Ranked #1 in
the World
Apply Now Brochure
 |
The oath was drafted by the student-run Thunderbird Honor Council after Cabrera challenged the students in 2004 to be the first business school to establish an oath that would guide them during their business careers. |
Oath of Honor
The Thunderbird Oath of Honor is believed to be the first of its kind at a business school. Rooted in the School’s strong commitment to global citizenship, the Oath derives from the school’s belief that global managers must contribute to the creation of sustainable economic and social value.
“Global management is an honorable profession that requires technical competence, professional skill and a non-negotiable commitment to ethical professional practice,” said Thunderbird President, Dr. Ángel 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 oath was drafted by the student-run Thunderbird Honor Council after Cabrera challenged the students in 2004 to be the first business school to establish an oath that would guide them during their business careers. In June 2006, the Thunderbird Board of Trustees voted to formally assimilate the oath into the school’s overall educational experience by including it in the application process, the curriculum and at graduation, when students will be asked to sign it. Hundreds of students have voluntarily signed a version of the oath in the past few years.
According to Dr. Greg Unruh, director of Thunderbird’s Lincoln Center for Ethics in Global Management, the oath guarantees that Thunderbird candidates are aware that enrolling at the School means agreeing to share the community’s core values. He said the oath also will help the School attract students who already have well-developed ethics.
“While we believe in the value of ethical training at the graduate level, we also recognize that recruiting students with an already-developed sense of ethics will ensure that the community of Thunderbird graduates is of high integrity,” Unruh said. “It is from this base that we can build a strong culture of ethics on campus and as global business professionals operating around the world.”
Having drawn the attention of the global educational and business community, the Thunderbird Professional Oath of Honor has been featured in numerous business publications and academic, business and government conferences including the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
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.