UTS Business School recognised in FT’s Responsible Business Awards

The prestigious FT Responsible Business Education Awards, now in their third year, recognise the contributions of publicly-minded institutions with a sustainability focus and willingness to address the pressing needs of society and the environment, and the researchers and teachers whose efforts are helping to recast business practices around the globe.

UTS Business School was highly commended as Best Overall Business School Committed to a Responsible Ethos, recognising top-performing institutions demonstrating system-wide responsible business principles integrated throughout their teaching, research, operations and student outcomes, and the only Australian university to be featured in the list.

“To be recognised alongside the world’s leading institutions in responsible management is an honour and testament to the passion and dedication of our academics and teaching staff who are working to help business and organisations make better decisions to promote economic and social wellbeing, as well as developing tomorrow’s ethical and socially responsible leaders through our education programs,” said Professor Carl Rhodes, Dean of UTS Business School.

“While UTS Business School has always had a strong focus on working closely with business to apply practical, evidence-based expertise to critical issues of public interest, it’s pleasing to see that impact recognised internationally. It’s even more heartening given we’re just two years into launching our distinctive strategic vision to be a socially-committed business school focused on developing and sharing knowledge for an innovative, sustainable and prosperous economy in a fairer world.”

The award recognised the School’s broad spectrum of ESG-focused initiatives, including its focus on education as a pathway to individual mobility, social diversity and economic equality; the development of dynamic, work-integrated curriculum centred on equipping students with critical skills in technology, innovation and social responsibility; and an innovative research portfolio spanning a range of themes including diversity, health and wellbeing and combating the challenges of climate change.

>> See the full list of Responsible Business Education Awards 2024: Best Overall Business School

RECOGNISING RESEARCH FOR SOCIAL IMPACT

The School’s research impact was also lauded, with Professor of Domestic and Family Violence, Anne Summers AO, highly commended by the FT for Best Academic Research Addressing Societal Challenges Delivering Positive Impact.

Professor Summers' groundbreaking research into the social and economic impacts of domestic and family violence and outlined in her report The Choice: Violence or Poverty resulted in the Australian government committing to policy changes in May 2023 to provide financial support to at least 57,000 single parents – valued at an estimated AU$1.9 billion over four years to help break the cycle of ‘violence-induced poverty’. 

“Anne’s ongoing work in this area is an example of our commitment to rigorous, impactful research that informs policy and creates positive social change,” said Professor Kathy Walsh, Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) at UTS Business School.

“Anne has shown outstanding leadership in translating academic research into real-world impact through deep, ongoing engagement with policymakers, governments and community and business stakeholders to advocate for meaningful social change, and we look forward to Anne continuing her work as she champions critical policy changes needed to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Professor Summers was also recently named one of Australia’s “living legends,” of academia by The Australian and is continuing her advocacy to address the critical social and economic impacts of domestic violence as chair of the national Elsie Conference in March, bringing together public policymakers, researchers and shelter, refuge and community workers