- Enseignant-e: Valentina Mele
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the evolving role of corporations in addressing sustainability challenges, with a particular focus on their engagement with public institutions and civil society organizations, both nationally and internationally.
Building conceptually on the shift from government to governance and on 'the public role of the private sector,' the course explores three core dimensions of corporate sustainability:
-
Corporate Involvement in the Public Sphere: Corporate engagement in sustainability and the delivery of public goods is often framed as a win–win proposition, offering opportunities for companies to build trust, legitimacy, and long-term value while contributing to collective goals. At the same time, such involvement raises important questions about legitimacy, accountability, and the potential for private actors to influence public priorities. This course will explore how companies can enhance their intangible assets through sustainability efforts, while also acknowledging the ways in which such engagement may shape public agendas in line with corporate strategic interests.
-
Navigating ESG Dynamics: How companies identify synergies and manage trade-offs among Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) priorities when shaping and executing their sustainability and corporate citizenship strategies.
-
Interacting with IOs and NGOs: The relationship between corporations and international organizations (IOs) and NGOs has evolved over time, spanning a spectrum of interactions—from confrontation, through advocacy campaigns, boycotts, and watchdog activities, to cooperation via cross-sector partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
Teaching Approach
The course blends interactive lectures, class discussions, case studies, and real-world scenarios to foster both conceptual understanding and practical competence in the field of corporate sustainability. It will offer analytical frameworks while also developing students’ ability to apply tools and methods for navigating sustainability strategies and cross-sector collaboration.
Active preparation and engagement with the assigned readings are essential, as is participation in conversations with distinguished guest speakers who will share firsthand insights from corporate, public, and nonprofit contexts.
Please note that enrollment is limited to students from IHDS, SACHA, and the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences (SdS).