Responsible Work &
Purposeful Careers
A global collaborative network bridging the gap between organizational values and employee expectations. We connect research, education, and industry to create clear pathways to purposeful careers.
Member Institutions & Collaborators
Origin & Purpose
Originated from the PRME UK & Ireland "Careers and Sustainability" Working Group in 2023. Now expanded globally to address the growing relevance of values-oriented workplaces.
The Challenge We Address
We tackle the critical misalignment between organizational values and what employees expect from their work.
- Generation Z career expectations for purpose
- Equity, diversity, inclusion & belonging (DEIB)
- Authentic sustainability commitments
- Ethics & accountability in organizations
Key Goals
Building a credible, international network on responsible work.
Producing peer-reviewed research, teaching materials, and reports.
Ensuring all activities advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Core Activities
Our operating model combines research, education, and industry engagement to drive meaningful change in responsible management education.
Global Research
Multi-institutional collaborative projects led by our flagship Sustainability in Early Careers study, which began in the UK & Ireland and is expanding across North America, DACH, ASEAN, and India via a shared survey instrument. Wider themes span the sustainability skills gap, green workforce transformation, SDG-oriented career storytelling, and enterprise education.
Engagement & Community
Regular webinars—two planned within the first six months—featuring member projects, panel discussions, and insights from academics and industry practitioners. Members join our mailing list and planned LinkedIn group, help shape events as organising committee members, and gain access to recordings and networking across local and international projects.
Resource Development
High-quality, evidence-based resources spanning research reports, academic publications, teaching materials, and practical toolkits—anchored by the Sustainability in Early Careers report. In development: employability masterclasses, sustainability-focused career modules, and SDG storytelling approaches for faculty, careers teams, students, and employers.
Academic Outputs
Publication in peer-reviewed journals, edited volumes, and practitioner-focused reports, bridging theoretical rigour with real-world impact. We also pursue virtual conferences and symposia, joint white papers with industry groups, and a sustainable careers index.
Green Skills Initiative
The “Green Skills for Green Jobs” initiative—a collaboration between five UK PRME members and Students Organising for Sustainability UK—generating green skills resources for higher education, adaptable to other localities over time.
Cross-Cultural Programs
Exploring immersive cross-cultural programmes during summer and winter breaks, facilitating international collaboration and global responsible-leadership perspectives across member institutions.
Events
Webinars, symposia, and collaborative sessions connecting researchers, educators, and practitioners.
Loading upcoming events...
Governance Structure
Our working group is led by distinguished academics from across the globe, representing diverse regions and perspectives in responsible management education.
Co-Chairs
Steering Committee
Join the Working Group
Open Working Group membership for academics, students, employers, and career professionals. Access our resource library, participate in research, and help shape the future of responsible careers.