Memorandums of Understanding
International linkages through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with universities and colleges around the world lay the groundwork for dynamic international opportunities for MacEwan faculty, staff and students. International Study Tours are just one way in which MacEwan maximizes these linkages. Study Tours take students to visit the world’s burgeoning economies, providing first-hand experiences that augment and expand on learning taken place in the classroom.
Principles of Responsible Management Education
MacEwan School of Business announced its participation in the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) in February 2011. A project associated with the United Nations Global Compact, it provides the platform for business schools around the world to commit to integrating a set of principles of responsible management education into their operations. MacEwan’s participation in PRME will include a range of projects and involvement opportunities for faculty and students in Edmonton and overseas including conferences, speakers, project sponsorships and educational events.
Students in Free Enterprise
MacEwan School of Business has also joined Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), an organization of 48,000 that brings together students, academics and business leaders to work towards using business practices to build a better and more sustainable world. MacEwan students involved in SIFE will have the opportunity to participate in competitions, to connect with students from around the world, and be challenged to develop their own path at MacEwan for articulating the practices and values they are exposed to everyday.
Study Abroad
The School of Business currently offers study tours to Brazil, China and India. Study tours are offered in spring term and consist of a pre-departure orientation week in Edmonton and two weeks abroad. The study tours allow students to learn about international business in ways that are impossible to simulate in the classroom.
Feedback such as, “I did more, saw more, and learned more in a shorter period of time than I ever thought possible,” and, “I honestly learned more in this study tour than I could ever hope for from another course,” reinforces the value these courses add to a student's program of study.
Our International Partners
The MacEwan School of Business has extensive “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) connections with universities and colleges throughout the world. Active partnering with the following list of institutions lays groundwork for dynamic international opportunities for faculty, staff and students:
- Athlone Institute of Technology (Ireland)
- Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences (Austria)
- Hogeschool van Arnhen en Nijmegen (Netherlands)
- Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Switzerland)
- International Institute of Business (Ukraine)
- China University of Petroleum (China)
- Education Forum for Asia (China)
- Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (China)
- Asia Pacific Institute of Management (India)
- Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development (India)
- Nagoya Gaukuin University (Japan)
- Washington Institute (USA)
- Grupo IBMEC (Brazil)
MacEwan School of Business expects to sign MOUs with the following institutions shortly:
- Hangzhou Dianzi University (China)
- Shandong University (China)
Principles of Responsible Management Education
In line with the Mandate, Values, and Mission of MacEwan University, the MacEwan School of Business announced its participation in the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), on February 1st, 2011.
The PRME initiative calls for academic institutions of management education to develop new generations of enlightened business leaders. By signing on to PRME, MacEwan School of Business commits to transforming its curricula, research and teaching methods in order to engage in universally recognized values in the areas of human rights, labour rights, environmental sustainability and anti-corruption.
Check out what MacEwan School of Business has done to support the PRME initiative by downloading the 2011 SIP Report.
What is PRME?
PRME was first introduced by the UN Global Compact Office (UNGC) in a global forum in 2006. A task force was then set up under the auspices of the UNGC and leading academic institutions to prepare a set of six principles on which to create a framework for enlightened, globally responsible management education. The PRME initiative was presented as a coherent project at the Global Leaders Summit in Geneva, Switzerland in 2007 in the presence of more than 1000 business, civil society, and government leaders. By participating in PRME, MacEwan joins hundreds of educational institutions and associations from around the world committed to achieving a more inclusive and sustainable global economy.
“The PRME initiative has been very well received by the business community. I believe the initiative can serve as an effective guiding framework for a systemic curriculum change in the spirit of the Global Compact principles” – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, 2008
The 6 Principles
For institutions involved in the education of current and future managers, who sign on to PRME, signing onto PRME signifies that they voluntarily commit to engage in a continuous process of improvement guided by the following principles and their application, and to report on their progress to foster practices of exchange with other academic institutions.
- Purpose: We will develop the capabilities of students to be future generators of sustainable value for business and society at large and to work for an inclusive and sustainable global economy.
- Values: We will incorporate into our academic activities and curricula the values of global social responsibility as portrayed in international initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact.
- Method: We will create educational frameworks, materials, processes and environments that enable effective learning experiences for responsible leadership.
- Research: We will engage in conceptual and empirical research that advances our understanding about the role, dynamics, and impact of corporations in the creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value.
- Partnership: We will interact with managers of business corporations to extend our knowledge of their challenges in meeting social and environmental responsibilities and to explore jointly effective approaches to meeting these challenges.
- Dialogue: We will facilitate and support dialog and debate among educators, business, government, consumers, media, civil society organizations and other interested groups and stakeholders on critical issues related to global social responsibility and sustainability.
For more information on PRME, visit www.unprme.org
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
Students in Free Enterprise, otherwise known as SIFE, is a world-wide student organization with over 45,000 participants. Its mandate is to bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. SIFE is not just a business organization but a student-driven organization that is open to anyone with a passion to help others.
SIFE at MacEwan Universisty
MacEwan University students involved in SIFE will have the opportunity to participate in competitions, to connect with students from around the world, and be challenged to develop their own path at MacEwan for articulating the practices and values they are exposed to everyday.
MacEwan School of Business students first adopted the SIFE initiative in 2011. Through a strong presence in the School of Business the SIFE team has created two main projects to help with SIFE's goal of targeting and helping people in need.
SIFE Projects
The Financial Literacy project was created to help people with their personal finances. To many people finance is scary. There are a lot of numbers and a lot of terms that very few people have heard of. As a result, people would rather entrust their finances to someone else rather than to have to deal with them on their own. The SIFE team's goal is to teach people the inner workings of things like mortgages, loans, and credit work, and how easy budgeting can be when planning for the future.
The Business Consulting project will aim to help small business, non-profits, and charities around the city. The SIFE team has recognized these companies and their dedication to helping others and would like to support these businesses in the areas of marketing, accounting, and product analysis.
Contact Information
Email: sifemacewanuniversity@gmail.com
Facebook: sifemacewanuniversity
For more information on the SIFE world-wide organization please visit www.sife.org

