CSR Modules in Catholic and Ecclesiastical Universities in the Italian Territory

Abstract

There is not a single and universally accepted approach to social responsibility. The starting hypothesis of this study considers that the different cultural, economic, socio-political, religious and environmental contexts have an important role in defining the type of approach taken towards CSR.

The research project aims to identify the features of the concept of CSR in a specific cultural context, represented by universities located in the Italian territory and managed by Catholic institutions. These universities, in fact, assume some importance in the Italian social and cultural context, strongly affected by Vatican’s presence on the Italian peninsula.

The basic aim of this research project is to study the modules dealing with CSR issues in higher education institutions of Catholic orientation located in the Italian territory. The latter can be divided into two main categories:

• 1. Clerical universities

• 2. Catholic universities

The first category includes institutions directly dependent on the Holy See. In the second category there are facilities which have been granted juridical personality in Italy. They receive a permission to operate from an ecclesiastical authority. However, they undergo to the Italian legal provision (entities with extraterritoriality).

Our detailed research questions seek to:

• (a) determine whether there are modules dealing with CSR issues in these universities

• (b) analyze the nature of these modules, checking whether they belong to Italian accounting and business administration disciplines or to other scientific areas

• (c) examine the educational contents of these modules and compare them in Clerical and Catholic universities

The analysis will be realized through the websites of these universities and interviews with professors in charge of the identified courses.

In this way it will be possible to make a survey of the modules related to CSR issues, analyzing not only their quantitative diffusion, but also their contents from a qualitative point of view. Moreover, we will compare what we find with previous results on the current state of education in the field of CSR in all Italian universities, in order to identify the distinctive features of these modules in the Italian Catholic context.

The sections 6.1, 6.5.3.1 and 6.5.3.2 are to be attributed to P. Torrecchia; the sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.6 and 6.8 are to be attributed to C. Gulluscio, while the sections 6.4, 6.5.1, 6.5.2 and 6.7 are to be attributed to T. De Cristofaro.

Appendices

Appendix 6.1: The Questionnaire Submitted

Question				Answer
Class	Subclass	No.	Text
(A) Course	1. Origin	1	Genesis—Was the module dealing with CSR/ corporate ethics you hold initially introduced by you or does the existence of the module pre-date your role as a module tutor?
		2	Duration—In what year was the module first offered by your university?
		3	Reasons—What are the reasons that led your university to offer this module?
	2. Nature	4	Obligatoriness—Is the module optional or compulsory?
	3. Syllabus	5	Description—Please provide a brief description of the module, specifying: pedagogical approach (including any expert guest speakers), contents, aim(s) of the module. Would you be able to send us a detailed description of the module?
	4. Level	6	Degree programme—Is the module offered as part of: (a) Bachelor’s degree; (b) Master’s degree; (c) both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree; (d) other (e.g. university master, Ph.D., specialisation degree) (please specify)
	5. Tutor	7	CSR experience—Have you ever taught CSR/corporate ethics in other universities? If so, which ones? Were these religious universities?
		8	CSR Background—Have you ever attended (as a student) modules on CSR/business ethics? Where? Who was the module convenor?
	6. Students	9	Module Attendance—How many students, approximately, have attended your module in the current academic year?
		10	Module Interest—Over the years, have you noticed any changes in the student attendance (number) and in their interest in the topic? How do these changes relate to the module status as compulsory/optional?
		11	Activism in CSR— Have you noticed student activism concerning CSR/corporate ethics in your university?
(B) CSR	1. Institution	12	Integration—During one of our previous studies on modules on CSR /ethics in Italian universities included in the MIUR database we found that these show little integration with the rest of the didactic content and that they are often dependant on the initiative of the module convenor. In your experience, is this scenario verified in the university you work for? In your opinion, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the academic pathway established by your university in relation with CSR/corporate responsibility modules?
		13	Diffusion—In your experience, what are the reasons preventing a greater diffusion of the modules on CSR/ corporate responsibility in your university?
	2. Degree	14	Integration—Is the topic of CSR/ corporate ethics well integrated in your educational programme, or does it only appear in the module you teach?
	3. Other degrees	15	Integration—The topic of CRS appears to be well integrated in the educational pathways of the most highly accredited international MBAs. In your opinion, why is this less often the case in Italy?

Appendix 6.2: The CSR Modules Analysed

N.	CHEI	Label	Italian credits (cfu/ects) and SDSs*
1	Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA)	Sostenibilità e responsabilità sociale di impresa (Sustainability and corporate social responsibility)	6 (SECS-P/07)
2	Pontificia Università della Santa Croce	Responsabilità Sociale d’impresa (Corporate social responsibility)	4
3	Pontificia Università Lateranense	Responsabilità dell’impresa (Corporate responsibility)	3
4	Pontificio Ateneo Regina Apostolorum	Etica economica e di impresa (Economic and corporate ethics)	2 (3 ects)
5	Università cattolica del Sacro Cuore	Etica degli Affari (Business ethics)	8 (SECS-P/10)
6	Università cattolica del Sacro Cuore	Corporate governance and social responsibility	8 (4 SECS-P/09 + 4 SECS-P/07)
7	Università cattolica del Sacro Cuore	Corporate social responsibility	5 (SECS-P/07)

(*) Note that SDSs aren’t used in pontifical CHEIs