Research
Responsible business is deeply embedded in Henley’s research and research practices. Our responsible business research has international impact and delivers meaningful real-world relevance.
We are committed to supporting the University’s sustainability research agenda and contributing to excellence in environmental sustainability. Operating within a business and societal context, Henley focuses on the economic and social preconditions necessary for a fairer, more sustainable future. This is reflected in our commitment to transforming business education to prepare our community for the evolving world of work.
Driving real-world impact through diverse, user-focused research
Our core strategic goals of pursuing engaging impactful research, underpinned by rigorous scholarship, ensure that our research delivers meaningful real-world change.
Henley boasts a rich and distinctly diverse disciplinary base, and the breadth of our expertise underpins our ability to conduct research that responds to the needs of user groups; an approach that is deeply embedded in our DNA.
Our research centres
The World of Work Institute (WoWI) acts as an externally focussed centre for impact to help businesses face the future of work by applying innovative research to real workspaces. It encompasses work on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI); sustainable leadership; the impact of AI and automation in the workplace; and flexible work.
The Centre for Business Ethics and Sustainability (CBES) focusses on research relevant to business ethics as well as sustainability, and leads Henley’s research activities aligned to the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education.
The work of WoWI and CBES has synergy and collaboration with Henley’s other Research Centres, including the research on ‘green finance’ undertaken by the Sustainable Finance Group within the ICMA Centre.
Our research projects and outputs
Henley’s community of academic faculty make a major contribution to research relevant to sustainability, ethics, responsibility and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a significant proportion of Henley’s research projects and outputs are in these areas.
We have mapped all peer-reviewed journal articles published by Henley faculty in 2024 against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (using Scopus and SciVal).
36% of these publications contributed to at least one SDG, demonstrating our strong and growing commitment to advancing sustainable development through research.
We also have particular areas of strength against individual SDGs including:
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure),
- SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth),
- SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities),
- and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
These focal areas reflect both the expertise of our faculty and our strategic alignment with the principles of responsible management education.
The following figure shows peer-reviewed journal articles published by Henley faculty linked to the respective SDG, as a percentage of Henley’s overall publication outputs in 2024. One article can be linked to more than one SDG:
Examples of relevant research projects and outputs can be found on the webpages of the World of Work Institute (WoWI), the Centre for Business Ethics and Sustainability and Henley’s other Research Centres.
Receiving the Robert D. Pearce PhD Thesis Prize has greatly motivated me to further pursue research in sustainable business. It reassures me that research in this field is being read, valued and supported, with growing expectations. I hope to pass on the spirit of this prize to others.
Research awards
The Robert D. Pearce Prize celebrates and rewards students who are working to progress innovative ideas in the field of sustainable development aligned to the legacy of Professor Robert Pearce.
Research Seminars and Conferences
Henley’s Research Centres host a range of conferences and seminars which focus on research related to Responsible Management Education.
In November 2025, Henley and the ICMA Centre will host the Climate and Finance Conference 2025, which will focus on the theme of Climate, Finance, and the Energy Transition: Risks, Innovation, and Global Impact.
In April 2026, Henley and The Dunning Centre for International Business will host the 10th biennial International Business Conference.