Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Sustainable Development
- Circular Economy
- Cleantech

Timing: Duration of the course, 2/09/2024 - 14/12/2024 (a total of 13 short sessions) A more detailed schedule of the course and the themes/topics of the next lessons are described on the course's Itslearning platform.

The course may also be implemented with the help of a working life project.

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

- During the lectures, it is important to take your own notes, as they are essential for the completion of the course.
- Lecture material will be distributed at the end of the course
- The course evaluation includes an exam, individual assignments and group assignments, which are based on the material discussed in the lectures.

Teaching methods

The course is based on independent work and group work. The assignments are related to writing a research essay and implementing a business plan as a group project, as well as project management. In addition, work-life connection is promoted through external expert visits.

Working is both independent remote working and face-to-face teaching, in which case we delve into a certain theme of the subject area by discussing and presenting the results of group work.

At the first lecture, students are asked for permission on the attendance list of the course's lectures.

Exam schedules

There is an exam in the course. Assessment is based on learning tasks. The dates for the returns of individual learning tasks (individual and group work) are mentioned in Itslearning.

Passing the course requires completion of the group task section, at least 50% attendance in classes and passing the exam.

International connections

The study course is implemented in accordance with innovation pedagogy, where studying is based on work-life-oriented learning and the development of innovation abilities. During the course, the student must play an active role and must independently take responsibility for his own learning and the implementation of learning tasks. The course is based on individual and group work, where the role of instructors is to support and guide the work.

Completion alternatives

No.

Student workload

The course consists of learning tasks to be done on adjacent floors, an extensive individual essay and a business plan to be done as group work, as well as a responsibility analysis. The business plan of one's own company is presented to other small groups.
More detailed descriptions of learning tasks and instructions on the course's own Itslearning platform.

1 ECTS corresponds to 27 hours of student work, i.e. 5 ECTS = 135 hours.

Attendance is mandatory for the course.

As a result of the implementation method, attendance at lectures is necessary. Passing the course requires at least 50% participation in the hikes.

Further information

Communication to the teacher through the message of the itslearning platform.