PACORSOC - Advanced Diploma in Professional Development in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

The ADPD in CSR and Sustainability programme is designed to give students who we assume will be from different disciplines and backgrounds the opportunity of developing their skills and understanding in the emerging and evolving field of Sustainability and Sustainable Development. The field of corporate social responsibility has continued to reorient our perception of how we need to conduct our operational business practices in order to solve a number of addressable social, economic and environmental problems, graduates from all disciplines need to understand many of the issues involved. The course has been designed to meet this objective. Scholars have argued that there are different perceptions to CSR. Elkington in his triple bottom line model argues that there are three elements to CSR namely economic, social and ecological responsibilities, Carroll argues that the elements are four namely economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities the United Nations in its Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in 2015 notes that these elements are in fact five, which are People, Planet, Prosperity, Partnership and Peace. Understanding what these theories are saying about CSR is a good foundation of embedding ethical practices about CSR in tomorrow’s CSR manager. The programme is designed to do this.

The ADPD CSR and Sustainability aims to enable its graduates

1. Develop awareness of issues surrounding Sustainable Development and how it should be weaved into operational practices of corporate entities.
2. Develop an understanding of the role of the consultant in developing sustainable businesses.
3. Develop awareness of the importance of the outer and inner contexts of organizations, emphasizing the importance of internal stakeholders to successful CSR outcomes.
4. Understand the ‘business case’ for CSR which suggests that socially and environmentally aware companies can expect to survive and prosper in a competitive business environment.

Knowledge and understanding

Graduates who have successfully completed the course will be able to:

• Analyse Sustainable and Environmental reports of corporate entities worldwide
• Demonstrate specialist knowledge and understanding of sustainability and sustainable development issues
• Critically evaluate core issues surrounding CSR in business and social environments.
• Articulate the need for social innovation and entrepreneurship in the modern corporate scene

Cognitive/intellectual skills

By the end of the course the graduates are expected to develop higher order skills reflected in their ability to:

• Be able to relate theoretical issued learnt on the degree to the their own practice and work environment
• Undertake independent research and use acquired knowledge to analyse and evaluate specific issues and sustainability problems that face business and society.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and self-development, general study skills, problem solving, working with others, communication, self-management, self-presentation and decision-making.
• Demonstrate higher level skills in understanding research issues in sustainability and sustainable development.

Practical/transferable skills including employability
By the end of the course, students will have developed practical/transferable skills in CSR and Sustainability that will enhance their chances of employability in the field. They will be able to:

• Demonstrate a sound understanding of practical issues relating to Sustainability and be capable of providing sustainable advice in dealing with them.
• Manage the process of incorporating the advice of consultants within the company.
• Make sound judgements in the absence of complete information, and communicate these findings clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Demonstrate high order skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis in dealing with a business environment challenge
• Work independently to plan and deliver an environment audit proposal for their organisation to a professional standard and demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.

Subject-Specific Practical Skills

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Apply appropriate research methods to propose a detailed investigation in the subject
• Foster a critical awareness and deep interest in Practical Sustainability and combine knowledge and analysis acquired in core modules to develop sustainability management skills.
• Understand issues surrounding corporate governance, essential requirements of good governance and the UK Combined Code and Corporate Governance Codes in selected countries around the world.

This course complies with the QAA Characteristics Statement for Master’s Degrees (2015)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Ma sters-Degree-Characteristics-15.pdf , and the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Master’s Degrees in Business and Management
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SB
S-Business-and%20Management-15.pdffor

A range of Assessment methods will be used by module leaders on the course. These assessment methods are designed to measure achievement and to foster the development of the range of learning outcomes given in Section 11 above. It is anticipated that the assessment strategy will support the development of effective and responsible CSR practitioners and experts. Timely feedback to students by module leaders a university wide policy will be adhered to.

The course conforms with the Regulations of the University Postgraduate Scheme and there are no additional regulations.

All core modules must be taken and passed to gain the award

The ADPD CSR and Sustainability will organise a week long induction programme for students on the degree. The focus of the induction will be to active learning and development whilst inculcating the principles of individual and team learning and development, action planning and preparation for academic study at master’s level. The two core modules are designed to give students the opportunity to develop their reflective learning and personal development. One of the in-course assignments on Fundamentals of Corporate Social Responsibility will for example will require
Students’ to work in groups to find solutions to a few problems on social, economic and environmental issues contained in cases which will be provided to them.

Students will be actively encouraged to arrange to meet with the university’s Careers Service. Additional activities including networking events, masterclasses, workshops, guest lectures, book launches etc will be used to support career development and employability during the course.

By the end of the degree, you'll have an understanding of the complex area of CSR, allowing you to become a fully-informed sustainability professional and keep abreast of current developments to critically analyse and evaluate the issues surrounding the implications of CSR.

You will be required to have:

• a good bachelor’s degree (2.2) in any subject

Students may be considered with HND/HNC providing they have work experience in the CSR and sustainability or a related field equivalent to experienced middle management. Exceptionally, candidates with significant CSR experience at a senior level may be considered. Interviews are generally required for non-standard entry.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS at a minimum of 6 with 5.5 in each component. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.