By joining the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI), the University of Canterbury (UC) Business School | Te Kura Umanga affirms its commitment to advancing responsible leadership through education, research, and deep societal engagement. Guided by our mission to be “in the business of making a difference,” we are dedicated to co-creating a sustainable and inclusive future alongside GRLI’s global learning community.
We are proud to be one of an elite group of Triple Crown-accredited business schools (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), and the only UN PRME Champion in Aotearoa New Zealand. As the first school in Australasia to receive the Business School Impact System (BSIS) label, we have demonstrated tangible impact across economic, societal, and intellectual domains. These recognitions reflect an enduring commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the principles of responsible management education.
Our strategic approach is grounded in purpose and partnership. We embed ethics and sustainability throughout our curriculum, and we collaborate with business, government, and communities to address the world’s most pressing challenges. We also integrate bicultural values into all aspects of our teaching and research, informed by our status as a Treaty University and our deep partnership with Ngāi Tahu. Our Office of Treaty Partnership, led by the Pou Whakarae, provides Indigenous academic leadership across the institution; a model that exemplifies our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and offers a globally distinctive contribution to the GRLI network.
We take pride in our inclusive and globally engaged culture. Our faculty and students represent over 30 nationalities, and our research, programmes, and partnerships reflect a strong international orientation. At the same time, our ties to local business and community ensure we remain embedded in place, responsive to regional priorities, and committed to impact that is both global and grounded.
Our students are future-focused, values-led, and entrepreneurial. Through initiatives such as the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE), we support the development of innovative ventures that prioritise social and environmental value creation. Many of our graduates have gone on to build impactful businesses and nonprofits, embodying the kind of responsible leadership that GRLI seeks to champion.
As a PRME Champion and sustainability leader in the region, we are excited to contribute actively to GRLI’s mission. We look forward to collaborating on shared projects, participating in collective experiments, and amplifying the global voice for ethical, inclusive, and regenerative business. We believe that business can – and must – be a force for good, and that together, through GRLI, we can transform business education to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
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