Centre for Business Ethics and Sustainability

CBES' mission

CBES was created in 2020 to bring together existing streams of research with relevance to business ethics as well as sustainability research agenda drawing from and expanding upon the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encourages a multidisciplinary approach to research to examine climate/environmental/green, social, economic and humanistic aspects of ethics and sustainability. CBES seeks to combine rigour with relevance and innovative impact relevant to the Centre’s main research aim. CBES welcomes researchers whose work is crossing and is being informed by a wide variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, business, organisation and management, philosophy, education, history and economic, finance and entrepreneurship disciplines.

Research identity, aims, aspirations and values

CBES encourages a multidisciplinary approach to research to examine climate/environmental/green, social, economic and humanistic aspects of ethics and sustainability.

CBES seeks to combine rigour with relevance and innovative impact relevant to the Centre’s main research aim. CBES welcomes researchers and whose work is crossing disciplines from a wide variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, business, organisation and management, philosophy, education, history and economic, finance and entrepreneurship disciplines.

Altogether these four research identity areas guide action regarding the following CBES values and beliefs:

1) We believe the sustainability crisis facing the planet is unprecedented and difficult to reverse, but our research, education and operation can inspire new values, ways of working and expertise. This will enable more sustainable and ethical business and management. We can open up new pathways for disseminating these via our research, teaching, events, projects, dialogues, publications and collaborations.

2) We believe that human beings are at the forefront for resolving or reversing the current crisis in the world. This solution involves the creation of more ethical and sustainable economies, organisations and education. Our role is to enable collaboration research and wider impact on business ethics and sustainability concerns.

3) We believe that business professionals should be aware of how their toolkits and decisions can mitigate and reverse climate and the environmental crisis. This is one of the most important challenges and opportunities that we face and we aim to resolve it via collaborative interdisciplinary synergies and individual research projects alike.

4) We believe organisations should strive to operate sustainably, balancing economic, social and humanistic considerations. Additionally, we explore how ethical, responsible and sustainable management can impact personal and relational growth with a concern for sustainability, humanistic approaches, the flourishing and the welfare of all involved. Leading synergies for developing responsible management and morally good leadership for a fairer world and a virtuous economy can make a difference.

PhD funded scholarship opportunities

Henley Business School is funding PhD scholarships to topics that align with research topics linking the World of Work, CBES and Africa. For more information, please refer to Henley Business School's PhD opportunities and applications page.

Explore Principles for Repsonsible Management Education (PRME) 17 Working Groups

CBES has a longstanding commitment to PRME, delivering regular reports on how these goals can be integrated into Henley Business School's curriculum, research, partnerships, strategy and operations. PRME Working Groups bring together faculty, researchers and scholars from around the world to advance responsible management education and the UN's SDGs, with each group providing a space for collaboration, research, resource development and dialogue on thematic areas that matter to the global community.

PRME has strengthened the structure and focus of its Working Groups, creating clearer leadership pathways, more opportunities for engagement and a framework for collaboration that reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and global representation.

The PRME Secretariat has announced that the UN now has 17 active Working Groups covering a wide range of thematic areas. From climate action and responsible supply chains to gender equity, anti-corruption, inclusive workplaces, emerging technologies, innovative pedagogies, systems thinking and more, these Working Groups reflect the breadth and urgency of today's global challenges.

CBES invites faculty, external members and collaborators to join a Working Group, where participants can:

• Collaborate with peers across institutions
• Lead and participate in research, events and workshops
• Contribute to resources that advance responsible management education and the SDG
• Provide expertise and help shape the conversations and innovations that will guide the future of responsible management education