Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Partnerships and Practices

Catalog description

NPLD 7500 explores the relationship between business and society through the lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR), with a particular emphasis on corporate philanthropy. The central question we investigate is: What is the responsibility of business to society, if any? We examine how CSR is conceptualized, how it is practiced, the nature of partnerships formed with society, and its broader impact. This is a travel course to the Netherlands, where we examine CSR in the European context and compare it with practices in the United States and India. The course includes site visits and lectures by Dutch academics at Erasmus University, as well as insights from local corporate and nonprofit practitioners. Businesses engaging in philanthropic activities often leverage their CSR platforms to interact with society, either directly, through corporate foundations, or in collaboration with nonprofit organizations. While these activities may not be directly tied to profit-making ventures, they can enhance corporate reputation, serve as marketing tools, aid in talent recruitment, and improve employee engagement and commitment, ultimately contributing to profitability in indirect ways.