CSR & Higher Education : A lacuna that needs to be filled

1. National Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility-Issues and Challenges. CSR & Higher Education : A lacuna that needs to be filled By Ms Sumbul Tahir & Ms. Neha Gupta Assistant Professor Jagannath International Management School, New Delhi, Kalkaji

2. Introduction • CSR is a widely recognized concept in the corporate arena. However, there exists a gap in its implementation in the higher educational system. • This study attempts to highlight how higher education institutions might also be mobilized to initiate serious CSR interventions and the roadmap through which the same can be achieved.

3. Objectives • There happens to be an empty slot between knowledge related to CSR and its implementation as only Industrial corporations tends to work towards the welfare of the society as one of their business objectives. • Institutions imparting higher education must try to reform their system by introducing CSR activities to be as important as a part of course curriculum. • To identify the facilitators in the field of academics for CSR initiatives in Educational system and universities. • To study the importance and need of CSR by providing suitable interventions for the implementation of the idea of CSR at university level.

4. Review of Literature • Baruch and Lemming (1996, p27) suggest that “the aims of MBA programs are to prepare graduates for managerial roles, help them gain a better understanding of the industrial and business world and its needs, enrich their skills and provide them with competencies relevant to their careers.” • Trevino and Nelson (1999), business school students may need training in ethics and moral reasoning more than most other students.

5. Reasons for university interventions of CSR • To convince students that ethical issues are an important part of the key business functions of finance, marketing, and management. • To provide systematic coverage of a wide range of ethical issues to all students. • To imbue all MBA students with a perspective of what ethics mean in business practice. • To provide students with a set of analytical tools applicable to ethical problems in all aspects of their business education, as well as their future jobs.

6. Some domains where CSR has been or can be taken up • Rain water harvesting • Minimization of waste and recycling programs. • Devising substitutes for harmful chemicals • Research for reducing harmful emissions in the atmosphere. • Making use of renewable resources convenient and fashionable. • Ensuring students become active members of environmental organizations. • Eliciting support of industry in social and environmental benefit schemes.

7. Contd.. • Environmental monitoring and reporting. • Encouraging students to work with children with learning difficulties or teach children with special needs. • Encouraging parents to donate to charities recognized by the university. • Supporting local homeless people by initiating projects of donation of used clothes, utensils, rugs, blankets etc. • Sponsorship of students of less privileged households for participation in sports teams.

8. Recommendations • Socially responsible universities and colleges should initiate steps to arrange and organize interventions for leaving a positive impact on society. • The interventions should involve academicians and students both, in order to ensure that the expertise of faculty members and the enthusiasm and fresh perspective of students are channeled together for the betterment of the community. • Academic institutions can make use of their departments in mobilizing specific skills and knowledge for better targeted interventions. For instance the Department of Life Sciences is better equipped to handle rain water harvesting while Department of Social Sciences will work better with collaborating with NGOs.

9. Contd.. • Top management of academic institutions have to take the lead in initiating all CSR activities and the enthusiasm and zeal for the same will emanate from them and then travel down the line. • The time is near when government shall take active interest in making CSR mandatory for all organizations. Appointment of a nodal person who manages all socially responsible activities with the outside world seems like a good investment. Otherwise the option of making one faculty member as the ombudsman for the same can also be explored.

10. Conclusion • Universities are the most important areas of imparting education, still in light of modernization the basic objective of providing education must not suffer. Educational systems must not become commercial organizations stressing upon only growth in number of students and span of control. It should be the responsibility of the academicians as well to do contribute a bit towards the welfare of the society by making the world a little better.

11. Questions Thank You