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Students learn that corporate social responsibility is just the business

“It is a fantastic opportunity for our business students to volunteer in the local community and witness corporate social responsibility in action.”

Amanda JacksonCommunity Projects Officer, University of Leeds.

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Module is the first collaborative project between the University of Leeds Business School and Business in the Community’s employee volunteering initiative Leeds Cares. The aim was to introduce a CSR element to business school undergraduates and to give them insight as to what it means in practical terms to businesses today.

The pilot’s success means an accredited module will be built into the business school syllabus leading to stronger business partnerships and greater CSR awareness.  This is the second year of the scheme which has inspired another four companies to be involved. 

The success of the project has resulted in other Universities looking into holding similar events in Sheffield and Hull with the possibility of the workshop being opened up to all students next year in Leeds.  See the document in the right column for news of this years collaborative challenge.

Processes

A volunteering day was organised involving Boots and employees from Yorkshire Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers worked with students at Herd Farm residential centre. The centre offers activities to Leeds children including archery, mountain biking and climbing which help boost self esteem and encourage team building.

The businesses said their employees had developed new skills and built relationships. Herd Farm said youngsters could grow and cook vegetables on site, the fence was important for the official unveiling of the round huts and the reclaimed hedgerow would encourage wildlife.

The students experienced the benefits of volunteering, developed new skills and raised their personal profile with prospective future employers.

Comments from some participants: 

“Increasingly we are seeing graduates who explicitly state that efforts in the community are a key factor in helping them decide when they are fortunate enough to have multiple job offers. The opportunity for us to be able to demonstrate by action as well as by words with the University was very welcome.”
Mark Webster, Audit Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

“I have developed my planning skills and being a Team Leader has enabled me to step outside of my comfort zone.”
Sarah Hunt, University of Leeds student

“The amount of work that the volunteers have done has saved us is immense, it would have taken us months to finish.”
Mick Wooldridge, Senior Youth Worker, Herd Farm Residential Centre

Impact

  • Development of an accredited CSR module for The University of Leeds
  • Increased partnership working between the University and the participating companies
  • Increased awareness of the CSR agenda for the participating students
  • Development of new skills to enhance students CV's and raise personal profiles

Documents

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