Professor Alex Hope

I'm Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Technology and Professor of Sustainable and Responsible Business at the University of Sunderland. I provide strategic leadership for the Faculty, focusing on applied innovation - ensuring our programmes in business, engineering, and computing address real-world challenges and employer needs.

I also hold university-wide responsibility for Apprenticeships, Skills and Lifelong Learning, working with employers and training providers to develop talent pipelines that address regional workforce needs.

With over 20 years in higher education, I teach, research, and consult in responsible business, organisational sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and business strategy. My research explores how organizations integrate sustainability into operations, the role of stakeholder engagement in value creation, and how business education drives responsible management practices.

I serve on the global advisory board of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME) and Co-Chair its Climate Change and Environment Working Group. I'm also Vice-Chair of the AACSB Responsible Management Education Affinity Group, advancing sustainability in management education worldwide.

My work bridges academia and practice. I believe the most valuable research addresses real organizational challenges, and effective teaching prepares students for the complexity they'll face in their careers. This means fostering business partnerships, developing work-integrated learning, and ensuring programmes respond to both employer needs and societal challenges like climate change and economic transition.

At Sunderland, I'm focused on combining academic excellence with practical impact - where research informs teaching, students engage with real business problems, and we contribute meaningfully to regional economic development while maintaining international reach. What drives me is practical application - creating graduates who think critically about value creation, understand their responsibility to multiple stakeholders, and have the skills to lead organisations through change.