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2025/2026  KAN-CCBLV2503U  Corporate Political Responsibility and Sustainability Governance

English Title
Corporate Political Responsibility and Sustainability Governance

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course First Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Max. participants 150
Study board
Study Board of Global Business and Politics
Course coordinator
  • Jeremy Moon - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • CSR and sustainability
  • Philosophy and ethics
  • Political Science
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 12-02-2025

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To receive the grade of 12, students should demonstrate the ability to accurately and clearly explain and deploy understanding of the following in their essay:
  • What distinguishes Corporate Political Responsibility (CPR) from other corporate social responsibilities.
  • What is sustainability governance and why is it important.
  • What is the significance of corporations and of CPR for the governance of sustainability.
  • How can relationships between CPR and sustainability governance be analyzed.
  • What political, social and economic issues arise when corporations ‘make, take or break’ sustainability governance.
  • How CPR can be evaluated and enhanced for its legitimacy, accountability and sustainability.
Examination
Corporate Political Responsibility and Sustainability Governance:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 15 pages
Assignment type Essay
Release of assignment The Assignment is released in Digital Exam (DE) at exam start
Duration 2 weeks to prepare
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Autumn
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
*if the student fails the ordinary exam the course coordinator chooses whether the student will have to hand in a revised product for the re- take or a new project.
Description of the exam procedure

The exam will be set to require students to produce an essay style assignment examining and applying the concept of Corporate Political Responsibility to an aspect of Sustainability Governance.  Students will have a choice of the focal corporation and its relationship with a specific aspect of sustainability governance.  

Students will get guidance on completing the assignment throughout the course. 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The course investigates the relationships of corporations with sustainability governance, whether in the context of governmental or non-governmental (e.g., multi-stakeholder initiatives) policies.  It uses the framework of Corporate Political Responsibility to extend CSR into the political roles of corporations.  This is important because whilst we are more familiar with the economic and social roles of corporations, their political roles are less well-understood.  Moreover, sustainability debates often under-estimate the importance of governance questions, focusing on the substantive Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), for example, to the neglect of SDGs 16 and 17 which address ‘strong institutions’ and ‘partnerships for the goals’.

 

The modules investigate corporate ‘making, taking and breaking’ of sustainability governance in order to reveal some positive contributions as well as some activities which raise questions about corporations’ responsibility, accountability and sustainability.  This includes investigation of corporate roles and relationships in, for example: climate change regulation, supply chain governance, community responsibility, humanitarian aid, environmental and human rights regulation, and also includes a practitioner presentation on a sustainability governance topic. 

 

The course concludes with consideration of different ways of evaluating and enhancing the responsibility, accountability and sustainability of corporations’ sustainability governance roles using the concepts of ‘corporate purpose’, ‘democratic regulation’ and ‘corporate citizenship’.

 

Whilst it focuses on the governance roles of corporations with homes in democratic systems, the course includes attention to these corporations’ governance activities in other places.  It is designed to be of particular interest to students with interests in CSR, sustainability, and business and politics.
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
Research-like activities
  • Development of research questions
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
Description of the teaching methods
Interactive Lectures based on prior reading
Group exercises in class
Debates in class
Guest speakers particularly around practice issue areas
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be given to students after class exercises and, individually, as students prepare for the assignment.

Following Mid-term evaluation, particular needs for feedback can be identified and responded to.
Student workload
10 X 3 hour lectures 30 hours
Exam preparation + assignment 33 hours
Reading and preparation during course 143 hours
Expected literature

To be provided in advance of the course.
Last updated on 12-02-2025