Press Release

 

October 24, 2006

Ivey is first Canadian Business School to join United Nations’ Global Compact

London, Ontario – Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario has joined the United Nations’ Global Compact and is the first Canadian business school to be part of this global initiative. The Global Compact (www.globalcompact.org) was launched by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1999. His challenge was for business leaders to join an international initiative to bring together companies with UN agencies, labour and civil society to support universal environmental and social principles. The Global Compact promotes responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalisation. These challenges include environmental concerns, human rights issues, labour standards and anti-corruption initiatives. The Global Compact encourages businesses, in partnership with other social organizations, to work to realize the vision of a more sustainable and inclusive global economy. “Being part of the Global Compact is a commitment to continue putting Ivey’s mission statement into action,” said Carol Stephenson, Dean, Richard Ivey School of Business. “Ivey's mission is to develop business leaders who think globally, act strategically and contribute to the societies within which they operate.” “There seems to be a fundamental shift happening in the way businesses are interacting with their customers, their shareholders and the world,” said Stephenson. "Ivey joining the Global Compact is another step in broadening the reach of this important initiative. Corporate ethics and social responsibility are goals that must be embraced and become cornerstones of the private sector," said Errol Mendes, Professor of Law, University of Ottawa and an Advisor to the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the Global Compact. The Global Compact initiative fits well with two of Ivey’s recently-formed research centres, Engaging Emerging Markets and Building Sustainable Value. Today’s global and increasingly connected business environment requires a holistic view of solving problems. Emerging markets not only encompass a large proportion of the earth’s population, they are a major and growing source of economic output. Ivey’s Building Sustainable Value Centre focuses on helping businesses build value for superior long-term performance. Most organizations today recognize that building sustainable value requires the consideration of economic and social issues. The Global Compact encompasses 10 main principles in four categories – Human Rights, Labour Standards, Environment and Anti-Corruption. Ivey is the second largest producer of case studies in the world and has business case studies in all those categories. Please see the Engaging Emerging Markets Centre web site. Members of the Global Compact include Harvard Business School; Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; INSEAD; Alcan Inc.; Barrick Gold Corp.; Petro-Canada; Cisco Systems, BCE Inc. and eBay Inc. -30--

Media contact: Marisa Kanas, Communications Specialist, 519-850-2536 mkanas@ivey.ca Dr. Paul W. Beamish Director, Centre for Engaging Emerging Markets 519-661-3237 pbeamish@ivey.uwo.ca Dr. Tima Bansal Director, Centre for Building Sustainable Value 519-661-3864 tbansal@ivey.ca