Brac Business School (BBS) arranged a session titled “Corporate Social Responsibility in Global Supply Chains” for its students on Thursday, 20 February, 2020 at the Brac University (BU) Auditorium. The session was a part of BU‘s Regulation of International Supply Chains’ (RISC) project.
The facilitators of the workshop included Professor Jeremy Warwick Moon, Director, CBS Centre for Sustainability, Copenhagen Business School, Professor Jette Steen Knudsen, Tufts University, Assistant Professor Erin Leitheiser, Copenhagen Business School, and Professor Shahidur Rahman, Department of Economics & Social Sciences, BU. Mr. Saif Hossain, Assistant Professor, Brac Business School, kicked off the event by greeting the students’ and the facilitators. Professor Rahman gave the welcoming speech and briefly talked about the RISC project and the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in supply chains before introducing the speakers. Professor Moon initiated the discussion by acquainting the students with what CSR is and its history and significance. He focused on the globalization process and subjectivity of CSR activities and on how they create discretion and enhance businesses. Following him, Professor Knudsen presented her discussion on CSR in global supply chains. She marked many contemporary issues and identified causes and effects of CSR in supply chains.
Dr. Erin’s session included a case study on Apple and Foxconn. The workshop allowed students to analyze and demonstrate their perspective over the questions provided in the case. After group discussions, students shared their views on the issues. The faculty members who were present also participated in the discussions. Later, Dr. Erin summarized and highlighted the case discussion by putting forth her remarks along with the students’ suggestions. The event was concluded by Mr. Mashook Mujib Chowdhury, an alumnus of BU and Manager of Sustainability, DBL Group, who showcased the various CSR activities of DBL Group, and how the organization has been creating a benchmark to be followed by others.The event was coordinated by Professor Shahidur Rahman, ESS, and Assistant Professor Saif Hossain, BBS, with the support of Gulfam Tasnim, Shuvro Sen, and Syeda Nusaiba Hossain (RISC Project Research Associates).