United Nations’ Global Compact: Annual Report from the ICN Business School,
Nancy, France
November 2007 .
Introduction
As an integral part of its commitment to the UN Global Compact and its Principles of Responsible
Management Education, the ICN Business School is pleased to submit a report of its activities on the anniversary of its membership.
The report below indicates some of the actions and decisions taken throughout the academic year
2006-2007 in support of the Global Compact. Since this is the first such report, structures put in place and activities carried out prior to our signing the UNGC are also mentioned.
1 School Mission and Values (a copy of the School’s Mission Statement is annexed at the end of this report).
As a major contribution to its search for excellence and quality in management education, the ICN Business School adopted in 2005 a Mission Statement, which includes three fundamental values: Commitment, Communication and Innovation.
By ‘Commitment’, the School means the education and training of ‘responsible and commited’ managers, managers whose concerns are wider and more altruistic than the single pursuit of increased turnover and profit. The School seeks to develop in its graduate managers an awareness of, and a commitment to the kind of values inherent in the UNGC
Principles of Responsible Management Education.
As an indication that the ICN was actively involved in promoting ethical issues before its commitment to the UNGC, the School identified three major axes of research, one of which is Business and Society. A dedicated group of Faculty have therefore, for a number of years, been researching into those issues which are an integral part of the
Global Compact.
Consequently the School saw in the Global Compact an ideal opportunity to demonstrate to its Faculty, students and external stakeholders, that the values it wished to disseminate were shared by a much wider constituency than the School in which they research, teach and learn.
The School sees its commitment to the UNGC in September 2006 as a symbiotic
relationship between the two institutions. On the one hand the UNGC strengthens the
School’s resolve to provide programs in management education which are inspired by the values of sustainable development, fair trade, equal opportunities, a commitment to anticorruption, etc. On the other hand the ICN Business School provides active support for the
UNGC initiative by promoting the principles of responsible management in its programs and associated activities.
Action and Results:
- To achieve these objectives, the School decided to add the UNGC logo to all its
communication supports, such as program publicity documents, letter-headed notepaper, web-site, etc.
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- The School invited the Quality Assurance Group to assume responsibility for communicating with UNGC, and collating information useful for the annual report.
The Quality Assurance Group also liaises with the School’s research group, which is specifically concerned with research and publications on the theme of Business and
Society (see below under ‘Research and Publications’).
- Both the Director General of the ICN Business School, Dr Stéphane BOITEUX and the Director for Communities Outreach Strategy, Dr Christine MORIN-ESTEVES, made specific mention, during their welcome to this year’s new students and to
Faculty at the start of the academic year, of the School’s commitment to the principles of the UNGC. This will become an ongoing tradition in order to set an ethical context for all management studies.
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2 School activities 2006-2007
2.1 Organisation, Structure and Human Resources
Research
The School has as one of its major research themes ‘Business and Society’. This group of Faculty is now the focus for research, publications, and conference papers on UNGC themes. In liaison with the Quality Assurance Group, they are also major actors in communicating reports and publications to all School staf and students.
(See below for details).
Communities Outreach
The School has recently (January 2007) appointed Dr Christine MORIN-ESTEVES to the post of Director for Communities Outreach Strategy. This is intended to promote activities by Faculty and students in support of local and regional communities. (See below for details).
Quality Assurance
John BRAMLEY, as Director for Quality Assurance, was given the specific brief in
Sept 2006, following the School’s signature to the UNGC, to liaise with UNGC, to diffuse information on UNGC activities and requirements, to collect relevant information on the UNGC, and generally promote awareness of the Compact and its principles. As such he became a member of the School’s working group on
Sustainable Development and related issues, chaired by Dr Silvester IVANAJ, and reporting to the School’s Research and Innovation Committee. The School thus sees the Global Compact themes as an issue of Quality Assurance.
International Telecommunications Union
Dr Didier FASS (ICN / National Engineering School, Nancy) has recently been appointed to the Forums Committee of the International Telecommunications
Union, the NTIC branch of the UNO’s work.
