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2015/2016  KAN-CPOLO1046U  Business Responsibilities for Human Rights

English Title
Business Responsibilities for Human Rights

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc i International Business and Politics, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Karin Buhmann - Department of Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Business Law
  • Philosophy and ethics
Last updated on 03-12-2015
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors: The purpose of the course is to provide students with the theoretical and analytical tools necessary to identify when business activities are likely to impinge on internationally recognized human rights and enable them to identify and formulate legal, political and business arguments for and against holding businesses responsible for respecting human rights.
After concluding the course, students should demonstrate:
  • Explain and evaluate what 'human rights' are.
  • Assess the system for the protection of international human rights and analyze the ways in which it affects business behaviors and strategies.
  • Identify and critically discuss the human rights issues raised in specific business cases, by referring to relevant human rights instruments, including codes of conduct, adopted by international organizations, e.g. United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and companies.
  • Formulate recommendations for action to be taken by a business in a given case, supported by legal, political and business arguments that take into account internationally recognized human rights.
Examination
Business Responsibilities for Human Rights:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual
Size of written product Max. 15 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The course coordinator selects exam question for the retake.
Course content and structure

The course will cover the content and legal effects of the international treaties that embody what many recognize as “the international bill of rights”, the UN Guiding Principles, and other instruments of international law and policy concerning the relationship between business and human rights. The course will also provide an introduction to the development of the main international political and legal arguments for the proposition that businesses have some responsibility to respect human rights wherever they operate, regardless of the national legal context.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Last updated on 03-12-2015