[November 20, 2019, Beijing] Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) has been awarded the 2019 China Social Impact Award in “Poverty Alleviation” by the British Chamber of Commerce in China and United Nations for its positive impact and efforts in reducing poverty in China. The awards were handed out across seven categories from a field of more than 250 companies and organizations competing in total.
[November 20, 2019, Beijing] Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) has been awarded the 2019 China Social Impact Award in “Poverty Alleviation” by the British Chamber of Commerce in China and United Nations for its positive impact and efforts in reducing poverty in China. The awards were handed out across seven categories from a field of more than 250 companies and organizations competing in total.
CKGSB being awarded the Poverty Alleviation Award at the 2019 CSIA Award Ceremony
2019 China Social Impact Awards
While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in developing regions are still living with their families on less than the international poverty line of US$1.90 a day. Since its establishment, CKGSB has been determined to contribute to defeating society’s greatest injustice. CKGSB was presented with the Poverty Alleviation award for the most successful long-term sustainable campaign in reducing poverty. The Ji’an poverty alleviation is a three-project campaign that utilizes CKGSB’s industry expertise in education and business to improve access to basic services of the community, reduce the impact of disasters and raise the living standard in Ji’an, a poverty stricken district of Jiangxi. As a result of CKGSB’s efforts, in April 2019, the Jiangxi Provincial Government confirmed that all 5 of the counties in Ji’an had been successfully lifted out of poverty.
Opening of the Ji’an Elderly and Youth Care Center
Such efforts are so important to CKGSB that they are embedded in the school’s DNA, with the goal of inspiring and creating public interest among its students and alumni, and raising awareness in working towards social innovation and alleviating poverty. In fact, CKGSB introduced the humanities as a compulsory subject into all of its degree programs in 2005, to provide a more holistic view of business. It is also the first business school to require all Executive MBA students—half of whom are at the Chairman or CEO level of successful Chinese companies—to complete 48 hours of social and community service in order to graduate. Since 2009, all of our degree students have been required to engage in philanthropic service in order to graduate, resulting in a total of 150,000+ hours served to date.
Students enjoying the Ji’an Elderly and Youth Care Center
As a finalist for the Empowerment of Women Award, CKGSB was recognized for its efforts in empowering women and addressing the gender imbalance in society through its flagship Women in Leadership Forum. The Women in Leadership Forum has become an important platform created in 2013 by CKGSB, in partnership with a number of organizations like the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN). The event focuses on women’s empowerment in leadership roles across sectors including politics, business, entrepreneurship, creative industries and social innovation, in China and around the world. As a platform for empowering female leaders, promoting gender equality in the workplace, celebrating success stories, and offering opportunities to create positive change, the Women in Leadership Forum offers unique insights and showcases outstanding leaders and socially responsible role models to inspire the public on empowering women and advocating for gender balance. The Forum showcases distinguished leaders like Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook’s COO), Barbara Woodward (British Ambassador to China), Li Na (Grand Slam tennis champion), Clare Fearnly (Ambassador of New Zealand to China), Helena Sangeland (Ambassador of Sweden to China) and Jean Liu (President of Didi Chuxing Technology Co), to increase the reach and breadth of the event and the key message.
The Ambassador of Cabo Verde to China, Tania Romualdo, the Ambassador of Kenya to China, Sarah Serem, the Ambassador of Mozambique to China, Maria Gustava and the Ambassador of Sao Tome and Principe to China, Isabel Domingos in a special dialogue discussion at the 2019 Women in Leadership Forum
CKGSB was also recognized as a finalist for the Employee Engagement Award for its efforts in providing the best possible working environment through its inclusive practices and promoting diversity, encouraging employees to volunteer and achieving a level of self-actualization, training, mentoring and motivating employees to attain their full potential, and advancing the physical and mental wellbeing of employees.
CKGSB employees partaking in a team challenge
The 2019 China Social Impact Awards is influenced by the United Nations Development Programme’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and strives to raise awareness on the importance of the role companies and organizations have in achieving a better and more sustainable future for all in China and beyond. With over 250 foreign and domestic companies and organizations competing this year in the 7 categories of: Employee Engagement; Equality in Education; Universal Healthcare; Community and Culture; Empowerment of Women; Environmental Impact; and Poverty Alleviation, CKGSB was also named a finalist for the Employee Engagement Award and the Empowerment of Women Award, with Nike, Disney, Starbucks, Walmart and Swire Coca Cola also among those honored on the night.
