History of the Sustainable Global Business Initiative
The Sustainable Global Business Initiative within the Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas promotes efforts to cultivate sustainable economic initiatives that improve access to sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurial opportunities and poverty alleviation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in the poorest African countries. SGBI also works closely with DFW-based corporations that include sustainability in their mission and vision.
The mission of this initiative is inspired by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a focus on SDG Goal 1: No Poverty.
Mission
SGBI at the University of Texas at Dallas aims to promote economic advancement and poverty alleviation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in developing countries. This initiative also provides scholarships for students and supports faculty conducting international sustainable poverty alleviation projects, with a particular focus on Africa.
Vision
Our vision is to be a leading center for global sustainability issues in the United States
At the beginning of 2019, the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) received funds from the Ann and Jack Graves Charitable Foundation. The three primary objectives of the Ann and Jack Graves Charitable Foundation funds are:
- To establish a new partnership between the Jindal School of Management and local higher education institutions in host countries. The partnership’s primary objective is to collaborate on poverty alleviation programs by launching some of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and to encourage and support the cooperation between JSOM and universities in host countries.
- To support JSOM’s students and faculty when traveling to poorer African countries while co-initiating and co-managing entrepreneurial poverty alleviation projects. Upon finishing their projects, students are expected to write a paper on the outcome. The research paper(s) will be presented at a biannual conference or workshop, organized by JSOM at UT Dallas, or used in a student case competition.
- To support the Center for Global Business and Sustainable Global Business Initiative and organize biannual conferences, workshops, seminars and networking events among business leaders to increase awareness and establish a partnership to fight poverty by launching sustainable business initiatives.
Additionally, the fund will support the monthly breakfast meetings of SGBI’s advisory board and the Society of Sustainable Business (SSB). SSB is a registered student organization that supports SGBI in advancing the sustainability mission on campus and in the DFW area.
