Corporate Social Responsibility

There are no contact lessons during this study unit. You will work online, both individually and in teams, and actively participate in online discussions and carry out assignments.

1. Our Earth, individual work

What is biodiversity? How is it influenced by my footprint? What choices do I have?

All our actions have an effect on the environment but what are the main threats the world is facing?

In the first part of our study unit you will explore the environmental challenges the world is facing.

2. Social Responsibility, individual work

Organizations around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the need for socially responsible behavior. A socially responsible organization has a good reputation, is able to attract and retain workers and customers, and is able to maintain its employees’ morale and commitment.

ISO 26000 provides guidance for all types of organisations on concepts, terms, definitions, principles, and the core issues of social responsibility. GRI reporting system helps the companies to communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues.

3. Economic Responsibility, individual work

Organisations have economic responsibilities to their stakeholders: investors, employees and customers. Profitability is important as well as transparency in giving information about how the organisation is run.

GDP is a widely-used indicator of a nations’ economic success. What are the shortcomings of this measure? Is it actually a good indicator of well-being?

What is HDI? What are externalities? You will learn to define these in this third part of the study unit.

4. CSR Report, team work

You will now summarize everything you have learned so far.

In teams you will write a report where you describe the environmental, social and economic responsibilities including circular economy of an organisation of your choice. Find / choose a small- or medium-sized company (SME*), interview a company representative and describe the company’s best practices in the above areas (environmental, social and economic).

Feel free to include photographs showing examples of innovative practices. Your final report, excluding pictures, should be 5-10 pages.

In this course you will learn to:

• analyze environmental, social and economic responsibilities in service business
• develop sustainable practices in organisations.

Online study unit in Canvas. No contact lessons. Orientation letter and Orientation intro in a Canvas Module. Start study unit latest on own time January 13 to keep you in individual assignments and your CSR report team on schedule.

The learning outcomes of the 5 ECTS study unit, Corporate Social Responsibility, are given below. After completing the study unit you are able to:

analyze environmental, social and economic responsibilities in service business develop sustainable practices in an organisation 5 ECTS is equivalent to approximately 135 hours of student work.

Structure The (Corporate Social Responsibility) study unit consists of the following modules:

Orientation Environmental responsibility Social responsibility Economic responsibility CSR Report (teamwork) You are able to study the first three modules (Environmental, Social and Economic responsibility) independently and at your own pace. These modules must be done in numerical order and they are assessed automatically. In these modules you will learn the basic principles of environmental, social and economic responsibility in business operations.

In the last module of the course you will collaborate in teams to analyse and come up with recommendations for improving sustainability in a case organisation’s operations. Please study also the group work assignment already in the beginning so that you can start to form a team and to find a suitable company to analyse.

Feedback and evaluation The study unit will be evaluated based on your individual assignments and CSR Report.

Environmental responsibility, individual work Social Responsibility, individual work Economic Responsibility, individual work Each above mentioned individual modules are evaluated automatically as described below You need to mark instructions completed, score at least 5 points from the Quizz, contribute to discussion area and return Learning Diary based on that module CSR Report, team work (40%), maximum 50 points. Learning Diary, individual work (60%), maximum 50 points.

Your individual input to discussions will be taken into consideration when calculating your final grade. Both Learning Diary and CSR Report must be done to pass the course. For the final evaluation following Laurea Grading Scheme is used.

Interaction and communication There are no contact lessons during this study unit. You will work online, both individually and in teams, and actively participate in online discussions and carry out assignments.

Orientation module will be in Canvas. No meetings at school or in Teams. No calendar reservations. 5 credits on students’ own time. CSR Report will be carried out in teams – student groups of max. five members.

5 credits on students’ own time. CSR Report will be carried out in teams.

Given by the lecturer in Canvas.

Detailed in Canvas. F – 5.

Arviointiasteikko: H-5

Please familiarize yourself with the cancellation process and cancellation terms.