Financial Times: Business schools learn to ‘do the right thing’ on sustainability
oikos International
Author
This week, our very own Clementine Robert featured in a Financial Times focusing on the change Business Schools are undergoing and their ever-growing concerns over social and environmental impact. “Business schools learn to ‘do the right thing’ on sustainability”
Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter!
This month we take a look at the successful oikos International events over summer like oikos In Residence and St. Gallen Unconference. We also plan for the semester ahead, welcoming new Working Groups members,not to forget that the applications for the positions of vice presidents is open, and will be voted upon in November, to get our new board joining by the end of the year. To top it off – we share with you some exciting upcoming events from the oikos community and our partners. An important date is coming up soon as we announce NexGenLead – the upcoming program organized in collaboration with Swissnex Brazil.
Transform your Education through NexGenLead – oikos CEE Meeting Workshop on Curriculum Change
oikos International
Author
oikos International, in collaboration with swissnex Brazil, is organizing a 3-weeks program to foster your competences on Responsible Leadership. During the oikos CEE meeting, you will have a taste of this program, called NexGenLead. We will provide you an activity that will help you develop your competencies, understand your needs and give you the first tools to lead you in transforming your university and teaching
Facilitator: Marcelo Veloso (Leadership & Sustainability fellow at oikos International & swissnex Brazil)
If you wish to join the session you need to register for the oikos CEE Meeting by filling this form. The first day of the Meeting is entirelly focused on ‘bringing change to the clasroom’ with the second day shifting towards ‘bringing change in business’. Learn more about the oikos CEE Meeting on the event page.
Workshop will be taking place from 12:00 to 13:30 CEST
Apply for becoming a Vice President in the oikos International Board 2021!
We are seeking strategic-minded individuals who are passionate about changing the world.
You are looking to enhance and develop your skills and practice your leadership in a truly global context while learning the ins and outs of international non-profit governance?
Then this is for you: apply as a Vice President and Board member of oikos International!
Opportunities and Benefits
Engage in cross-cultural sustainability projects with a truly international scope and impact;
Guide the direction of the organization and see your vision come to fruition;
Enhance your networks and connections with students, faculty and sustainability professionals from all over the world;
Develop a variety of skills that surely will last beyond your time as a Vice President (eg. leadership, strategy and communication skills by working towards the development of chapters and oikos members around the world)
Work with a high performing and multicultural team in an innovative and open-minded environment
Qualifications
Current Bachelor, Master or PhD students or recent graduates
A commitment to, and a clear understanding of the purpose, mission and vision of oikos;
A minimum of one academic term (4 months) of experience at oikos at any level;
B2/C1 Level in written and spoken english;
Availability for an one-year commitment to oikos, including the handover process until the end of 2021;
Will and availability to dedicate approximately 10 hours per week (40 hours a month) to oikos. In view of this, we request candidates who are planning to go on exchange, graduate or take up a full-time job within the term of their office to carefully consider if you would be able to fulfill a sustained commitment to oikos and to state possible restrictions in the application;
Be available for weekly and monthly calls, annual international meetings and strategy meetings.
Responsibility:
The oikos International Board represents, governs and manages oikos International and its affairs. Representing the oikos membership, the board is given the authority and responsibility for inspiring and empowering the community to move towards our common purpose, mission and vision and for demonstrating its core values. Next to this, expanding the organization’s resilience, and exploring systematic linkage with other organizations engaged in the pursuit of similar objectives are topics that move the board as a whole. Each member of the Board is needed as a proactive and cocreative participant in a body that functions effectively as a whole.
Principal Duties: As a board member, you will..
Empower and inspire the community through practicing leadership and exploring strategic directions for the organization
Pursue a certain thematic role and be accountable to the community for competent, conscientious, and effective accomplishment of this mandate
Develop and oversee the implementation execution of everything related to your mandate
Ensure that adequate systems and processes are in place for assessing the impact of our organization and reporting them to the community and partners
Be in charge of convening and stewarding a team and the necessary financial resources This includes establishing the necessary working groups and working together on the tasks at hand..
At the beginning of the term, the newly elected board will come together to agree on the ways of working and the official roles and responsibilities of each board member in an onsite meeting. Based on these conversations, which aim at cocreating domains that underline our strengths while covering all fields of responsibilities, you will have the opportunity to set the priorities and concrete goals of your role within the whole Board and make them happen within your mandate.
Provide strategic direction in financial management, fundraising, and internal controls; provide oversight of the audit and budgeting processes; reporting key performance indicators under their jurisdiction; and managing working group(s) under their authority.
Consult frequently with the President and oikos International staff in order to remove barriers for project teams; facilitate communications between project teams and the working groups in order to ensure information, expectations, and needs are flowing in both directions; report on key performance indicators under their authority; and manage working group(s) under their authority.
Provide strategic direction in marketing including oikos International’s website, social media accounts, newsletters, print media, and other marketing channels; report key performance indicators under their jurisdiction; and manage working group(s) under their authority.
Provide strategic direction in Alumni management and engagement; report key performance indicators under their jurisdiction; and manage working group(s) under their authority.
Provide strategic direction on the use and optimization of online administrative tools, data management policies & processes, and privacy & security threats & opportunities; report key performance indicators under their jurisdiction; and manage working group(s) under their authority.
Consult frequently with the President and regional facilitators in order to ensure organizational alignment; act as a communication channel for chapters to communicate their needs and escalate any grievances to the Board; report key performance indicators under their jurisdiction; and manage working group(s) under their authority.
Provide strategic direction in staff and volunteer management, set up team structures; revise the meeting culture, onboarding/offboarding of new board members and updating the decision making process. Make the organization sustainable also in its core.
