In September 2019, Queen’s Management School launched an innovative new ‘Business and Human Rights Student Ambassador Programme’ in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum. The purpose of the Programme is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to act as ambassadors to promote ethics and human rights within business during both their academic studies and future professional careers. The Programme is open to students at any level from across Queen’s University. 

Through a series of three interactive workshops, students will cover a diverse range of topics including ‘Becoming a Responsible Leader’, ‘Making Difficult Decisions’, and ‘Managing Challenging Conversations: Advocating for Yourself and Others’. The Programme will conclude with a student-led event in Summer 2020 focused on raising the profile of human rights within business. 

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Chief Commissioner, Les Allamby, said: 

"I welcome this innovative initiative from Queen's Management School and the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum. The Forum recognises that the Student Ambassador Programme presents a unique and important opportunity to equip students to be ambassadors for human rights. 

“Established in 2015, the Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform for business, government, and civil society to exchange knowledge and good practice on business and human rights issues in Northern Ireland. We look forward to expanding the Forum's reach by engaging with students - and potential future business leaders - to enable them to adopt a human rights-based approach to business." 

Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Head of Queen’s Management School, added: 

“At Queen’s Management School we have a longstanding commitment to advancing discussion in relation to ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability within business. We are an Advanced Signatory to the Principles for Responsible Management Education and are currently working to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into our teaching and research. 

“With the support of the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum, the new Student Ambassador Programme will see students from across Queen’s University come together to enhance their knowledge of these important subjects and, ultimately, transfer this learning to the workplace upon graduation”.

For more information about the Business and Human Rights Student Ambassador Programme, or our work related to Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability more broadly, please visit our website here or contact Dr Laura Steele.