Corporate social responsibility in practice
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Summary
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not new but nowadays it seems everyone is talking about it. Organisations and businesses everywhere are urged to protect the environment, save energy, recycle, avoid waste, and use ethical trading methods. Increasingly there are requirements to make public statements about such issues. But why is this? Is it simply a transient “fashion”? And does it make a difference?
This course is not aimed at those whose whole specialist brief is CSR but rather at those at all levels - in managerial positions or professional positions - who need to know enough about CSR to understand the debate and contribute to CSR policies and practices in their organisation.
Course content
Corporate social responsibility is not new – it has been around for more than 50 years. But nowadays it seems everyone is talking about it and organisations and businesses are being urged to protect the environment, save energy, recycle, and use ethical trading methods.
In this course you will consider how the decisions you take at work can make a difference. Saving energy, reducing waste and investing in your staff all make good business sense.
This course is aimed at:
Those at all levels – in managerial or professional positions – who need to contribute to CSR policies and practices in their own organisation.
You will learn to:
- understand the debate about corporate social responsibility
- contribute to corporate social responsibility policies and practices in your organisation
- recognise the business case for taking a proactive approach to corporate social responsibility
- identify the main corporate social responsibility challenges facing your organisation
- identify the levers for action that you as a manager can use to exert corporate social responsibility
- understand the impact an organisation can have on its environment by the choices it makes.
In this course there are activities that you can use to help you relate your learning to your organisation and your role within it. These should help you to assemble the final work-based activity (WBA), in which you will focus on ways in which you can start to introduce or enhance your CSR agenda.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take 30 hours to study and includes web text, self assessment questions and activities. The course contains a series of bite-size chunks making studying more manageable. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University (OU) from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the protected course website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify course materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. This is built up from short activities during the course, leading to a Personal Development Plan. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (N.B. The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course is delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some course material or some course activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our booklet Meeting Your Needs. You can obtain a copy by contacting our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Course materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and the work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course has online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the course forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course is a written report and has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity which you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
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An undergraduate course.
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