Implementing UN SDGs in regional universities of Kazakhstan: A strategic social responsibility perspective

The article gives an overview of responsible management in education using an example of the Almaty Management University (AlmaU) in Kazakhstan. At AlmaU, social responsibility is considered as a core model both from the perspective of managing education and teaching. Several projects and initiatives for staff and students reflect this model in action. The United Nations' Principles for Responsible Management Education initiatives and concepts serve as guiding principles and help benchmark initiatives on the global scale.

The article gives an overview of responsible management in education using an example of the Almaty Management University (AlmaU) in Kazakhstan. At AlmaU, social responsibility is considered as a core model both from the perspective of managing education and teaching. Several projects and initiatives for staff and students reflect this model in action. The United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education initiatives and concepts serve as guiding principles and help benchmark initiatives on the global scale.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a common concern for many firms as well as their customers. The term refers to all social and environmentally friendly activities of a firm beyond its legal requirements. This dissertation focuses on the strategic use of (corporate) social responsibility by firms and individuals and its economic implications. In chapters 2,3, and 4, Marco Sahm and I investigate CSR in a theoretical framework. We model CSR as a weight on consumer surplus in firms' objective function. The general decision structure is the same in all three chapters. A firm first strategically chooses the CSR level which maximizes its profit and then it maximizes the resulting objective function in order to choose its output quantity. We solve by backward induction. In chapter 2, we examine the strategic use of CSR in imperfectly competitive markets. First, we consider Cournot competition and show that the endogenous level of CSR is positive for any given number of firms. However, positive CSR levels imply smaller equilibrium profits. Second, we find that an incumbent monopolist can use CSR as an entry deterrent. Both results indicate that CSR may increase market concentration. Finally, we show that CSR levels decrease as the degree of product heterogeneity increases in Cournot competition and are zero in Bertrand Competition. In chapter 3, we examine Cournot competition between two firms that differ in their marginal costs of production. We show that the more efficient firm chooses a higher CSR level, reinforcing its dominant position. If there are sufficiently large fixed costs of CSR, only the more efficient firm will engage in CSR. In chapter 4, we compare the strategic potential of CSR and Customer Orientation (CO) as commitments to larger quantities in Cournot competition, modeled as a multi-stage game. First, in addition to profits, firms can choose to care for the surplus of either all consumers (CSR) or their own customers only (CO). Second, they decide upon the weight of this additional objective. We find that firms prefer to care for all consumers, choosing positive levels of CSR. This result provides an explanation for the recent shift in corporate culture from CO to CSR. Chapter 5 aims at identifying the strategic social responsibility of individuals. I conduct a laboratory experiment with three treatments: a regular ultimatum game (Baseline treatment) and two three-party ultimatum games with an NGO (NGO treatment) and a third person (TP treatment) as third party, respectively. I find that proposers in the three-party treatments allocate positive amounts to the third party. I show that proposers do not exclusively follow social preferences, but also strategic motives play a role when giving to the third party. In addition, responders are more willing to accept a proposal the higher the proposed share for the third party suggesting potential for strategic social responsibility. Proposers in the TP treatment can improve their relative payoffs compared to payoffs in the Baseline treatment by behaving strategically socially towards the third person.