2.2 Teaching/ Learning
Teaching, in its many forms, constitutes the main thrust of the ICN Business School’s academic activity. The ICN however puts student-centred learning objectives at the heart of its teaching approach. A number of courses and learning scenarios formalise the opportunities for students to respond to the environmental and ethical questions facing tomorrow’s businesses.
- Within its overall remit to train responsible managers for tomorrow’s companies, the School has included major course modules on such issues in the final year of the Degree programme.
‘The Business Environment and Sustainable Development: an issue for
tomorrow’s companies’. Tutor: Dr Stéphanie ARNAUD
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Here both ICN Faculty and guest lecturers look at a range of issues, complemented by practical problem-solving cases, eg ‘The Social Responsibility of Companies’ module given by Dr Thierry JACQUOT.
‘Enjeux d’un Management Humaniste’ Tutor : Dr Stéphanie ARNAUD. The course looks at all aspects of the HRM dimension of management, with inputs from humanist philosophy and more recent research studies.
- The ICN, in conjunction with the Nancy Engineering School, offers an ARTEM workshop on ‘l’Espace de Travail et sa Dématérialisation’ which includes ethical considerations of workplace behaviour and the physical working environment. The tutors are Ms Dominique BILLIER and Dr Didier FASS. Also associated with the program are the French companies Electricité de France, Est-
Républicain, and La Société Générale. As part of the program, students will have the opportunity to meet Fernando LAGRANA, executive Secretary to the ITU
Board, who will be a guest speaker at the student workshop and in a Faculty research seminar in January 2008.
- The following are examples of other ARTEM workshops with an ethical or environmental theme. They are not tutored or managed exclusively by ICN
Faculty, but ICN students can (and do) opt to follow these workshop studies as part of their ICN Grande Ecole Degree.
‘Espaces, Paysages et Energies renouvelables’. Tutor : Prof. Thomas
FROEHLICHER.
‘Environnement, Industrie Propre et Développement Durable’. Tutor :
Philippe SESSIECQ.
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‘Cyndinique ou Sciences du Danger’. Tutor: Dr Thierry VERDEL.
Starting in September 2008 the Department of Finance, Audit, Control and
Accounting will offer a course in the series of ARTEM workshops entitled ‘Micro-
finance and Socially Responsible Investment’ for students from the three
Schools involved in the ARTEM partnership, the ICN Business School, the Nancy
National School of Engineering, and the Nancy National School of Art.
Student participation in Local/Regional Development projects
‘Lunéville: alternative energies for public transport’
The School lays much emphasis on student-initiated, project-based learning. As one of the ARTEM projects (see above) a group of students tutored by ICN Faculty members Mme Marie-France CLERC-GIRARD and Jean GRENIER-GODARD is currently carrying out a feasibility study for alternative energies to drive the public transport system of Lunéville Community, a medium-sized grouping of communes in the region of Nancy. Students from the ICN are working in cooperation with students from the National School of Engineering in Nancy, the
University of Nancy and the ESSTIN, on a project which has also attracted the attention of the French national government and the car manufacturer Renault.
Two students Grégory KOTNAROVSKY and Emilie RABEYRIN are project leaders. The ICN is believed to be the first Grande Ecole de Commerce to be involved in a project to examine the applicability of bio-fuels, in this instance vegetable oils, to a public transport system.
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2.3 Research
Research strategy. The ICN has identified 3 major axes of research activity which reflect the strengths of its research Faculy, and the needs of regional and national businesses. In this they enable the School to achieve, in practical ways, its overall mission. One such area of research is Business and Society. The group is researching into three major themes:
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2 examples of ethical and environmental practices and policies, the impact of the environment and its different stakeholders on attempts to formulate corporate policy, and
3 the different ways in which companies can influence external actors (eg. local and regional government) in their concern to implement environmentally friendly policies.
