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Organizational Governance, Ethics and Sustainability: Sustainable Business and Organizations - Short Course

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Course timetable and cost:

The course will span over 2 weeks, taking place on following dates: Tuesday 16 September, Thursday 18 September, Tuesday 23 September and Thursday 25 September. Each session will be scheduled from 18:00 - 20:30, on-campus. Information on the in-person location for each session will be provided in due course. The full course cost is £400. 

We offer a 20% discount to those who are members of Birkbeck's alumni community. Please contact us if you are a member and wish to activate this discount. 

Course description:

On this Short Course, Organizational Governance, Ethics and Sustainability, we explore the complex and changing relationships between organizations, their stakeholders and the socio-economic environments within which they operate.

Indicative course content:

  • Session 1 - What is organizational governance and Why is it Important? 
    ​This session will explore the meaning and importance of organizational governance. We will consider the forms taken by organizations in the private, public and third sectors before exploring the organization as an institution of society, and institution of capitalism and a legal institution. Our attention will then turn to the agency theory of governance and how it might be usefully applied to organizations in the private, public and third sectors. We will conclude by looking at the OECD's recent statement on the importance of "good" organizational governance and what this might look like.
  • Session 2 - Sustainable Finance 
    This session is designed for participants who want to learn more about analysing, integrating, and better understanding ESG factors. We will explore different sources of ESG data, how to gather and interpret data, and look at how ESG data can shape investors' perception and behaviour. Companies around the globe are increasing in number and are pledging to achieve a net-zero impact by the middle or end of the century. Relevant stakeholder investing preferences, along with local and regional government regulations, are driving this trend. However, many firms have questions regarding how to reach their decarbonisation goals. 
  • Session 3 - Organizational Governance and Ethics: A Stakeholder Perspective 
    In this session, we engage with the debate on shareholder primacy and argue that in a globalised world stakeholders should have more prominence in organisational thinking. We will explore how organisations can draw on ethical reasoning alongside the law and international obligations such as the Sustainable Development Goals to be more accountable and sustainable organisations.
  • Session 4 - Government Effectiveness, Corruption and Sustainable Development 
    In this session, we will explore the crucial role of government effectiveness in achieving sustainable development, uncovering how corruption weakens institutions, disrupts economies, and widens inequalities. Drawing on insights from OECD reports, UN frameworks, and official government strategies, we will examine real-world efforts, particularly in emerging economies, to combat bribery and corruption. This discussion will directly connect to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Learning objectives:

On this short course, you will gain insight into:

  • Organizational governance, ethics and sustainability in the private, public and third sectors
  • Social, environmental and ethical responsibilities of organizations and how they implement, communicate, measure and address sustainability issues
  • The crucial role of government effectiveness in achieving sustainable development goals and how corruption weakens institutions, disrupts economies and widens inequalities

Why choose this course?

  • It addresses the social, environmental, political and moral aspects of organizations’ relationships with stakeholders and society and is ideal if you wish to engage critically with the policy aspects of organizational governance, ethics and sustainability.
  • The course explores international perspectives, recognizing the increasing globalization of organizations and finance and investigating the wide variety of cultures and governance systems within which organizations operate worldwide.
  • It is ideal if you wish to gain a better understanding of the regulation of private, public and third sector organizations, the management or trusteeship of pension and other investment funds or the field of organizational, social and environmental sustainability.
  • It benefits from the involvement of leading academics in the field.

Course lecturers:

Sue Konzelmann is Professor of Economics at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research interests include the political economics of austerity, corporate purpose, and the “variety” within liberal capitalism that became apparent in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Recent work in this area explores the alternatives to austerity, including industrial strategy, social policy and financial reform, with the aim of informing theory and practice as well as policy. Most recently, she has been investigating the dynamic inter-relationship between liberal capitalism, austerity and fascism between the wars, and the lessons this might have for today. Sue is co-executive editor of the Cambridge Journal of Economics and Contributions to Political Economy, Research Associate of the Cambridge University Centre for Business Research, and a Council Member of the Progressive Economy Forum. Further information can be found at: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/our-staff/profile/8009369/sue-konzelmann. 

Ellen Pei-yi Yu is a Senior Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research interests revolve around environmental finance and sustainable finance. Her publications have appeared in journals such as the Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Business Strategy and the Environment and International Review of Financial Analysis. She was invited to share her research results with managers and investment professionals, including those at the World Federation of Exchanges and the US Conference Board. . Further information can be found at: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/our-staff/profile/8740444/ellen-pei-yi-yu 

Luca Andriani is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) of Economics at Birkbeck Business School, founder Co-Director at the Centre for Political Economy and Institutional Studies, and founder Director of the Video Podcast 5-Minute. Luca is convenor and organiser of the international seminar series “Governance, Institutions and Sustainability” hosted by the Birkbeck Business School. Luca's research revolves around exploring the role of social norms, values, and trust on the governance of the state-citizens relationship. Furthermore, he delves into the cognitive aspects that influence individual attitudes towards corruption and tax evasion. His publications appear in several top field journals including the Cambridge Journal of Economics, Economic Systems, Kyklos, the Journal of Institutional Economics, Spatial Economic Analysis, the Journal of Economic Issues, Strategic Change, and the Review of Social Economy. Currently he is working on the role of government capacity and government effectiveness in sub-Saharan Africa and on the role of extreme shocks such as terroristic attacks on citizens’ tax compliance and trust in public institutions. Further information can be found at: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/our-staff/profile/8008798/luca-andriani 

Dr Arron Phillips is a Lecturer in Corporate Governance and Business Ethics at Birkbeck, University of London. Arron completed his Bachelor of Law at Middlesex University before joining the Law Department as an Academic Assistant. During this time, he completed his Masters in Employment Law, also at Middlesex University. After a short break from academia Arron undertook doctoral study at Greenwich University focusing on Whistleblowing: The Role of Trade Unions. During this time Arron joined Birkbeck where he is currently based in the Business School. His teaching focuses on three areas with significant interplay, Legal Perspectives on Governance, International Business Ethics and Employment Law. Alongside teaching Arron's research draws on these fields with a focus on whistleblowing. His interests focus on the role of agents in supporting the whistleblower and whistleblowing process. Arron has presented and published on whistleblowing and is co-editor of a two-volume book on whistleblowing expected to be released later this year. Further information can be found at: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/our-staff/profile/9177563/arron-phillips

 

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