Study Guide

Objective

The course provides the student with understanding of the key building elements in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility strategy planning and implementation.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- Critically relate to the notion of sustainable development (SD) through its human, social, economic and environmental aspects
- Understand and recognize the complexity of SD in the societal and entrepreneurial context
- Define the main elements of a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Critically relate to a CSR Strategy and its impact towards direct and indirect stakeholders

Content

Understanding the environment: the planet, the society, the community, the business
The pillars of sustainable development (SD): the 17 SDG’s and models for SD
Planning a SD strategy for a business
Implementing the SD strategy for a business
The Meaning and Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The Role of Stakeholders in CSR
The Strategic Importance of CSR Implementation

Materials

Developing Corporate Social Responsibility: The Essential Guide For Expanding Your CSR Efforts Paperback – November 12, 2021 by Elmer Elter

Teaching methods

The course provides the student with understanding of the key building elements in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility strategy planning and implementation.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- Critically relate to the notion of sustainable development (SD) through its human, social, economic and environmental aspects
- Understand and recognize the complexity of SD in the societal and entrepreneurial context
- Define the main elements of a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Critically relate to a CSR Strategy and its impact towards direct and indirect stakeholders.

The student learns to work in a goal-oriented manner, acquire knowledge independently from different sources and reflect on previous experiences.
The student also learns to work in groups participating in the solution-making process in different roles. Group work improves social interaction skills and problem-solving skills.

International connections

In this course we are utilizing PBL (problem based learning) method. PBL is a student-centered approach in which students learn about a subject by working in groups to solve an open-ended problem. Students must identify the needed information. They learn the information and apply it to solve the problem.

Student workload

This course equals to 5 ECTS.
A weekly session is organised to provide knowledge and guidance for the completion of assignments.

Content scheduling

Contents:
- Understanding the environment: the planet, the society, the community, the business
- The pillars of sustainable development (SD): the 17 SDG’s and models for SD
- Planning a SD strategy for a business
- Implementing the SD strategy for a business
- The Meaning and Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- The Role of Stakeholders in CSR
- The Strategic Importance of CSR Implementation

Contact lessons plan will be found in Peppi (Tuudo, Outlook calendar. See detailed schedule from lukkari.turkuamk.fi)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Course assessment (final grade; scale 1-5) is based on the performance in the course assignments and tasks.
Course assignments and tasks relates to sections of the course.
Course assignments and tasks are each valued with a number of points relatively to the difficulty of the assignment/task.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The student fails to show capability in understanding the principles of Sustainable Development (SD). The student fails to show capability in understanding the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student has understood the theoretical and practical aspects of Sustainable Development (SD). The student is able to share his/her perspective on a SD issue, to articulate the trade-offs in making SD related decisions within context.
The student has understood the theoretical and practical aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), he/she is able to define a CSR strategy.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student demonstrates capability to a use a holistic approach, which seeks integrative thinking and practice related to SD issues. The student demonstrates capability to develop a sound CSR strategy in line with company vision, mission and values.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student demonstrates capability to envision change, explore alternative futures, learn from the past and inspire engagement in the present. Through reflecting in SD and CSR solutions, the student is able to aim at achieving societal transformation, which serves to change in the way people engage towards SD, as well as contributing to company CSR policy.