Examples of such research and publications include:
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‘Assessing the Sustainable Development Commitment of Multinational
Companies’ Joint Conference paper presented at Atlanta College, Georgia, USA, in September 2006 by Dr Silvester IVANAJ, Mr Jacky KOEHL, Dr Sandrine
PENEY, and Dr Günter SCHUMACHER.
Dr Silvester IVANAJ and Dr Vera IVANAJ (ICN Faculty) were invited to be joint editors, along with Dr John R McINTYRE (Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, Georgia, USA) of a special edition of the ‘Multinational Business Review’, dedicated to ‘Sustainable Development and the Multinational Corporation as
a Tool of Competitiveness’, published by the John Cook School of Business, Saint
Louis University, USA (Vol 15 Number 1, July 2007). In the book, Dr Vera
IVANAJ, has contributed a chapter with Dr Patrick BARTHEL, on ‘Is Sustainable
Development in Multinational Enterprises a Marketing Issue?’
- ‘Coopératives et Mutuelles: Impact du Statut sur l’efficacité et
l’organisation managériale’ (includes a discussion of collective interest and
mutual help). Dr Stéphanie ARNAUD. Paper presented at ISTEC conference.
September 2007.
- ‘Respect de la vie personnelle des Salariés dans la Relation de Travail’ Dr
Stéphanie ARNAUD. Doctoral thesis, presented October 2006.
- ‘Apports de la Philosophie Humaniste à la GRH’. Dr Stéphanie ARNAUD.
Paper presented at the IAE (University of Corsica) October 2007.
- ‘La Discrimination au Travail’ Empirical study based on questionnaire returns currently being undertaken by Dr Stéphanie ARNAUD and Dr Jean-Louis
PERNIN (IAE Toulouse). For publication in 2008.
- Dr Didier FASS (ICN) and Mr LAGRANA (Executive Secretary to the ITU Board) have jointly set up the Fédération des Associations Françaises des Sciences
et Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication, which is currently carrying out an empirical study into the ethical considerations of doctoral students in the fields of new technologies and health care. The report is due in 2008.
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2.4 Student- initiated activities
The following are examples of ways in which students are demonstrating their awareness and concern for UNGC issues and incorporating these into their pro-active learning programs.
2.4.1. Final Year Research Dissertation (Mémoire)
As part of their final year management programme at the ICN students are required to submit a research dissertation (approximately 60-70 pages of text, plus annexes, statistical and other tables, etc.) These are defended in an oral presentation by the student before a panel comprising a member of academic staff (the dissertation supervisor) and an invited representative from the company where the student has completed his/her management placement. An increasing number of students are opting for topics for their research dissertation, which relate specifically to environmental or other ethical issues in management. A few examples of these include:
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‘Corporate Social Responsibility: philanthropic choice or economic necessity?’ submitted by Mlle Anne Burgues, 15 October 2006.
‘Le Plafond de verre: dans les têtes ou dans les faits ?’ submitted by Mlle Colette
BOCK, 20 June 2007.
‘Peut-on quantifier la Qualité ? Le cas de 6 Sigma’ submitted by M Thibault
DUFAY, 15 May 2007
‘Egalité des Chances dans le secteur Bancaire : Symbole ou approche
fondamentale de la gestion des ressources humaines ?’ submitted by Mlle Alice
WEIL, 9 May 2007
‘La Stratégie Développementale de l’Union Européenne.’ submitted by Mlle Brune
NOUAILLAC, 11 May 2007
2.4.2 Student Humanitarian Projects
All students at the ICN Business School are required to participate in a two year project which takes them outside the confines of the classroom and the School buildings, and gives them real opportunities to demonstrate their skills in management, marketing, finance, team leadership, etc. Many students opt to participate in a humanitarian project.
