Principles for Responsible Management Education

Our Commitment to Sustainability and Responsible Management Education

Transforming Lives Through Education and Leadership

At Southern Cross University, we are driven by a powerful purpose: changing lives through revolutionary learning and research with real impact. Our values— of excellence, boldness, care, ownership, and trust—guide our commitment to preparing future leaders who are equipped to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

A Strategic Approach to Sustainability

Southern Cross University is committed to becoming a global leader in sustainable practices. Our Sustainability Strategy outlines ambitious goals including achieving net zero emissions by 2035, becoming a zero-waste institution, and sourcing 100% renewable energy. This strategy integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across all operations, academic programs, and community engagement.

Proud Signatory to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)

As a proud signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), our faculty is part of a global movement committed to transforming business and management education. Together with institutions worldwide, we recognise the powerful role we play in shaping the values, skills, and mindsets of future leaders. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our teaching, research, and engagement activities are designed to equip students with the capabilities to lead responsibly - balancing economic success with environmental stewardship and social equity.

Final-year business students from Southern Cross University recently completed a transformative Work Integrated Learning (WIL) project in partnership with the Remote OpShop Project, a grassroots initiative supporting remote Australian First Nations communities through sustainable fashion and textile waste reduction. This collaboration enabled students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges, contributing innovative strategies in branding, textile waste management, environmental and social impact, e-commerce, social media, and community engagement. The project not only enriched student learning but also fostered meaningful community outcomes, demonstrating the power of education to drive social and environmental change.

Southern Cross University’s innovative research into black soldier fly farming is transforming food waste into valuable resources through a circular economy model. Led by entomologist Professor Nigel Andrew and polymer scientist Dr Lachlan Yee, the project explores the flies’ ability to rapidly break down organic waste, reducing landfill and greenhouse gas emissions. Their larvae produce chitin, which is converted into chitosan—a biodegradable polymer with applications in wound care and packaging. The initiative also investigates the use of frass as fertiliser and larvae as protein for animal feed. Dr Owen Hogan, a management academic, contributes by examining the commercial scalability of black soldier fly enterprises, highlighting their potential to drive entrepreneurial activity and economic value across regional Australia.

Southern Cross University faculty, led by Professor David Heilpern, advocated for urgent reforms to Australia’s roadside drug testing laws concerning medicinal cannabis. Despite being legally prescribed, patients with THC in their system were criminalised if they drove, even without impairment. Professor Heilpern highlighted the disproportionate impact on rural and regional communities, where losing a driver’s licence could mean losing employment and access to essential services. The article also featured research from the university’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, which had been exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis for conditions such as pain, epilepsy, and cancer, positioning Southern Cross as a leader in plant-to-patient research.

Southern Cross University’s Faculty of Business and Law demonstrates socially responsible engagement through alumni who create meaningful impact locally and globally. Emily Williams, a proud Torres Strait Islander and Consul at the Australian Consulate-General in Nouméa, was named 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year for her leadership grounded in cultural identity, community values, and advocacy. Her work spans crisis response, Indigenous representation at the United Nations, and community development projects across the Pacific, reflecting SCU’s commitment to empowering graduates to lead with integrity, inclusivity, and purpose. These achievements highlight the University’s role in shaping professionals who drive positive change and strengthen connections between education, culture, and community.

Southern Cross University hosted a one-day law conference titled “Land, Sharing and the Law: Innovative Solutions to the Housing Crisis” at its Lismore campus in February 2025. The event addressed the escalating housing affordability and homelessness crisis in the Northern Rivers region, which had been intensified by climate-related disasters such as fires and floods. Law academics Warwick Fisher and Dr Aidan Ricketts reflected on the region’s history of land-sharing movements and advocated for bold, community-led housing solutions that challenged traditional government and corporate models. The conference aimed to empower local voices and encourage innovative responses to the complex challenges of housing insecurity.

Venice School of Management - Università Ca' Foscari Venezia

As an invited guest under the Erasmus+ grant program, Dr Julia Caldicott delivered a compelling three-hour workshop that explored the evolving world of work and the importance of strategic career navigation. Drawing on her expertise in Work Integrated Learning and Responsible Management Education, Dr Caldicott introduced participants to a range of diverse career paths and alternative trajectories suited to today’s dynamic and complex professional landscape. The session encouraged reflection on how individuals can align their career aspirations with global priorities, including sustainability, equity, and ethical leadership.