Additionally, all Vice Presidents get to develop their strategy and communication skills by working towards development of chapters.
These fields might give you some orientation for your application – but might be restructured based on the needs of the new team.
Application Process Board 2021
HOW TO APPLY: 5 simple steps for your application
If you are interested in applying, please send an application with the following documents to elections@oikos-international.orgDeadline extended until the 13th of November 2020 0:00am.
Your curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
A motivational letter stating why you wish to apply, how you want to make a difference, the skills and experiences you will bring to oikos, the roles you are interested in and a brief summary of your time availability over the next one year (max. 2 pages);
Your vision for the roles you would like to fulfill in the board of oikos International (max 2 pages)
A short 100-word biography and a picture to be put on the oikos website.
A 5-minute video to introduce your candidature during the legislative meeting in November
All documents will be published on the website and deleted after the election process.
All applicants have to attend the virtual legislative meeting on 29.11.2020 via zoom in order to be able to defend their application and run for election. Applicants will be given 5 minutes to present their candidature in a recorded video.
The election of the Vice Presidents is a democratic process involving all chapters holding the status of a full membership.
The annual oikos Alumni conference took place at the end of August in St Gallen, welcoming participants joining both in person and online. From Friday 21st until Saturday 22nd, 26 people from 11 countries gathered for the second time to make the Unconference a success for the second time. We learned, we laughed, we debated and together hosted 12 inspiring workshops over the course of the two days.
New times, new formats – challenge accepted!
Challenges are better dealt with from a positive perspective, which is why we considered this very unusual and difficult year an opportunity to try out new things.
We decided to take on the difficult task of creating a format which allows people physically gathering in the same place to interact in a fun and productive manner with people checking in from home, in front of their computer screens. Our objective was to create a new and unique open space for all, allowing a similar flow as (the so far “normal) physical gatherings of workshop participants
The main obstacle was to bring people of different locations together through a screen while keeping the creative atmosphere of some of them interacting, physically present in the same room. On top of it we had to make sure the event wouldn’t pose a health risk to any of the participants. The safe distance between them, although it took a little to get used to, in the end proved to be no obstacle in keeping the classic oikos atmosphere and the feeling of togetherness among everyone present.
How did we go about it?
Having a projector and camera at hand during the various slots, we added an interactive online whiteboard tool, considering it a good way to make it accessible also to the online participants on the one hand and keep physically attending attendants in touch with their devices to keep a close link to the online community.
What participants said?
“As one of the concluding workshops to the Unconference, it addressed the need for specific competences in leadership during times of uncertainty. Our capacity to lead our teams and peers is often put to the test during dire times, and identifying the challenges is the first step in pushing ahead. The preceding workshops on the importance of powerful questions and effective communication provided a good foundation for this session since they form the cornerstone of good leadership. The workshop was moderated to perfection as we managed to identify the specific challenges, categorized them, described the necessary competences, where to obtain them, and established certain “Best Practices” that would give some of us an anchor point. I’ve had to personally make some tough decisions, and it was rather cathartic to reflect on them and identify my lapses. I’m glad I got to learn from people who have handled situations better than I have. It’s often the best way to get started.”
Shyam Sri, on “Leadership in time of uncertainties” workshop
Facing the complexity of or world, what is under our control? What can we consider as right action? In our session on Sustainability & Virtue Ethics, we explored how tending to old philosophers’ wisdom can give us guidance in these uncertain and turbulent times. I enjoyed following the outlines of stoicism and how they invite us to reflect on our role as a human beings in the cosmopolis. The stoic virtues of courage, practical wisdom, temperance and justice came out to be very applicable and resonated with many change agents in the room. Together, we applied our new insights using a decision making canvas that can help us to step into virtuous action.
Sophie Charrois, on “How to have conversations about Climate Change in your daily life” workshop
Takeaways
This second edition, a bit particular, has been a huge success. The combinaison of the online & online participant is a great added value for those who can’t attend and therefore to bring the diversity our network represents. Members from anywhere in the world could attend, we even had a session organised by a member located in Brazil and other participants from outside Europe.
To go further, feel free to have a look at our digital whiteboard. Next year, we hope having every session captured in it. Link : https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_knsfjKI=/
What’s next?
We take a little autumn vacation, so we will be energized to get to planning the 3rd edition of the St Gallen Unconference in St Gallen and online. In case you are interested to join the team and bring in your thoughts and ideas for the next event please let us know and we will add you to our team calls which should be starting in October/November 2020.
In case you will enjoy the surprises we come up with until next year and rather play your part during the next conference as an attendee and/or workshop facilitator, mark your calendars because we are looking forward to see you next year in St Gallen :
As we find ourselves at the beginning of another academic year we prepare for the months of action in the oikos community ahead of us. Both on local and international level oikees around the world will be working hard and together in achiveing the oikos mission and vision.
Working Groups present an amazing opportunity for oikos chapter members who wish to get engaged at an international level and at the same time learn, exchange, discuss and work together in a unique oikos atmosphere and help bring change towards a sustainable world of tomorrow.
Wether you’re simply passionate about sustainability, want to develop skills and expand your network or take part in shaping what oikos International does – we’d love to have you aboard!
Learn more about different working groups and how to join them here.
Aswissnex Brazil and oikos International partnership
NexGenLead is a 3-week program in November 2020 aiming to facilitate a worldwide virtual community of students to dialogue on Leadership & Sustainability. While exchanging different local perspectives on those matters, students will become better equipped to identify future sustainability challenges and the competencies needed to solve them. At the end of the program, they will have the fundamental knowledge, vision, will and tools to create their curriculum for leadership & sustainability.
We strongly believe that diversity and inclusion are key. Join us already for the co-creation of this program by sending an email to marcelo.veloso@oikos-international.org
