• understand and reflect on CSR as an ambiguous and contested concept
• understand the strategic benefits of CSR/corporate sustainability as well as some of the possible shortcomings of instrumental approaches to sustainable development
• understand and reflect on opportunities, challenges and possible barriers associated with the creation of a more circular economy
• understand sustainable development as a systemic and dynamic concern that involves a variety of actors, agendas, principles, standards and modes of governance

The block seminar offers an opportunity for students to engage with cutting edge developments in the theory and practice of CSR (corporate social responsibility) and sustainable development. We cover the most recent developments in CSR and argue that companies increasingly have to commit themselves to a broader sustainability agenda with a strong focus on climate change and the environment. To speak of sustainability instead of social responsibility is not just a matter of substituting corporate sustainability for CSR. More importantly, it is a matter of gaining a systemic – inclusive and collaborative – view of problems and possible solutions – even when taking the corporate point of view. Developments in circular economy are a vivid example of this, as they  forces us to address the workings of the whole production cycle, including consumption and post consumption phases. The omnipresent UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is another example of how a systemic view is gaining prominence in debates about corporate responsibility.

Theoretically, the block seminar will explore instrumental, political-ideological, governance and communicative aspects of CSR along with recent developments in corporate sustainability and sustainable development, including circular and sharing economy, regenerative sustainability and sustainable finance.

On the practice side, we will have presentations from leading Danish companies on their current and future sustainability challenges. We will cover the most recent developments in sustainability reporting and materiality assessment, including corporate uses of the SDGs, and dig into topics such as ESG and business-NGO partnerships. Throughout the seminar, our discussions will be rooted in practical examples, including video (recorded lectures) and film clips.

The block seminar will be a mixture of lectures, class discussions, corporate presentations, group work and group presentations – in-class and online.

The headings for the five days will be as follows:

Day 1 – Developments in CSR and sustainability

Day 2 – Corporate sustainability, circularity and the Global Goals

Day 3 – Implementation and change

Day 4 – Business-NGO relationships and sustainable finance

Day 5 – Leadership and sustainable business models. Wrap up and preparing for the exam

The course lasts for one week only 

Course literature will include:

Carroll, A.B. and Shabana, K. (2010). The Business Case for CSR: A Review of Concepts, Research and Practice. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12(1), 85-105.

Vallentin, S. & Spence, L. (2017). Strategic CSR: Ambitions and Critiques. Ch. 3 in: Rasche, A., Morsing, M. & Moon, J. (Eds.). Corporate Social Responsibility – Strategy, Communication, Governance (pp. 63-85). St Ives: Cambridge University.

Christensen, L.T., Morsing, M. & Thyssen, O. (2013). CSR as aspirational talk. Organisation, 20(3), 1‐22.

Sjåfjell, B. (2018). Redefining the Corporation for a Sustainable New Economy. Journal of Law and Society, 45(1), 29-45.

Kramer, M.R., Agarwal, R. & Srinivas, A. (2019). Business as Usual Will Not Save the Planet. Harvard Business Review, June, 1-9.

Esposito, M., Tse, T. & Soufani, K. (2018). Introducing a circular economy: New thinking with new managerial and policy implications. California Management Review, 60(3), 5-19.

Valente, M. (2017). Corporate Responsibility Strategies for Sustainability. Ch. 4 in: Rasche, A., Morsing, M. & Moon, J. (Eds.). Corporate Social Responsibility – Strategy, Communication, Governance (pp. 86-109). St Ives: Cambridge University.

Eccles, R. & Klimenko, S. (2019). The Investor Revolution – Shareholders are getting serious about sustainability. Harvard Business Review, May-June, 107-116.

Kotsantonis, S., Pinney, C. & Serafeim, G. (2016). ESG Integration in Investment Management: Myths and Realities. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 28(2), 10-16.

Jamali, D. & Keshishian, K. (2009). Uneasy Alliances: Lessons Learned from Partnerships Between Businesses and NGOs in the Context of CSR. Journal of Business Ethics, 84, 277-295.

Christensen, L.J., Mackey, A. and Whetten, D. (2014). Taking Responsibility for Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Leaders in Creating, Implementing, Sustaining, or Avoiding Socially Responsible Firm Behaviors. Academy of Management Perspectives, 28(2), 164-178.

Boons. F. & Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2013). Business models for sustainable innovation: state-of-the-art and steps towards a research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 45, 9-19.