The following are examples of such projects, illustrating the role of students in the choice of their study program and their concern for humanitarian, ethical and environmental issues:
‘BurkinH’2O’
This project is now in its sixth year (the principle is that new students ‘take over’ the project from their predecessors on year 2 of the ICN Grande Ecole
Degree). The objective is to sponsor the digging of water wells in
villages in Burkina Faso where traditionally women and children have walked long distances each day to collect fresh water for the village’s domestic needs. So far, two villages have been equipped with water wells.
The students work in collaboration with non-governmental agencies. In the case of Burkina H2O, the work also extends to i) organising and training the inhabitants of the village in the techniques of maintenance and management of the water wells, ii) teaching the children of the village, and iii) in Nancy, running a campaign in local Schools to make French children aware of the problems of water supply and the difficulties of life without running water.
‘Latina’
Students collect teaching materials for Schools on the outskirts of Lima, the capital of Peru. Each year a group of students from the group visits the villages targeted by the campaign.
‘Mekong’
This project involves students in collecting medical supplies and
teaching materials for hospitals and schools in Vietnam. As with other projects, students are helped by a Faculty tutor but take total responsibility themselves for the management of the project, including the prospection for sponsors. In all cases of humanitarian projects, students visit the country and manage the operation whilst abroad, completing the logistics of the operation and helping to distribute the products they have collected in the schools and hospitals targeted. They finance their personal visit entirely from their own pockets.
‘Nature’N’Cimes’
The project Nature’N’Cimes has as its objective the improvement of the
environment, both generally, and more specifically, the immediate environment of the ICN Business School itself. Students remove jettisoned paper, ensure that lights are switched off after classroom use, and collect waste items such as plastic bottle caps, either for re-cycling or for use by other humanitarian and charitable causes. Students also publish a regular
Information Bulletin on their activities and on ideas for further improving the environment.
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‘Ôptimisme’ and ‘Atomic’
These two associations operate within the School’s Outreach strategy. The objective is to help teeanagers to perform better in their studies and maintain their motivation for pursuing their studies, Ôptimisme in the case of Collège pupils in the towns of Nancy and Toul, and Atomic in the case of
Lycée students.
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A recent development in the students’ learning via humanitarian and other associations is the requirement that all such associations must incorporate into their work an aspect of sustainable development, environmental protection, etc.
2.4.3 Student participation in National Competitive Projects
‘Concours Ethique Professionnelle’
For two years now ICN students have participated in the ‘Concours Ethique Professionnelle’.
This competition, which requires students to write an essay on ethical probems relating to business practice, is sponsored by Rotary International, the Conférence des Grandes
Ecoles and by UNESCO, which provides the premises for the final award ceremony. The project is tutored by Dr Sandrine PENEY, a member of ICN Faculty actively engaged in the School’s research team on ‘Business and Society. In 2006 an ICN student Olivier
DINTRICH, won the prize for the best essay in the northeast of France, and in 2007, another ICN student Bruno DELESTAL took the regional first prize.
‘Génération Développement Durable’
During 2007-2008 we are hoping to capitalise on the success of students in the Concours Ethique by entering student essays in the national competition organised by the ADEME, in collaboration with the magazine ‘La
Recherche’.
The objective here is to reflect on the kind of urban environment in which future generations might wish to live. The student presentations must include discussion of issues concerned with transport and building energy conservation, climate change, pollution and social cohesion. The project, called ‘Objectif Ville Durable:
inventer la cité de demain’ will be supervised by Dr
Sandrine PENEY.
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Daily Life at ICN
3.1 Paper Economies
- In May 2007 the School initiated a particular drive to reduce the use of paper in its day-to-day activities. This reflects both the School’s concern to be more cost-conscious but also to respond to concerns expressed by students and academic and administrative staff about paper wastage and the effective and efficient use of scarce resources. The results of this exercice will be closely monitored and communicated. Any quantifiable results will be reported in the next annual report.
With effect from 2008 the in-house Xerox reproduction service will be using recycled paper.
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The School has taken the decision to distribute copies of class syllabuses and teaching / learning documents on line to students.
