Læringsutbytte

The aim of this intensive course is to introduce a Nordic-Baltic business perspective to sustainable development and give the students the possibility to work in a multicultural environment and create their own network of future business people during the course.

The student should after the course be able to:
· demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the purpose and the meaning of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development for business as well as for public and non-profit organizations;
· apply perspectives from management and organizational theories in order to investigate the opportunities and hindrances for sustainable development;
· demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex relation between economy, society, environment and development on local, national and global level;
· demonstrate an understanding and awareness about culture and communication between people from different backgrounds;
· carry out qualified project tasks within a limited time frame;
· orally and in writing explain and discuss conclusions in relation to the knowledge and arguments they are based upon;
· communicate and in practice cooperate with actors in the business sector and in academia;
· critically analyze and evaluate information in relation to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development

Innhold

The course content is focused on how companies strategically adapt themselves and handle demands regarding environmental issues and social responsibility from other organizations in their surrounding world. The theoretical framework is based on organizational and management theories. The conceptions of the world, visions and ideologies in relation to business strategies and sustainable development will be critically discussed. The students will practically work with organizational related issues in cooperation with the companies regarding their work with corporate social responsibility such as environmental and social sustainability issues.
The course will contribute to knowledge from a strategic perspective regarding corporate social responsibility such as environmental and social issues in companies. The course will also contribute to insight in other kind of organizations such as public and non-governmental organizations and their role and interplay with companies in relation to environmental and social issues. The purpose is to enter deeply into conceptions of the world, visions and ideologies in relation to sustainable development. The students should after the course have an improved ability to work with organizational related issues in practical cooperation with companies and an improved ability regarding written and oral presentation.

Arbeids- og læringsformer

At the beginning of the course students prepare a group work at their home university. This group
work is a report on how a companies in their home country works with the topics of this course. During the intensive week the students will present the Company Reports. The intensive week continue with lectures and students working in multicultural groups preparing a project in cooperation with companies, which will be presented at the end of the week. The assignment for the projects will be distributed to the students two weeks before the intensive week starts.
Teaching methods are: lectures, seminars, presentations and tutoring. In this course there is an extensive use of Internet - as a place to communicate and discuss between students and teachers. During one intensive week students and teachers from 7 different countries/universities meet for seminars, presentations, company visits and guest lectures.

Vurderingsformer

Company report 30%, Presentation comp. report 10%, Multiple choice test 20%, Project 30%, Presentation Project 10%.

Det tas forbehold om mindre justeringer i planen.