Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is an organization that has been acting as an international task force since 2007, developing a platform to foster responsible and sustainable practices in management education. WU defines itself as a responsible university and uses the six principles set out by PRME as points of orientation for its work.

In 2020, we reported on the projects we have successfully implemented in recent years in an update entitled “WU – Practice What We Preach.” With this report, WU renewed its commitment to being a responsible university and presented an ambitious plan for the coming years. The focus is on implementing principle No. 2, Social Responsibility, at our university.

We report on our diversity and inclusion strategies, our activities to ensure accessibility, our courses on sustainability topics, the Green Buddies initiative, and on how the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are reflected in our research. The report concludes with our knowledge transfer and third mission initiatives, including events and conferences, student volunteering programs, and our educational programs for the public (Children’s University, WU4Juniors, and LEARN Public).

Austrian-African Research Cooperation

The Austrian-African research network Africa-UniNet was established in January 2020. It is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and aims to create a long-term and stable basis for cooperation between Austrian and African universities and research institutions. The network consists of 63 African and 19 Austrian universities and research institutions. WU is proud to be a founding member.

SIGMA Global Virtual Course

The Societal Impact & Global Management Alliance (SIGMA) is an alliance of top international universities in the field of business, economics, and management. SIGMA members cooperate closely on research and teaching projects. WU developed the SIGMA Global Virtual Course in cooperation with six other universities in the network. The course is based broadly on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students learn about the background and social implications of the SDGs as well as theoretical and practical tools for exploring their application in corporate practice. For more information on the SIGMA Global Virtual Course, please turn to the chapter “Students Take Responsibility”.

The Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS)

WU has been a member of CEMS, previously known as the Community of European Management Schools and International Companies, for over 20 years. Founded in 1988, the CEMS network currently includes 33 international universities, seven Social Partners (NGOs), and 68 Corporate Partners.

The CEMS flagship Master’s in International Management/CEMS (MIM) program teaches management skills in an international context. The program has been available in Austria exclusively at WU since 2008. Students receive a top-quality international education and a prestigious joint degree. WU’s CEMS MIM program is regularly ranked among the best programs in international rankings.

WU is one of the leading universities within the CEMS network and has received numerous awards for its teaching and administration. In 2020, WU was named CEMS School of the Year for the second time. It was awarded this distinction the first time in 2015.

International Legal Network of Excellence (THEMIS)

The THEMIS network focuses on international business law. As part of the THEMIS certificate program, students complete an exchange semester abroad, an internship, and a seminar. Three new universities joined the network in 2020:

• City University of Hong Kong (China)
• National Taiwan University (Republic of China/Taiwan)
• Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)