There is no question that the world is facing immense challenges.Rarely a day goes by without financial negligence, environmental dis-asters, human rights scandals, or economic downturn taking over the headlines of newspapers and TV screens. There is also hardly any question that continuing with business-as-usual will not be enough for the world to overcome these challenges. What we need is a new mindset and new competencies – a commitment to sustainable development backed by solid innovation skills. And education has a tremendous role to play in developing foundations for both.

For many years, CEEMAN – Central and East European Management Development Association – has been advocating for responsible business leadership and emphasizing the need for business school sand their associations to play a role in creating a new generation of managers and leaders capable of leading their organizations towards economically sound, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly business behaviors. CEEMAN has promoted this position at many major international conferences and events they have organized in recent years. It has been integrated into all of our program sand activities aimed at enhancing the quality of management education – including the accreditation requirements for our International Quality Accreditation. Becoming a founding partner of Challenge:Future is a natural extension of our long-term commitment.

In its first year, Challenge:Future has grown into an exciting platform for true dialogue and reflection about the nature of good business education. As schools, faculty mentors, and student participants engage in tackling the most daunting human problems, they are invited to question – and re-invent – assumptions and norms. This open innovation format contributes to the development of deep connections and true collaboration – and the story of the finalist English-Canadian team that finally met face-to-face in Bled is a true testament to this power. Reflection, collaboration, and innovation have to become essential characteristics of educational programs worldwide if we are to find our way towards sustainable future. Schools that made it into the Challenge:Future 2009/2010 Hall of Fame, along with the National University of Singapore, winner of the Most Innovative School Award, deserve much recognition for their efforts to foster innovation among young people for a sustainable world.

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*Prof. Dr. Danica Purg is the President of CEEMAN & President of IEDC-Bled School of Management.She is also C:F Chair.