KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 Sept. 1, 2026 \u2013 A University of Rhode Island professor was recently recognized by the United Nations for an innovative classroom project that helps students tackle real-world sustainability challenges in supply chain management. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Koray \u00d6zpolat, a professor of supply chain management in the URI College of Business, received an honorable mention in the U.N.\u2019s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Awards in Cairo, Egypt. The only honoree from a U.S university, \u00d6zpolat, was recognized alongside faculty from universities around the world. The recognition highlights URI’s growing role in preparing students to solve global business and sustainability challenges through hands-on, internationally collaborative learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00d6zpolat\u2019s honorable mention came in the supply chain category, a result of his classroom approach, \u201cTeaching Supply Chain Sustainability and Cross-Cultural Communication by a Case Competition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project centers on an international business case competition in which URI students collaborate with peers from overseas universities to analyze real-world sustainability challenges faced by companies and propose solutions. Students submit a written case analysis and the top teams from around the world move on and present their analysis to a panel of judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UN PRME recognizes contributions in pedagogy, curriculum, research and academic development. Awards are given to those who have demonstrated educational quality, relevance across contexts, impact, and advancement of the U.N.\u2019s sustainable development goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00d6zpolat spoke with Rhody Today about the project\u2019s significance and what it means to receive the U.N.\u2019s recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How meaningful is it for you to have your classroom project \u201cTeaching Supply Chain Sustainability and Cross-Cultural Communication by a Case Competition<\/em>\u201d recognized by the <\/strong>UN PRME<\/strong><\/a> Education Awards?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is extremely meaningful, because it validates the idea that business education should prepare students not only for successful careers, but also for responsible leadership and this project connects supply chain learning with real-world sustainability challenges. Being recognized by the UN PRME initiative also reinforces URI\u2019s role as a global leader in helping students develop the skills and mindset needed to address these sustainability challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a personal level, this recognition is especially meaningful because earlier in my career, I worked for the U.N. Having a U.N.-affiliated framework recognize my teaching initiative feels like a full-circle moment in my professional journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While I am honored by this recognition, it reflects the creativity and dedication of our students, the commitment of our teaching assistants Janos Kata<\/a> and Kevin Kanaczet<\/a>, the support of our supply chain faculty colleagues Tess Booth<\/a>, Doug Hales<\/a>, and Maling Ebrahimpour<\/a>, the collaboration of international university partners across 12 countries including Algeria, China, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Kuwait, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and the leadership of the case competition organizer, Global Supply Chain Classroom<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This recognition also closely aligns with URI’s strategic commitment to broadening its impact through global partnerships, experiential learning, and engagement with society’s most pressing challenges. By connecting URI students with their international peers to address real-world sustainability issues, the project advances both the University\u2019s educational mission and its global engagement goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you think the project relates to and helps support some of the U.N.’s <\/strong>Sustainable Development Goals<\/strong><\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It directly supports several goals. It advances \u201cQuality Education,\u201d by providing experiential and globally collaborative learning opportunities. It also contributes to \u201cResponsible Consumption and Production,\u201d by challenging students to develop solutions that reduce waste, improve efficiency, and lessen environmental impacts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It also supports \u201cPartnerships for the Goals,\u201d bringing students from multiple countries together to address common sustainability challenges. More broadly, the project helps students understand how business decisions can contribute to sustainable development and positive societal outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What led you to implement this case study competition in the classroom?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea grew from my longstanding interest in experiential learning and competition-based education. Previously, my students participated in humanitarian logistics competitions<\/a> organized by USAID. Research and my own teaching experience have shown that students become more engaged when they work on authentic problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I heard about the Global Sustainability Supply Chain Student Case Competition in 2023, I saw an opportunity to combine experiential learning, sustainability, and international collaboration with a healthy dose of team-based competition. The contest allowed students to work on real supply chain challenges while partnering with peers from other countries, creating a learning experience that extends far beyond a traditional classroom project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How has participation and enthusiasm for the project competition grown since you started it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The growth has been remarkable. We began in 2023 with just two paired teams involving four URI students<\/a>\u2014I call them the trailblazers. By 2025, participation had grown to 11 teams and 22 URI students working with partners from nine countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you see this project evolving going forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Members of URI\u2019s supply chain faculty are planning to extend this international learning experience to benefit Rhode Island\u2019s K\u201312 education system by launching the \u201cRhode Island High School Sustainable Logistics Case Competition\u201d in the 2027\u20132028 academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n