GLENDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2006--Thunderbird's cutting-edge Oath of Honor will be presented and discussed with leading management scholars, business executives, civil-society leaders and government policy makers from around the world during next week's joint UN Global Compact and Academy of Management conference at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

The director of Thunderbird's Center for Business Ethics Dr. Greg Unruh and Thunderbird President Dr. Angel Cabrera will present the oath Oct. 24 during a session titled "Management as a True Profession: A "Hippocratic Oath" for Business."

The three-day conference Oct. 23-25, Business as an Agent of World Benefit: Management Knowledge Leading Positive Change, unites the efforts of the UN Global Compact, the Academy of Management, and Case's Weatherhead School of Management. Over 400 leading business executives and management scholars from around the world will explore ways in which business can be a leading force in eradicating poverty, enhancing the environment, and advancing peace -- while still prospering financially. An additional 3,000 people worldwide are expected to participate through satellite and Internet links.

Thunderbird's recent adoption of a Professional Oath of Honor has drawn the attention of the global educational and business communities and is a perfect fit for discussion at this unique forum. The oath is rooted in Thunderbird's strong commitment to global citizenship and derives from the school's mission to educate global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide.

A student-led initiative, the Oath was drafted by the student-run Thunderbird Honors Council at the urging of the school's president Dr. Angel Cabrera. The Oath has been formally assimilated into the school's overall educational experience by including it in the application process, the curriculum and at graduation when students are asked to sign the Oath.

"Global management is an honorable profession that requires technical competence, professional skill and a non-negotiable commitment to ethical professional practice," said Dr. Cabrera. "The presence of the oath will help remind every member of our community that as professional global managers, we remain committed to a responsible exercise of our duties and to having a positive impact in our communities."

The UN Global Compact was established in 2000 by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Its members are businesses, universities, civil society organizations, and government agencies throughout the world working to bring the idea of global citizenship into business practice. The Academy of Management, founded in 1936, is the oldest and largest scholarly management association in the world. It has more than 15,000 members from 94 nations.

"On behalf of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the more than 2,400 participants of the UN Global Compact, we are very excited to partner with the Academy of Management and Case," said Georg Kell, executive director of the UN Global Compact. "This worldwide forum may well prove a tipping point in the development of global corporate citizenship, helping to create a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

"This state-of-the-art forum will challenge 'the great tradeoff illusion' - the belief that firms must sacrifice outstanding financial performance if they choose, strategically, to address societal challenges. Business as a force for eradication of extreme poverty, or ecological restoration, or peace and security in the midst of conflict zones - these are all happening," said Kell. "Innovations, research studies, and stories from around the world are today beginning to converge. Companies do well by doing good, and this conference will help achieve a critical mass by bringing together top universities and researchers with executives and leaders from business, civil society, and the United Nations."

Thunderbird Professional Oath of Honor

As a Thunderbird and a global citizen, I promise:
I will strive to act with honesty and integrity,
I will respect the rights and dignity of all people,
I will strive to create sustainable prosperity worldwide,
I will oppose all forms of corruption and exploitation, and
I will take responsibility for my actions.
As I hold true to these principles, it is my hope that I may enjoy an
honorable reputation and peace of conscience.
This pledge I make freely and upon my honor.

About Thunderbird

Currently celebrating its 60th year, Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management is the oldest graduate management school focused exclusively on global business. It is regarded as the world's leading institution in the education of global managers and has operations in the United States, Europe, Russia, Latin America and China. Ranked No. 1 in international business by The Wall Street Journal and U.S. News and World Report, Thunderbird is unique in that it is dedicated to the task of producing global leaders who contribute to sustainable prosperity worldwide. For more about Thunderbird, please visit: www.thunderbird.edu.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

Thunderbird School of Global Management

Thunderbird School of Global Management

Founded in 1946, Thunderbird is the oldest graduate management school focused exclusively on global business. It is regarded as the world's leading institution in the education of global managers and has operations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Russia and Asia. Ranked No. 1 in international business by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and the Financial Times, Thunderbird is unique in that it is dedicated to the task of producing global leaders who contribute to sustainable prosperity worldwide. The schools curriculum is based on the principle that to do business on a global scale, executives must not only know the intricacies of business, but also understand the customs of other countries and be able to communicate with different cultures. More than 38,000 students have graduated from Thunderbird, and its alumni live and work in more than 140 countries.

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