Academics from Nottingham University Business School receive prestigious PRME Education Awards

Academics from Nottingham University Business School have been recognised by the prestigious and globally renowned UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) for their contribution to innovation and impact in responsible management education.

Marina Novelli, Professor of Marketing and Tourism and Director of the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre (STTAR-Centre) and Dr Niamh O’Sullivan, Assistant Professor in Sustainable Business, in the  Work, Organisation and Management (WOM) Department, were among the select winners of the 2025 PRME Education Awards for their exceptional contributions.

PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative of the UN Global Compact, and awards business and management schools for their excellence in embedding sustainability and responsible management practices into business education.

Professor Marina Novelli

Professor Novelli won the PRME Award for Outreach and Partnership in recognition of her extensive impactful and sustainable outreach efforts, achieved through partnerships in the tourism sector. Her work demonstrated strategic collaboration at global, national and local level with particular emphasis on community inclusion and impact far beyond tourism. Judges highlighted the relevance and longevity of the partnerships, as well as Professor Novelli’s role in shaping inclusive, values-driven networks. She said:

“I am humbled and proud to be the recipient of this year's PRME Outreach and Partnership Award as it is a recognition of 25 years' commitment to collaborative and impact centred research. Over the years, I have been privileged to work in many locations around the world, which has enabled me to learn from being in the field with an incredibly inspiring set of people. Without their input, dedication and encouragement I would not have been here today, and I would like to dedicate this award to them.”

The submission reflected a sophisticated understanding of partnership as a lever for systemic transformation and cross-sector dialogue. Her work elevates the role of academic partnerships in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and her leadership offers a compelling blueprint for outreach that is both impactful and enduring. She added:

“This award comes at a critical moment when outreach and impact-led research is addressing some of the most pressing global challenges in contemporary society. I remain committed to continue on this path with the hope to collaborate and partner with many more inspiring individuals and organisations, which have at heart the importance of identifying innovative ways in which tourism can truly be a force for good for years to come.”

Dr Niamh O’Sullivan

Dr Niamh O’Sullivan received an honourable mention in the PRME Award for Teaching and Pedagogy for her engaging, PRME-aligned approach to sustainable and responsible management curriculum development and delivery. Judges were impressed with her thoughtful and innovative module design, interdisciplinary perspective, and the compelling manner in which sustainability, ethics and social responsibility were integrated into classroom learning and practice. The module was also recognised for its substantial student impact.

The approach by Dr O’Sullivan models the experiential and critical pedagogy needed to equip students with the knowledge, mindset and skills to lead businesses responsibly. Her work is a powerful example of how meaningful, values-aligned teaching practice can transform learner experiences and outcomes. She said:

“I am deeply grateful to the PRME Committee for providing me with an honourable mention in this year’s PRME Teaching & Pedagogy Awards. It is both wonderful and very humbling to receive such recognition, especially as there is some incredible work being conducted by fellow educators in other business schools internationally at the moment. 

“I also cannot take full recognition for this award, as it is the culmination of over 10 years of exceptional teamwork in the ‘Sustainable Decisions and Organisations (SDO)’ module I convene with a group of highly talented and committed external industry and media partners, internal learning technologies and student careers colleagues, and past SDO visionaries Professor Jeremy Moon and Professor Wendy Chapple. This award is for all of the past and current SDO contributors and partners.”

About the PRME Education Awards

A judging committee of the PRME Secretariat and PRME-affiliated academic leaders judged 61 submissions from 14 countries to select seven individual winners and one team for their ability to inspire meaningful change in the way future business leaders are educated.

The 2025 awardees exemplify what’s possible when educators thoughtfully integrate the SDGs and Principles of PRME into teaching, research, leadership, and institutional practice. Their efforts have not only elevated student learning and skill development but also contributed to a more sustainable, inclusive, and globally relevant model of business education. By celebrating these leading examples, PRME aims to inspire continued innovation and shared learning across its global network.

All of the awardees were recognised at the in-person 2025 PRME Global Forum – held on 9-10 June, and hosted by the Cornell SC Johnson School of Business at the Cornell Tech campus in New York City, US – for their contributions to advancing sustainability education in business and management schools worldwide.