Keeping track of ‘corporate social responsibility’ as a business and management discipline: case of Pakistan

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2014-07, Vol.74, p.27-34
• Main Authors: Memon, Zahid A., Wei, Yi-Ming, Robson, Mark Gregory, Khattak, Muhammad Aamir Obaid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Business and management schools; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Corporate social responsibility; Developing countries; Environment and sustainable development; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Pakistan; Pollution; Sustainability; Universities
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.03.057

Many universities worldwide have been incorporating corporate social responsibility into their business and management curricula, research and training programs. In this study, we investigated the extent to which corporate social responsibility is introduced as an academic discipline in the business and management schools in Pakistan. We also cited general opinions on corporate social responsibility from the heads of academic institutions and queried them regarding their methods to introduce and integrate it into business and management education and training. A survey of business and management schools in Pakistani universities revealed limited levels of corporate social responsibility within the business and management curricula. We found that the level of corporate social responsibility in Pakistan is representative of corporate social responsibility education in other developing countries. In Pakistan, there was consensus among the respondents on the importance of incorporating corporate social responsibility as a future discipline to encourage sustainable socioeconomic development in the country. We concluded that although corporate social responsibility is emerging as an academic discipline in Pakistan, it could be better supported if universities engaged in an alliance with corporations and the government. •We investigate the integration of CSR into business curricula in Pakistan.•We also cite opinions on how to integrate CSR into business curricula.•Similarities found in CSR education in Pakistan and other developing countries.•This study can serve as a model for similar research in other developing countries.•CSR in Pakistan could be better supported with university-corporation-government nexus.