RSM’s mission it to be a force for positive change, using the SDGs as a reference framework. The Positive Change Initiative team, which is already working with education programmes and researchers throughout the School, collaborated with academics from all of RSM’s departments, and all kinds of organisations to make the videos.
Dean of RSM, Prof. Steef van de Velde said: “We firmly believe that business can be a force for positive change. The videos we developed based on the SDG’s show how the goals are related to, and relevant for business, and how business and management science can contribute to solving the big societal challenges.”
Into the curriculum
The modules contain videos of business leaders, RSM academics and students presenting their views of the SDGs. The modules are in the process of being incorporated into curriculums as part of the regular updating process for each programme. They are to become part of RSM’s bachelor programmes, and with added teaching cases for the MSc, MBA programmes and executive education courses.
Decisions with impact
The SDGs tackle pressing issues such as sustainable cities, climate action, access to education, and reduced inequalities; they are society’s most important challenges, but tackling these issues will also pave the way to new perspectives on business and innovation in a healthy and prosperous society.
Eva Rood, Director of the Positive Change Initiative said: “When we adopted this mission in 2017, we began to show our students that no matter what they studied or where they work, their decisions always have an impact on societal challenges. Actively engaging with the SDGs adds to the understanding that we live in a complex world, that each has a responsibility to take, and that there are no easy solutions to wicked problems. These videos are part of delivering education to support students as they start to play their role in positive change.”
Choose a strategy
Students can, of course, choose how and where they become a force for positive change. The videos are intended to show the multiple ways that organisations address societal problems, perhaps by choosing a strategy for positive change that is closely connected to the company’s competences, or embedding the SDGs into the business strategy.
There are three videos for each of the SDGs. Six sets of three videos, plus introductory videos, have been published today: the remainder will be published in the next two months. Education modules, which will be accessible online for students and to which these videos contribute, will be ready for the start of the next academic year in September 2019.
In the videos, RSM students explain why they want to be ambassador for a particular SDG, RSM academics highlight the viewpoint of management science, and a practical example of the business case for the SDG is described by a business leader.
Businesses involved in the videos published today include:
- Introduction by Peter Bakker of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the global, CEO-led organisation of over 200 leading businesses and partners, and Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever
- SDG 4 Quality education Teodor Cătăniciu, co-founder of the Restart Network , a crowd-sourced coding school
- SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation Frank Roeters van Lennep, chief investment officer private markets for pension fund PGGM
- SDG8 Decent work and economic growth Bart Beeks, executive vice president of logistics and freight management company CEVA
- SDG 10 Reduced inequalities RSM’s Dean, Prof. Steef van de Velde on the business case for the School’s goalsetting ‘I WILL’ movement
- SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities Maurice Unck, CEO of RET, Rotterdam’s public transport network
- SDG 13 Climate action Geanne van Arkel, Head of Sustainable Development at Interface EMEA
Free to access
The publication of the introductory videos that explore the SDGs in business is the start of an online library of materials linking positive change to business. Every SDG will have its own learning module at RSM. It is planned that they will all be available for anyone, including the general public, for free to learn about business’ contribution to the SDGs. Positive change director Eva Rood has written a blog post about the production process.
Another RSM publication is already free to download: Business & The Sustainable Development Goals; a framework for effective corporate involvement by Professor Rob van Tulder is the introductory title of the first three of the RSM Series on Positive Change publications in which RSM presents new frameworks that can be used to challenge corporates’ current thinking and adjust their strategies.
