Change is possible: the effects of a corporate social responsibility course on business student attitudes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess if fourth year undergraduate business students' attitudes towards business ethics and corporate social responsibility changed as a result of taking an elective management course on the topic. Findings suggested that a course on business ethics and corporate social responsibility had significant impact on improving a business student's attitudes towards the long term benefits of sound business ethics and corporate social responsibility, the benefits of addressing stakeholders, the understanding of the social licence to operate, and the use of social responsibility as a tool to address government regulations. The study also found that initial student attitudes (pre-course) were generally “favourable” towards business ethics and corporate social responsibility.