Human Rights Education Associates

Corporate Social Responsibility

November-15 December 2020 (E15620) | Register for this course (opens in new window)
Instructor: Ana-Maria Grigore

This certificate course engages participants in the contemporary debates surrounding the benefits and challenges of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for businesses of all sizes and sectors. The course will examine the increase in popularity of CSR mandates, the qualities of successful programs, and their resilience during economic recessions, while also critically examining through case studies their effectiveness and ability to create global social change in supply chains, accountability, and working conditions.

The course will address the multiple stakeholder perspectives of corporate social responsibility, beginning with the business case for CSR, the “triple bottom line” theory, as well as the role of social/impact investing. The course will also look closely into economic and social justice, environmental externalities, the changing role of technology, as well as the impact of consumer awareness and education. Strong emphasis will be placed throughout the course not only on business practices and responsible management, but on ethical concepts of the role of business and enforcement mechanisms.

Participants will explore debates on the voluntary nature of CSR initiatives, the neo-liberal economic perspective of the role of business, the effectiveness of regulatory measures, and the future of CSR, and will take part in interactive webinars with the instructor and business leaders.