Prince Claus Chair

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague, on the recommendation of the Curatorium of the Prince Claus Chair, has appointed Patricia Almeida Ashley as holder of the Prince Claus Chair 2009-2011. She has been appointed for her interdisciplinary approach to Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship (SRE) and her knowledge of the relationship between SRE and important social issues. 

Originally from Brasil, Professor Almeida Ashley did her Bachelor degree in Economic Sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1985. After this she studied a Specialisation in Systems’ Analysis and Projects at the Brazilian Institute for the Amazon (IBAM) in 1991. She continued with a Master in Management of Public Services at the Aston Business School, Aston University (UK) as a Fellowship holder of the British Council (1992/1993). Finally she did her Doctorate in Business Management, with specialization in Change Management at the Catholic Pontifícia University of Rio de Janeiro in 2002. 

Her research resulted in a generic model for analyzing various aspects of SRE, the ‘Multidimensional Relational and Multidirectional Model for Business Social Responsibility’. To a large extent, this model has contributed to the academic research in the field of SRE and it is also frequently used by consultants and managers outside of the academic world.

Professor Almeida Ashley has an interdisciplinary approach in the areas of Management, Information science, Urban and regional planning, Economics, with publications on the following topics: eco-development, socio-environmental responsibility of public and private organisations, business ethics, university management, knowledge management, strategy, public management and responsible consumers. She has a sound academic profile and a keen interest in the role of companies in society.