3.2 Waste Re-cycling
- In June 2007 staff in the School’s Maintenance and Logistics Service purchased purposely designed waste paper bins to enable Faculty and staff in administrative support offices to sort paper and other waste into recyclable and non-recyclable materials. It is intended in this way to make a positive
3.3 Economies of energy with computers
- contribution to energy and resource conservation, and increase awareness of these environmental issues.
The ICN’s Information Technology Service is currently replacing existing computers at all student workstations by a mini-unit (‘client léger’) which relays the student’s keyboard and screen to a central server. This reduces the considerable heat generated by a room full of computers. It also enables staff to update or re-configure machines more easily and more economically in that only the one central server needs to be modified. It finally represents a saving in work space at the students’ workstations, enabling them to work more comfortably.
3.4 Library of Management
- The Management Libray has replaced all existing light bulbs with low-energy light bulbs, to make cost and energy savings.
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The Library has also re-configured all printers to print ‘back to back’ to save on paper usage.
3.5 Internships and Careers Service
The Internships and Careers Service is gradually moving towards the practice of a paperless office, with paper being used only where an original signature is required on documents. For example the Service’s communication to students of some 7000 offers of internships each year is now done electronically.
Community Outreach activity
- The ICN was quick to repond to the French Government’s initiative on ‘local and regional social outreach’. This resulted in a number of actions being taken. For example pupils from secondary education lycées were invited to attend classes at the ICN during the year 2006-2007 in order to strengthen their resolve to pursue their studies after secondary education, and to put them in touch with ICN student groups willing to help them in their search for an appropriate course of study in higher education. The project is being tutored by the Director with responsibility for Outreach Strategy, Dr Christine MORIN-ESTEVES.
- The two student projects Ôptimisme and Atomic (see above) are also part of this general communities outreach strategy.
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Future projects and perspectives
- The University Library of Management which shares premises with the ICN, will be holding an exhibition of books and other publications on the theme of sustainable development during the year 2008.
Conclusion
The drive to promote sustainable development has captured the imagination and conscience of Faculty, administrative colleagues and students alike. It also corresponds to a real concern among all parties involved in School life, that serious attention should be given
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to environmental, humanitarian and ethical issues both generally in lifestyle choices and in the specific area of management education.
In submitting this annual report on the ICN Business School’s activities for the year 2006-
2007 to the UNGC team, the School’s staff and students reaffirm their support for the
United Nations’ Global Compact and in particular the Principles of Responsible Management
Education.
The School reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that all graduates from the School’s programs become managers and business leaders, motivated by an awareness of issues involved in the United Nations’ initiative, but also a willingness to use the benefits derived from their ICN education to promote and improve respect for the natural and human environment.
John Bramley
Quality Assurance Director
ICN Business School
13 rue Michel Ney
54037 Nancy
France email : john.bramley@icn-groupe.fr
Annexe: ICN Business School Mission Statement
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As one of France’s leading Business Schools with a recognised international standing, the ICN has as its mission :
 to provide and deliver programmes in Business and Management, which are relevant, excellent in quality, and a challenging learning experience for its students,
 to contribute to the development of good management theory and practice,
by research and corporate consultancy,
 to train professional managers who are effective, creative and committed team-leaders, and who reflect the global, intercultural and ethical dimensions of contemporary management inherent in the School’s core values,
 to respond to the concerns of its many stakeholders at local, regional, national and international levels
The School believes that, to prepare its graduates for effective leadership and life-long learning in a changing and challenging environment, the following core values must be an integral and essential part of its teaching and research:
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The School believes that tomorrow’s complex and
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dynamic environment requires a personal commitment to action and an entrepreneurial spirit.
The School believes that networking, team-building
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and team-leadership are essential qualities of entrepreneurship and personal investment in a global, multi-site business environment.
The School believes that critical and reflective study needs to be complemented by the ability to ‘think differently’, utilising the skills and experiences of other disciplines and other cultures.
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