WHILE it is true that universities are centers of knowledge creation, what good is this if it is not shared and applied to the society they serve? At the Externado de Colombia University's School of Management, we believe that extension is a fundamental pillar to impact society and where research and education converge.

One of the ways in which universities and specifically business schools can impact society is by supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which provide employment to a large part of the population and contribute to national economies. The Responsible Supply Network is an example of this. The initiative was developed in 2006 by Universidad Externado's School of Management and the United Nations Global Compact Local Network.