Without being exhaustive, the 2023 Self Assessment Progress report will illustrates our commitment and determination to work in accordance with the fundamental principles of the PRME network, with the constant will to accelerate the awareness of our society, to participate in the development of a positive social impact on our environment and to lead the HEC Liège community in the same direction.
Wilfried Niessen, HEC Liège Director General & Dean
Liège, August 21, 2023
Executive summary:
HEC Liège is currently running its 2019-2024 strategic plan, which was collectively established. The keyword was evolution, not revolution. In this framework, our 3 traditional missions (Education – Research – Citizenship/Service) are crossed by two transversal objectives: internationalization on the one hand and societal transformation on the other hand. Societal transformation is understood as having 3 aspects: digital, entrepreneurial and responsible, ethical and sustainable transformation.
To address its transition – and in line with its 2019-2024 strategy, HEC Liège recently created the S’LAB: a platform service. Its ambition is to unite and activate members of the HEC community to position themselves as actors of change, with a view to accelerating the ecological and social transition of the School and its stakeholders. This report presents the integrated vision of sustainability in all aspects of our school.
ERS issues are translated into all our programs through the targeted competences (consciousness of societal and environmental issues, critical and ethical mind, etc.), dedicated courses in every cycle (bachelor, master, PhD) and skills workshops. At the bachelor level, 40% of courses address ERS dimensions and 59% at the master’s level.
Researchers at HEC Liège pursue research with impact and contribute to the transition of our society. Our fellows demonstrate a continued and strong interest in contributing to research on sustainability: Over the past years, HEC Liège has consistently dedicated 30% of its scientific publications to several sustainable development goals or business models and organizational practices for a sustainable transition.
One of the School distinctiveness comes from its corporate networks. Great importance is placed on the impact and relevance of the School within its region. Our strong commitment to business engagement is reflected in our governance, the content and pedagogy of our courses, the employability support for students and alumni, the internship opportunities, the relevance and direct funding of our research, our Executive Education programs, and our profile-raising events with business partners. We want to be a central hub from which we share and transfer our skills, internationally recognized research and expertise to our local community and international partners.
HEC-Liège is fully integrated within the University of Liège. ULiège and HEC-Liège have formally committed to ERS principles through a variety of regulations promoting Ethics and Scientific Integrity, fighting fraud and plagiarism, incorporating environmental excellence in infrastructure, operations, and administration, applying social equity, well-being concerns and non-discrimination in HRM policy, registrations (with financial support for students who need it), supporting the economic development of our local community and our international partners etc. S’Lab works in close collaboration with other sustainable development players at ULiège : Green Office, NGO Eclosio, Pot’Ingé, etc.
S’LAB has worked over the last two years to define its action plan. All members of the HEC community have been involved in the discussions during various theme days (on teaching, research, and the construction of the action plan itself). The numerous discussions fed into the various work field that were presented to and validated by the Management Board in December 2022. To ensure the success of these various areas of work, it was decided to hire a full-time Sustainability Manager in 2023, who will be responsible for carrying them out. Our action plan included 4 projects: Impact Fund, Ambassadors, Sustainability Reporting and Students house with projects.
