The Department of International Relations and European Studies had as guest between May 27-28th Professor LUTZ MICHAEL BUCHNER, executive director of the European Institute for Labor and Industrial Relations and consultant for European Works Council at Deutsche Telekom ‘s Group. On this occasion, he delivered a lecture on “Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability” for students of bachelor and master degree organized by the department of the University. They have had the opportunity to experience and learn about new methods in which contemporary companies at any size can cope with the challenges of increasingly globalized markets.
In a business environment connected to global human and financial capital flows, terms such as shareholder value, financial crisis, turbo capitalism, fair products, risk management, compensation management, compliance management, employer branding are appearing more and more often in the activity reports of large corporations and they are part of responsible corporate governance strategies. All these “soft” factors which increase the competitiveness of the companies are in fact components of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR ) and are indicators used by major rating agencies when conducting ranking companies .
In the same context, the OECD and the International Labour Organization have created an institutional framework for CSR, intensely discussed topic at European level, since the adoption of the Lisbon Strategy (2000). Defined in the European Commission’s Green Paper (2001), CSR is a “concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental objectives volunteer in their own development strategies in the way of doing business and interacting with stakeholders”. The Communication of the Commission on CSR published a year later, highlights the contribution of business to sustainable development of the European Union and the European Alliance for CSR however in 2006 the european alliance for csr is launced as a common initiative for the European Commission and the business community. In October 2011 the Communication of the Commission issued to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, from which the EU strategy refering to CSR is renewed . Alongside these international institutions several CSR platforms operate, one of these is composed of 75 multinational corporations and 25 partner organizations aimed to integrate CSR into the way they conduct their businesses.
The course provided the Oradean students the opportunity to become more familiarized with the basic principles of CSR, but also with the particularities of implementation in national legislation or management of any company strategies. The case studies presented by Professor Büchner, captured these aspects in developed countries of Western Europe and those in developing the Central – East and East of the continent. The theoretical knowledge (the modern ways of doing business, industrial or corporate codes, European social and environmental values) some practical activities were completed , which ended with supporting projects generating intense debate and with providing certificates attesting competences and skills acquired (in business ethics and corporate social responsibility, social dialogue and networking with local communities).
The positive feedback received from Professor Büchner, encourages us to extend this activity by attracting other local or regional actors interested in Corporate Social Responsibility such as businesses, authorities and NGOs from this area.
