The recent launch webinar for the UN PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education) research on sustainability in early careers was a thought-provoking and energizing event. Hosted by Oxford Brookes University, it featured insights from Jonathan Louw and Karen Cripps (Oxford Brookes University), Steve Kenzie (UK Global Compact Network), Steve Wallers (University of Exeter), and Oli Coles (Windo).
The research explored the growing interest in sustainability-focused roles among early career professionals, alongside the needs and perceptions of employers. A standout feature of the webinar was the active participation of students, which added energy and relevance to the discussion.
Jonathan Louw opened the session by providing background on UN PRME and explaining that the research was conducted as part of the UN PRME Careers and Sustainability Working Group in the UK and Ireland. Karen Cripps shared a key finding: while 40% of graduate jobs and placements offered by participating employers had a formal, explicit sustainability focus, an additional 25% had sustainability embedded implicitly—meaning it was a feature of the role, even if not stated outright. Notably, 30% of employers reported that demand for candidates to fill sustainability roles exceeded the available supply.
Oli Coles brought insights from Windo, a platform that encourages employers to report transparently and meaningfully to Generation Z. Of Windo’s 100,000 largely student members, 70% are seeking roles or companies with a sustainability focus—not necessarily in sustainability sectors, maybe in fields like law or finance but where sustainability is a core value of the company. Echoing Steve Kenzie’s comment about the representativeness of surveyed employers, Oli noted that Windo’s own research suggests only around 10% of roles have a formal, explicit sustainability focus.
Steve Wallers offered practical advice for students engaging with employers, emphasizing that sustainability often plays a role in jobs—even when it’s not mentioned in the job title. His key message: Don’t rely solely on the job title—dig deeper.
Another compelling discussion centred on systems thinking. Steve Kenzie stressed the importance of defining the term and acknowledged that entry-level roles may not always allow for its full application. However, both universities and employers can foster environments where graduates learn to connect across disciplines—laying the groundwork for systems thinking.
Overall, the research and discussion suggested that universities are doing moderately well in preparing students for roles where sustainability is a focus or a feature. However, there is clearly more that can be done to equip students with the skills and confidence to thrive in these roles.
📘 Explore the research: https://www.unprme.org/resources/sustainability-in-early-careers/
🎥 Watch the webinar: https://brookes.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=28a32143-137d-45eb-bab2-b37200ce01b5
