Capability approach for realising the sustainable development goals through responsible management education: the case of UK business school academics.

Abstract

This paper assesses whether RME can help UK business schools that are signatories to the PRME contribute to the realisation of any of the 17 SDGs through the lens of 15 UK business school academics. We found that RME (in the context of this study) can help business schools contribute directly to SDG4 and indirectly to the other goals, except for SDG3. The latter got little or no attention in this study, even though it appears that some business schools claim to be contributing to the realisation of this goal. Sen’s Capability Approach is the theoretical framework underpinning the paper. We recommend that business schools (worldwide) and other HEIs ground their educational offerings in the capability approach. It has the potential to empower individuals that will freely choose to live a quality life that they can value and progressively choose sustainable patterns towards sustainable development. We also present a few conceptual frameworks that can serve as a basis for the development of more robust frameworks. Those that can support business schools and universities in their endeavours to promote the SDGs through RME. The paper concludes by providing a few recommendations for further studies and practical implications for diverse stakeholders.