A new framework aimed at helping businesses to realize business benefits while advancing global education goals was recently announced by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a CEO summit in New York.Developed by UNESCO, UNICEF, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, and the UN Global Compact (GC), The Smartest Investment: A Framework for Business Engagement in Education helps firms make the case that education is not only good for society but also good for business by outlining how to make the case internally about why they should engage in education, selecting appropriate activities and acting in a responsible manner.
New UN Framework Leverages Business to Benefit Global Education
A new framework aimed at helping businesses to realize business benefits while advancing global education goals was recently announced by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a CEO summit in New York.
Developed by UNESCO, UNICEF, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, and the UN Global Compact (GC), The Smartest Investment: A Framework for Business Engagement in Education helps firms make the case that education is not only good for society but also good for business by outlining how to make the case internally about why they should engage in education, selecting appropriate activities and acting in a responsible manner.
The report draws on the experience that business has the potential for transformational impact in education and can be an effective partner in improving education systems and learning worldwide.
“Business is well placed to engage with educational opportunities, and has a high motivation to do so,” said Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education. “The Framework for Business Engagement in Education will help catalyze corporate action in support of global education goals.”
As of 2011, more than 57 million children of primary school age are still out of school, the GC says. Even when children and youth go to school, often they are not learning; some 250 million children of primary school age cannot read or write — even 130 million of them after spending four years in school.
The results of the flagship Global Corporate Sustainability Report — which was based on survey responses from nearly 2,000 companies worldwide — indicated that corporate leaders see education as the most urgent global development challenge, and also one in which they have a great ability to contribute.
“If all students in low income countries left school with basic reading skills, poverty would fall by 12 percent,” said Mr. Qian Tang, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education. “The Framework for Business Engagement in Education will assist us in working together with the private sector to address global education challenges and create an educated, skilled workforce.”
UNICEF says that innovations are needed to help children learn and access the skills they need to succeed and to be tomorrow’s leaders. Partnerships with the private sector could be among the key forces to ensure a better and brighter future for education, as it has a critical stake in ensuring all individuals — young people and adults alike — have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Realizing that the skills of current and future employees are a core resource for enterprises around the world, firms already have invested in institutions and outreach programs. Universal enrollment in primary education could boost economic growth in low-income countries by two percent per year, according to a UN estimate.
Enterprises involved in global markets often are a conduit to advancement for their employees, as well as for developing economies, GC says. Job training, employee opportunities for advanced education, apprenticeships for young people and the full engagement of the capabilities of women are all areas where a real difference can be made.
“Education is the greatest equalizer,” said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the GC. “It will raise living standards, boost employment, address social unrest and lead to a better future for all.”
The Framework supports the Secretary-General’s Global Education First Initiative, which aims to put every child in school, improve the quality of learning, and foster global citizenship.
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Mike Hower
Founder & Principal Consultant, Hower Impact
Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact — a boutique consultancy delivering best-in-class strategic communication advisory and support for corporate sustainability, ESG and climate tech.
Published Sep 22, 2013 10pm EDT / 7pm PDT / 3am BST / 4am CEST