Thunderbird at ASU receives global award for advancing sustainability, transparency and social impact

Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University has been recognized by the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative with the 2025 Recognition of Excellence in Sharing Information on Progress Reporting award, an international honor given to institutions demonstrating outstanding leadership in responsible management education and measurable progress toward sustainable development.

Thunderbird at ASU was the only institution from the United States to receive the award, joining a select group of universities from around the world honored for leadership in responsible management education.

The recognition was presented during the 2026 PRME Global Forum in Cairo, Egypt, on June 29, where educators, researchers, institutional leaders and organizations from around the world gathered to explore the future of responsible leadership, sustainability and global impact.

The award recognizes ASU's 2025 Sharing Information on Progress Report, which highlighted the university's efforts to advance sustainability, ethical leadership, social impact and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through teaching, research, partnerships and community engagement.

In announcing the recognition, the PRME Secretariat praised ASU's report for demonstrating a strong culture of transparency, collaboration and continuous improvement and for effectively translating the principles of responsible management education into meaningful action and measurable outcomes.

“Impact is the defining measure of Thunderbird's mission. This report reflects the tangible ways our work is advancing responsible leadership and creating global impact across education, research, partnerships and community engagement,” said Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird. “Through our commitment to PRME, we prepare leaders who not only navigate complexity but also create measurable, lasting positive change for organizations, communities and the world.”

Founded in 2007 and supported by the United Nations, PRME is the world's largest relationship between the United Nations and higher education institutions focused on business and management education. Through its Seven Principles, PRME encourages institutions to prepare future leaders capable of balancing economic success with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

A central commitment of every PRME signatory institution is the submission of an annual Sharing Information on Progress report. The SIP serves as both a public account of institutional impact and a strategic framework for documenting progress in responsible management education. It also provides transparency and accountability for stakeholders while supporting accreditation and continuous improvement efforts.

To recognize the significant effort required to develop these reports and to celebrate excellence in transparency and impact reporting, PRME established the Recognition of Excellence in SIP Reporting. The distinction places Arizona State University among a select group of institutions worldwide acknowledged for outstanding achievement in documenting and advancing responsible management education.

As Arizona State University's PRME signatory member, Thunderbird School of Global Management coordinates the development and submission of the university's SIP report and represents ASU within the global PRME community.

The 2025 SIP reflected a collaborative effort across the university and showcased initiatives that advance sustainable development through interdisciplinary teaching, research and community engagement. In addition to Thunderbird, major contributors included ASU’s Rob Walton College of Global Futures, the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and the School of Applied Professional Studies within ASU’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, along with numerous academic and administrative partners across the institution.

Together, these units contributed examples of innovative programs, student experiences, research initiatives and community partnerships that demonstrate ASU's commitment to addressing complex global challenges and preparing future leaders to create meaningful change.

“Our report highlights not only the achievements of ASU, but also the specific accomplishments of schools and units across our university ecosystem with which we closely collaborate, in addition to our own milestones as a PRME signatory member,” said Griffy-Brown.

The recognition underscores the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration across ASU and reflects the university's ongoing commitment to advancing solutions that improve lives locally and globally. It also reinforces ASU’s leadership in integrating sustainability, innovation and social responsibility into higher education while preparing graduates to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

As institutions around the globe work to address the complex challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Arizona State University's recognition by PRME highlights the power of collaboration, transparency and shared purpose in creating measurable impact.