This module aims to stimulate your interest in, and develop your knowledge and understanding of, an area of fundamental importance to global commerce in the 21st Century: corporate social responsibility. Further, the module aims to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to understand the role and obligations of companies in globalised society, enabling you to critically assess corporate social responsibility from theoretical and practical perspectives.

(LO1) Demonstrate detailed and in-depth knowledge of the concept of CSR, including its history and theoretical underpinnings

(LO2) Analyse the regulation and governance of corporate social responsibility

(LO3) Evaluate the significance of corporate social responsibility in a variety of specific contexts, (e.g. consumer and health protection, bribery and corruption, and human rights protection)

(LO4) Identify, and critically assess, the global development of corporate social responsibility

(S1) Communication skills – written

(S2) Communication skills - oral

(S3) Group working skills

(S4) Critical analysis

(S5) Critical thinking: analysing and synthesising different viewpoints and making a critical judgement of the merits of particular arguments and make a reasoned choice between alternative solutions or perspectives

Outline Syllabus: The definition and history of corporate social responsibility Theories of corporate social responsibility (for example, business care arguments, ethical arguments, political arguments etc) Regulation of corporate social responsibility: corporate governance, voluntary vs mandatory systems, international measures surrounding corporate social responsibility Corporate social responsibility in different contexts, e.g. corporate homicide and negligence, business and human rights, consumer and health protection, bribery and corruption

Teaching Method 1 - Seminar
Description: The module will be delivered through ten, two-hour, seminars, using semi-structured discussion and group work
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-Directed Learning Description: This will include time spent preparing for each seminar and conducting independent research necessary for the summative assessment.