develop and grow personally and professionally as future generators of sustainable value.
The Benefits, and Challenges, of Teaching Mentorship – Cass Business School looks at developing people skills that are essential for any manager and prospective leader “life skills” and supporting and developing both the mentor and the mentee.
Mindfulness at the Executive Level – University of South Australia looks at developing the mindfulness in students as an effective way of coping with stress and fostering resilience, in particular when leaders are operating under extreme pressures and high levels of stress.
Meditation in the Classroom at Chiang Mai University Faculty of Business Administration, supports daily mediation practices in the classroom including in core courses and a specific elective. The post also includes some tips on how to meditate.
- Exploring innovative teaching methods
Innovative Pedagogy for Responsible Business Teaching – PRME UK and Ireland Chapter looks at a PRME day organised last year on innovative pedagogy with examples from several signatories, including some that could be even more relevant today.
Technology in the Classroom – How Schools are Using it to Teach Sustainability provides several examples from across our network of how schools are using technology for teaching, learning and sharing.
Bringing Technology into the Classroom to Engage Students in Sustainability – Victoria University of Wellington includes a group role-play scenario where students take a virtual fieldtrip based on a real Fijian island.
Managing Humanitarian Emergencies is an elective course at EADA Business School where the campus is transformed into a model refugee camp for one week a year to train students how to responds in emergency situations.
Business School Response to the Refugee Crisis looked at how Business schools took action individually and collectively to address the refugee crisis.
- Explore a range of online resources offered by the PRME community
Video Series on the Sustainable Development Goals created by Hanken School of Economics, Audencia Business School, La Trobe Business School and ISAE/FGV includes 17 short videos that can be used in the classroom around the 17 SDGs. These are also being used in a MOOC Organising for the Sustainable Development Goals which started on February 17th 2020.
How schools are using WikiRate to engage students in Sustainability was featured last year and includes guidance on how to engage. WikiRate is an open database and research tool that allows anyone to collaboratively resource and analyse data on socio-environmental impacts of companies.
Creating an online resource collection around PRME – Sobey School of Business curated online library of educational resources related to ethics, sustainability, social and environmental issues within and beyond business.
Using Online Games to Engage in Sustainability was a 3-part series from 2017 (and update to a previous series from 2012) that looks at a range of online games that can be used to raise awareness of sustainability issues. The games are organised by SDG.
Business Students Discovering SDG Solutions – AIM2Flourish, an initiative of Weatherhead School of Managemen, is an online database of best practices in sustainability written by students from business schools around the world.
Sharing and Inspiring Students Sustainability Resource – the oikos PRME Research Hub is a platform for students around the world to share resource projects on sustainability related topics.
- Check in on each other, your fellow Signatories, as well as your educational partners working across the globe.
Creating an Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research Network looked at how the University of Nottingham facilitates stronger connections between the different sustainability related projects across departments and fields.
Checking in with and learning from others in your network, for example A Focus on the UK and Ireland PRME Regional Chapter and Collaborating across borders – The CR3+ Network.
A Bridge Between Germany and the Democratic Republic of Congo – Frankfurt School of Finance and Management is one example of schools cooperating on new programmes and initiatives.
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