Innovative pedagogy for sustainable development

by Priya Sharma

Success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development depends on the involvement of various stakeholders, and the business sector plays a critical role in achieving individual targets. Business schools must thus ensure that their curricula and pedagogies equip future leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle global challenges and achieve sustainable development.

The Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME),  a United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) initiative, is one example of an effort to promote the SDGs in academia. PRME works alongside the UNGC and is governed by a board of experts in academia and business. It collaborates with UNGC participants to recruit talent with sustainability mindsets, skills, and capabilities.

Despite this, business schools face challenges. Previously, business education often emphasised the development of cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving, while neglecting the development of other important skills such as emotional, creative, social, and physical skills.

The PRME Impactful 5 (i5) program through its i5 framework seeks to transform business education by emphasising pedagogical approaches that prioritise sustainable development and ensure future leaders are equipped with a more holistic set of skills to address interconnected, dynamic, and complex global challenges. Implemented by PRME's global network of business schools and universities, the i5 program represents a partnership between PRME, The LEGO Foundation, Project ZERO,  Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Sulitest.

In line with the agenda, PRME Chapter ASEAN+ organised the i5 Training and i5 Grant Competition for Innovative Pedagogy for the region’s PRME signatory business schools from 12 April – 14 April 2023.

It was led by Monash University Malaysia lecturer Priya Sharma, Chair of PRME Chapter ASEAN+ and hosted online by De La Salle University, Philippines. The organising committee consisted of the i5 Expert Pedagogy Group representative for ASEAN+, Professor Benito Teehankee, De La Salle University, Philippines; Associate Professor Lin Woon Leong, Taylor’s University, Malaysia;  Dr Vasu Srivibha, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Viek Prayoga Pratama, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia; and Professor Nelson Guillen, De La Salle University, Philippines.

The event began with a two-day training on the i5 framework, which includes the five characteristics of playful learning and focuses on developing five key skills: cognitive, emotional, creative, social, and physical. The i5 characteristics aim to make learning meaningful, facilitate active engagement, design for iteration, develop supportive social interaction, and foster joy and well-being.

To bring the i5 program to fruition, the PRME ASEAN+ chapter created the i5 Grant Competition for Innovative Pedagogy. The competition saw 17 educators and 9 presentations from the ASEAN region compete for four grants worth USD2430 each. The competition was judged by Dr Meredith Storey, PRME i5 Senior Manager, UNGC, New York, USA; Dr. Anne Marie Sidhu, Director of Academy of ESG, ESGRight, Malaysia; and Associate Professor Patch Aure, De La Salle University, Philippines.

The event showcased diverse teaching pedagogies by educators. Some focused on using social enterprise to develop innovative solutions to social challenges. Others utilised business game simulations to enhance core competencies among accounting undergraduates. Interactive tools like Canva, QR codes, ChatGPT, and social media auditing were used to promote active teaching and learning in marketing courses. Finally, a ‘hands-on and minds-on’ approach to delivering a management course was utilised through play with LEGO bricks.

The event received positive feedback from participants. One participant praised it, saying, "I thoroughly enjoyed learning from others through their innovative teaching methods.” Another found the experience "enriching, motivating and impactful." Others expressed their intention to incorporate the i5 framework  into their own teaching, stating, "I find the training and competition very useful. I will incorporate some of the ideas into my teaching."

The i5 program has the potential to revolutionise business education through innovative holistic pedagogy. By institutionalising this approach, the program represents a unique opportunity to drive systemic change in business education, creating a brighter future for generations to come.

PRME Chapter ASEAN+ is proud to announce the winners of the i5 Grant Competition for Innovative Pedagogy 2023 as follows:

  • Associate Professor Chew Yin Teng - Monash University Malaysia
  • Dr Prameshwara Anggahegari - Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
  • Professor Dustine Gavino & John Laurence Robes - De La Salle University, Philippines
  • Dr Siew Eu Gene & Dr Puspavathy Rassiah - Monash University Malaysia

Congratulations to all the winners!