The GRLI Announces a Strategic Alliance with EFMD and AACSB International

BRUSSELS, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The agreement will see two of the most influential global voices in management education working closely with the GRLI, a network of forward thinking companies and business schools, to focus on an important message: that business and business schools need to work collectively to devote greater attention to developing responsible companies and leaders in the future.

Mark Drewell, CEO of the GRLI said, "Over the past nine years we have learnt a great deal about catalysing change in the complex interface between management education, business and society. This move creates a platform on which we can transform success into significance as we work to scale our impact in partnership with EFMD and AACSB International."

Eric Cornuel, Director General and CEO of EFMD said, "The GRLI, which we co-founded with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in 2004, plays an important role already in providing direction, support, and visibility to what business schools are doing to foster responsibility and sustainability. However while there has been some initial success, much more remains to be accomplished. GRLI will become the armed wing of our shared ambitions at EFMD and AACSB to accelerate change."

Commenting on the announcement, AACSB International President and CEO John Fernandes said: "In recent years, the role of business as a sustainable and socially responsible enterprise has risen consistent with the world's demand for accountability. Through our accreditations and services, AACSB and EFMD are important stakeholders in addressing society's objectives of sustainability, social responsibility and ethical leadership. This move increases the intensity of our focus in this area, and will enable both organisations to serve our members more fully as they seek to address the challenges of 21st century management education."

EFMD and AACSB will join GRLI's current Board of Directors, by each appointing two representatives that will participate in governing decisions. The two organizations will also provide financial support to bolster GRLI's capacity to achieve its mission.

Detailed discussions will take place amongst the three organisations over the coming months to turn the agreement into a practical programme. This will include making knowledge and expertise developed by the GRLI accessible to EFMD and AACSB members, as well as participation in GRLI's pipeline of projects and its various international events.

Editors Notes

About the GRLI (www.grli.org)
The Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI) is a worldwide partnership of companies and business schools/learning organisations working together in a laboratory of change to develop a next generation of globally responsible leaders. The GRLI engages in thought leadership, advocacy and projects to achieve measurable impact. It's current projects to support the development of responsible management education are concentrated around the implementation of the 50+20 Agenda, a blueprint of management education in service to society launched at Rio+20 in June 2012.

About EFMD (www.efmd.org)
EFMD is a leading international network of business schools and companies (810 members / 82 countries) at the forefront or raising the standards of management education and development globally. EFMD runs the EQUIS and EPAS accreditation systems as well as the EFMD Deans Across Frontiers programme (EDAF) and is one of the key reference points for management education worldwide.

About AACSB International (www.aacsb.edu)
AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), founded in 1916, is an association of more than 1,300 educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations in 81 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As a premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at locations throughout the world. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA and its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore.

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For further information contact:
Mark Drewell (GRLI) +44 7805 568 493 [email protected]

SOURCE EFMD