Challenge:Future :: IEDC Challenge

Business, the engine of our development, is at the center of every sustainability challenge the world faces today. Whether we are talking about poverty or ecology, peace or migration, business, and therefore, business schools that train millions of managers every year, are at the heart of the world's sustainable future. The question is: what should business schools do?

For the Semi-Finals, your team's challenge is to develop a project for IEDC-Bled School of Management, a leading business school of Central and Eastern Europe and an active player in the field of sustainability, that would allow for deep and meaningful contribution to creating sustainable and prosperous world. In essence, here is the challenge we would like you to address: if you were managing a successful and innovative business school that has already done much in sustainability field, what is the BEST contribution you could make in the next five years to creating a real sustainable value for business and society?

Your Project Proposal has to include an executive summary of maximum 2.500 characters and main submission that doesn't exceed 25.000 characters. You must also submit a video or presentation of 3 min maximum to be seen by community. The proposed idea should not be in violation of any intellectual property rights.

THE CHALLENGE

Amidst the turmoil of the global economic crisis, business schools were among the first to be blamed. As many of the best and brightest graduates of top business schools were at the very forefront of the 2008-2009 economic collapse, it is no surprise that the schools that 'produced' them were called to responsibility. Similar calls are made around the broader issue of sustainability. Business, the engine of our development, is at the center of every sustainability challenge the world faces today. Whether we are talking about poverty or ecology, peace or migration, business, and therefore, business schools that train millions of managers every year, are at the heart of the world's sustainable future.

The question is: what should business schools do? How can a business school, dedicated to developing leaders for a better world, actually achieve its core mission? What should be done in its teaching, research, consulting, operations, partnerships, and beyond, that would drive positive change in the world?

Your challenge is to address these questions for IEDC-Bled School of Management, a leading business school of Central and Eastern Europe and an active player in the field of sustainability, by developing a project that would allow for deep and meaningful contribution to creating sustainable and prosperous world.

In essence, here is the challenge we would like you to address: if you were managing a successful and innovative business school that has already done much in sustainability field, what is the BEST contribution you could make in the next five years to creating a real sustainable value for business and society? Solutions, proposed by your teams, have a potential to impact not only the work of IEDC, but become templates for real change in business schools and universities throughout the world.

In addressing this challenge, we invite you:

*To build on all relevant ideas developed in the First Round of our competition *To create a sustainability effort that connects business, education, non-profit, government, media, and beyond - whereby a business school goes beyond its traditional boundaries, and serves as connector, facilitator, and catalyst of sustainable value creation - a win-win-win for all involved *To think bold and, at the same time, be very detailed and practical

As always, you will find more details, guidelines, and resources in your project rooms. Think bold - and good luck!

Established in 1986 as the first business school of its type in Central and Eastern Europe, IEDC-Bled School of Management is one of the most prominent international management development institutions in Europe. To date, nearly 50,000 managers and change makers from 65 nations participated in IEDC programs. With over 70% of its participants coming from countries outside of Slovenia, and the headquarters of three organizations – Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN), European Leadership Center, and the UN Global Compact Slovenia – hosted by the school, the IEDC-Bled School of Management is a key regional business meeting place.