PRME Partner Interviews: Nada R. Naufal

Interview with Nada R. Naufal, Director, Rami F. Makhzoumi Corporate Governance Initiative at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut

1. How does your school work with Responsible Management Education (RME)?

   The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut has been a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) since 2013, reflecting a longstanding commitment to responsibility, sustainability, and ethical leadership in business education.

   At OSB, responsible management education is reflected in how we teach, conduct research, and engage with business and society. Through the Rami F. Makhzoumi Corporate Governance Initiative, we contribute to this commitment by advancing research, dialogue, capacity building, and partnerships around corporate governance, sustainability, and responsible leadership. This work also reflects a broader understanding of governance that encompasses accountability, resilience, and long-term value creation.

2. What initiatives or practices have been particularly effective?

   Coming out of the pandemic, we saw renewed attention to the relationship between business, education, and sustainability, particularly as climate considerations became more central to business decisions. A roundtable held at the 2022 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), bringing together representatives of academia and the private sector, was an important moment in that conversation. It reinforced the need for closer collaboration between universities and business in preparing students for these evolving challenges.

   This aligned with our longstanding commitment to responsible management education. Through the Rami F. Makhzoumi Corporate Governance Initiative, we advocated for greater integration of sustainability into undergraduate education. With the support and leadership of the school and its undergraduate program, these efforts contributed to the development of a Business & Sustainability course, open to students across disciplines and built around a community-engaged learning approach.

   The course combines case-based learning and classroom discussion with an experiential practicum, where students work directly with companies, including members of the UN Global Compact network, on real-world sustainability and ESG challenges. What has been particularly valuable is seeing students move from examining business dilemmas in the classroom to engaging with the challenges companies face, asking difficult questions, and understanding how sustainability considerations influence business decisions.

3. What advice would you give to other schools seeking to strengthen their work with RME?

   I would encourage schools to approach responsible management education as more than a curriculum requirement. It is about developing a way of thinking, questioning assumptions, understanding different perspectives, and recognizing the consequences of business decisions.

   We also need to introduce these foundations early, rather than waiting until individuals reach managerial or board-level positions. As expectations of corporate governance evolve, with greater emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and long-term value creation, our approach to preparing future leaders must evolve as well.

   Equally important is building meaningful partnerships with business and society, and ensuring that the principles we teach are reflected in how our institutions operate, engage, and lead. Ultimately, responsible management education should prepare students to exercise sound judgment, navigate competing priorities, and consider the broader impact of their decisions.