(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) New York, NY – March 1, 2012 – The Secretariat of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and the Global Compact Office today launched a global call for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to sign a declaration of Commitment to Sustainable Practices of Higher Education Institutions in support of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio 20). The initiative was launched in conjunction with the 3rd Global Forum for Responsible Management Education and the Rio 20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, and in partnership with an umbrella of UN organisations collaborating with university networks.

On the occasion of the Rio 20 Conference, leaders of the international academic community are called on to acknowledge the unique responsibility that their institutions bear in the pursuit of sustainable development by signing the declaration. Commitments will be recognised on the Rio 20 website at http://www.uncsd2012.org/HEI.

Given that the Rio 20 Conference presents a unique opportunity to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all, HEIs have a special responsibility to provide leadership on education for sustainable development. HEIs play a key role in building more sustainable societies and creating new paradigms by educating and training decision makers. Their mission is to promote development through research and teaching, disseminate knowledge to students and build their capabilities

Since its launch in 2007, the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, together with key partners, has embarked on transforming management education based on universal values such as the Principles of the UN Global Compact. Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact welcomed the UN-wide HEI initiative: “Education for sustainable development will enable future business leaders to acquire the values, competencies, skills and knowledge necessary to contribute to building more sustainable societies. I encourage all signatories of PRME and the Global Compact academic network to endorse this declaration.”

Visit the HEI Initiative and make your commitment today: http://www.uncsd2012.org/HEI.