Network and partners
BI contributes to sustainable development and social responsibility by working in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), and by integrating them into our research, teaching, operations and collaboration with stakeholders.
BI aims to strengthen the quality of interaction with the business society and to structure a beneficial collaboration between attractive national and international businesses and BI. The goal is to explore and create new and sustainable business opportunities.
In 2018, BI changed its organisational structure and established the new division “Innovation and Outreach”, led by a new Provost, in line with the new strategy to co-create a more sustainable future. This division works to support BI’s mission by developing new frameworks for interaction and collaboration with important stakeholders, including alumni, companies, politicians and students.
"We depend on building a network of strategic relations with multiple competences to be able to address societal sustainability challenges and design education programs that substantially affect the future generation of business people and leaders."
Professor & Provost for Innovation and Outreach
Inspire to Impact
Inspire to Impact is a joint project of UN Global Compact, DNV, BISO Impact and BI, created on the conviction that the SDGs offer a myriad of business opportunities and solutions with great value to companies, society and the environment. Future leaders need to know how to develop and run private businesses and public sector in a more sustainable and future-oriented way.
Preparing the next generation of sustainable pioneers
“We believe that today’s students - the future generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders - can be a driving force in the fight against climate change. Today’s generation of students, have more of a drive to create lasting sustainable impact. More than any generation before them” says Inge Jan Henjesand, BI President.
BI aims to give their students the understanding of business, the knowledge, and the strategies needed to make enduring sustainable change in business and society.
Equipping graduates with mindset, knowledge and skills
With increased recognition among governments and businesses for change to align with the 1.5℃ scenario, comes an urgent demand for new mindsets and strategies in employees. This is why science-based targets are important and why the BI strategy aligns with the Norwegian government’s commitment to the 1.5℃ scenario. We are developing knowledge and skills in students that today’s leaders need in order to bring business and society forward” says the President. In order to do this, BI has integrated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the learning goals for all programs and offers specialized lectures, courses, and study programs within sustainability as well.
This inclusion of the SDGs throughout BI aims to equip students with knowledge and skills on how the business school disciplines can be a force for good. Students leave BI not only with a desire to make positive change, but also with the tools to make it happen. “Transforming the approach to traditional business disciplines is key to create the mindsets and strategies in the next generations of graduates from BI,” says Inge Jan Henjesand.
The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)
The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 as a platform to raise the profile of sustainability in schools around the world, and to equip today's business students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow.
As a voluntary initiative with over 800 signatories worldwide, PRME has become the largest organised relationship between the United Nations and management-related higher education institutions.
Working through Six Principles, PRME engages business and management schools to ensure they provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic and sustainability goals, while drawing attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning academic institutions with the work of the UN Global Compact.
Every other year, BI publishes a report to share information about our progress.
Previous reports: