Incorporating Human Rights in Business Schools – a working seminar organized on GSEM premises

On November 30, 2017, the Geneva School of Economics and Management, the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, and the Business & Human Rights Catalyst at Alliance Manchester Business School co-hosted a meeting in Geneva to bring together a small group of business school scholars interested in expanding human rights teaching and research in business schools.

Business schools need to better prepare future leaders for the challenges of a global business environment. They also need to demonstrate that the values and principles of their education are in line with public expectations that business contribute to a fair and prosperous global economy.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, participants reaffirmed that business schools have an important role to play in helping companies respond to human rights challenges, whether by teaching future business leaders, conducting research on cutting-edge issues, or engaging directly with corporate leaders. Follow-up meetings will be hosted by the Alliance Manchester Business School in 2018 and the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights in 2019

Participants to this first seminar included the Chancellor of the University of Geneva, Prof. Yves Flückiger, the Dean of the GSEM, Prof. Marcelo Olarreaga, Prof. Michael Posner (NYU Stern), Prof. Kenneth McPhail (Alliance Manchester Business School), as well as representatives from leading business schools in the US and Europe, including the London School of Economics, Copenhagen Business School, EDHEC in France, Zurich University, the University of St Gallen, Amsterdam Business School, the Wharton School, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Ross School of Business at Michigan University, University of Connecticut and many others. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the business school accreditation agencies have endorsed this meeting.