Study Guide

Objective

On successful completion of the course, student will know the principles of and instruments for building responsible business. Student can identify the most important stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility. Student will understand corporate resbonsibility's role as a part of company's competitive advantage. Student can present corporate resbonsibility elements and evaluate the meanings to company, environment and society. Student can tell how corporate responsibility can be managed and reported. Student can explore how sustainability is used as a sales argument and in advertising.

Location and time

Spring 2025
Tornio, Minerva, Kauppakatu 58

Zoom contact lessons between 13 - 29.1.2025 on Mondays and Wednesdays at 14:00-16:30
13.1. 15.1.
20.1. 22.1.
27.1. 29.1.

Materials

Books available from Lapland UAS library database:

Corporate Governance (recommended reading - chapters 1-6, 12) Nordberg, Donald, 2010 https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ez.lapinamk.fi/lib/ulapland-ebooks/reader.action?docID=743700

Business Ethics Gavai, A.K., 2009 https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ez.lapinamk.fi/lib/ulapland-ebooks/reader.action?docID=3011220

The thinking executive's guide to sustainability Kassel, Kerul, 2014 https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ez.lapinamk.fi/lib/ulapland-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1048438 

Corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and innovation Amaeshi, Kenneth, author ; Nnodim, Paul ; Osuji, Onyeka Routledge 2013. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ez.lapinamk.fi/lib/ulapland-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1128288

Perspectives on corporate social responsibility (recommended reading - chapters 1-4, 7-9, 11) Crowther, David ; Rayman-Bacchus, Lez 2016 https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ez.lapinamk.fi/lib/ulapland-ebooks/reader.action?docID=4817312

Additional study materials provided in Moodle.

Teaching methods

Mandatory contact class sessions via Zoom
Independent and teamwork
Reading and research for class activities and course assignments
Inquiry-based learning for producing oral (for class sessions) and written research findings

The course aims to sensitise students with an understanding of the meaning and practices of Corporate Responsibility including corporate social responsibility (CSR) and business ethics. Additionally, to acquire insights into various aspects of sustainable business and environmental ethics, in order to widen perspectives on ethical considerations in culture, business and environment related issues.

International connections

In case there are any incoming exchange students in Tornio, there could be an opportunity for attending lessons and collaborating with them.

Content scheduling

Corporate governance theories
Business ethics principles and CSR
Sustainable strategies as business tools

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Student recognizes some principles and concepts of building responsible business. Student can identify the key stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility. Student will understand corporate responsibility's role as a part of company's competitive advantage. Student can present corporate responsibility elements. Student can tell how corporate responsibility can be managed and reported. Student understands how sustainability can be used as a sales argument and in advertising.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Student recognizes the principles of and instruments for building responsible business. Student can identify the most important stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility. Student will understand corporate responsibility's role as a part of company's competitive advantage. Student can present corporate responsibility elements and evaluate the meanings to company, environment and society. Student can tell how corporate responsibility can be managed and reported. Student can explore how sustainability is used as a sales argument and in advertising.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Student recognizes the principles of and instruments for building responsible business. Student can identify the most important stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility. Student will understand corporate responsibility's role as a part of company's competitive advantage. Student can present and analyze corporate responsibility elements and evaluate the meanings to company, environment and society. Student can identify how corporate responsibility can be managed and reported and suggest improvements. Student can explore how sustainability is used as a sales argument and in advertising.

Assessment methods and criteria

Mandatory and productive participation during class activities, debates and presentations 50%
Successful completion of all required written assignments 50%
Students must accomplish both the parts to successfully accomplish the course