Oxford Saïd collaborating with African business schools in tackling climate change

Six leading schools from the continent are recognising the critical role higher education can play in addressing climate change through the Cairo Declaration for Business Schools for Climate Leadership Africa (BS4CL Africa), launched with the African Chapter of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).

The initiative will help build a collaborative framework for climate action to transform business education curricula that matches the needs and adapts to the realities of the African continent. It will also invite contributions from the private sector and civil society, and will mirror the ambitions of the UN Climate Conference (COP27) taking place in parallel in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

It builds on the first BS4CL launch at COP26 in 2021, when Saïd Business School, along with seven other European business schools, gathered to provide insight on what business can do to help the climate change crisis. Through launching a toolkit and series of webinars, these eight leading schools set the tone for business schools in Europe and abroad in designating climate leadership at the forefront of their schools’ strategies. BS4CL Africa now hopes to influence business in Africa with its growing momentum in collaboration with The AUC School of Business, PRME Chapter Africa, and the BS4CL European initiative.

Sherif Kamel, Dean of The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Business, said: 'Our ultimate goal is for business schools to effectively addressing climate change issues by integrating such timely and critical subjects within the business schools’ ecosystem through teaching, curriculum, cases, and projects including research endeavours and business development activities as they help shape the next generation of leaders to impact society,' said

PRME Chapter Africa gathered deans, including Peter Tufano, Emeritus Professor at Oxford Saïd, academics and thought leaders to a Deans' Roundtable on 7 November in Cairo, Egypt to launch the initiative, hosted by The AUC School of Business. Topics discussed included the required resources to increase awareness and climate action. As a result, the initiative plans to develop a white paper for attainable action by business schools.

'We are excited for the momentum of BS4CL Africa and envision that the Deans Roundtable will be a continued collaboration for impact, one which closely aligns with the ambitions of PRME,' said Sherwat Elwan Ibrahim, Chair of PRME Chapter Africa.

Participating deans included:

• Sherif Kamel, Dean of the School of Business at The American University in Cairo, Egypt
• Thami Ghorfi, President of ESCA Ecole de Management in Morocco
• Morris Mthombeni, Dean of Gordon Institute of Business Science in South Africa
• Yinka David-West, Deputy Dean of Lagos Business School in Nigeria
• David Chiawo, Dean of the School of Tourism and Hospitality at Strathmore University in Kenya
• Mark Smith, Director of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa

Also participating in the roundtable:

• Jonathan Foster-Pedley, Chair of the Association of African Business Schools (AABS)
• Sarah El-Battouty, Global Ambassador for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Mette Morsing, Head of Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) at UN Global Compact
• Peter Tufano, BS4CL Professor and Senior Advisor at the Harvard Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and Emeritus Professor at Oxford Saïd
• Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor at The Financial Times
• Sherwat Elwan Ibrahim, Chair of PRME Chapter Africa
• Mumbi Wachira, Vice-Chair of PRME Chapter Africa