Purpose of the study: This study in Malaysia explores the adoption of strategic social responsibility (SR) practices among manufacturing-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
 Methodology: A qualitative approach employing the in-depth interview method was taken-up for this study. Eight respondents from manufacturing SMEs in Penang were randomly selected from the list published by the National SME Agency, which is also reckoned as SMECorp and participated in the study. The selection of senior level managers as respondents was also based on their understanding of strategic SR initiatives and decision-making capacity within their organizations. In order to further ensure that all respondents were equal in their views, the study avoided any attempt to interfere with or incorporate existing business-related practices of SMEs, which could influence the findings of this study.
 Main Findings: In order to enable manufacturing SMEs to pursue sustainable and profitable SR practices, the findings first propose a six-phase SR implementation methodology. Secondly, it includes a risk assessment matrix and thirdly, it is followed by a risk transition matrix. The risk assessment and transition matrices serve as determining factors for this sector to pursue such initiatives.
 Applications of this study: This enables the adoption of SR initiatives which converts to business competitiveness while positioning the SME strategically from social or environmental or both perspectives. Strategic SR helps to position business, thus proving beneficial for this sector that lacks a method to address SR in a benefitting way. This is vital because strategically aligned SR is able to influence business positioning, thus proving beneficial by contributing to the revenue, image, and brand positioning for this sector.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: Being a preliminary study, the findings identify the steps that are to be taken by manufacturing entities of smaller magnitude for SR-related business positioning.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the mediating role of green marketing (GM) in the relationship between sustainable manufacturing (SM) and export performance (EP) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand’s latex pillow industry. It integrates human rights principles, positioning GM as a key mechanism within a strategic social responsibility (SSR) framework, exploring how ethical communication of sustainability practices enhances competitiveness in environmental, social and governance (ESG)-governed global markets. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected from 200 exporting SMEs using a structured questionnaire. The core constructs – SM, GM and EP – were validated through confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modelling and bootstrapped mediation analysis (5,000 resamples) were used to test the hypothesised mediation model. Findings The results confirm that GM fully mediates the relationship between SM and EP. SM significantly predicts GM (β = 0.67, p < 0.001), which, in turn, significantly enhances EP (β = 0.52, p < 0.001). The direct effect of SM on EP becomes non-significant when GM is included (β = 0.08, p = 0.33), supporting a full mediation model. All constructs demonstrate strong psychometric properties (AVE > 0.50; CR > 0.80). Research limitations/implications This study is limited to SMEs in a single industry and country context, which may affect the generalisability of findings. Self-reported data may also be subject to social desirability bias. Future research should consider longitudinal designs, cross-sector comparisons or multi-country samples to validate the proposed model in broader contexts. Practical implications The findings underscore the need for SMEs to invest in strategic GM as a core capability for transforming sustainability efforts into tangible export outcomes. Policymakers and export agencies should support capacity-building in ESG communication, particularly for SMEs operating in resource-constrained environments. Social implications This study highlights the importance of aligning export strategies with international human rights and sustainability standards. By adopting transparent and ethical communication practices, SMEs can contribute to more inclusive and responsible global trade, fostering trust among stakeholders and promoting social accountability in supply chains. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first empirical study to link operational sustainability with EP in Thailand’s latex sector through a human rights-oriented perspective. By integrating the resource-based view, stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the study presents GM as both a dynamic strategic capability and an ethical signalling mechanism. The findings have practical implications for SMEs, policymakers and ESG-sensitive global buyers, particularly in emerging market contexts.

This study aims to establish the link of key Islamic banking sustainability indicators with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a policy recommendation for sustainable development and to mitigate the distressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profit). To identify the key Islamic banking sustainability indicators, the authors selected the most cited sustainability measurement indexes in Islamic banking. Initially, the indexes were divided into 10 broader themes, and then the key Islamic banking sustainability indicators were shortlisted from each theme based on their high-frequency distribution. The shortlisted sustainability indicators were then ratified to be in line with Islamic philosophy based on “Maqasid al-Shariah” (objectives of Shariah) and were subsequently grouped into the three dimensions of economic, environmental, and social sustainability based on the axial coding method. Finally, the categorized sustainability indicators were aligned with the relevant UN SDGs through the axial coding method for policy formulation, and respectively 12 propositions were developed for policy formulation. This study labeled the methodological process of this study as the ECA method (exploration, categorization, alignment). The new ECA method offers a reverse extension in the “SDG compass” developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for aligning business policies with the UN SDGs. The process of aligning Islamic banking sustainability indicators with the UN SDGs will provide a roadmap to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of economic, environmental, and social issues. Due to the diversity of the UN SDG framework, it covers multiples aspects for sustainable development. Therefore, considering the UN SDGs in terms of various banking instruments will mitigate the multiple distressing impacts of COVID-19 on the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profit), it will also promote a sustainable development agenda.

We probed what are the sustainability initiatives of the selected Publicly Listed Companies in the Philippines that are advancing the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on Good Health and Well-Being and Quality Education. Specifically, we mapped the sustainability programs implemented by the sample companies that are aligned with the 17 UN SDGs. We also determined if these UN SDGs are embedded and articulated in their corporate vision-mission statements. Then, we identified the explicit programs that were implemented by the selected firms that are advancing the pursuit of a few specific targets of SDG#3 and SDG#4. We anchored our study on the theories of Sustainable Development and Humanistic Management and used qualitative descriptive and exploratory research designs. We utilized purposive sampling to select the 20 Publicly Listed Companies based on four criteria. We employed content analysis to determine their specific programs from their Sustainability Reports and/or Annual Reports. Our numeral mapping analysis revealed that the average number of implemented programs related to the 17 UN SDGs by the sample corporations is 11(65%). Companies are pursuing all 17 SDGs while some implemented only six programs. Our data further showed that overall, 15 out of 20 (75%) corporations have articulated and embedded the essence of the UN SDGs either in their vision or mission or combined vision-mission statements. On SDG#3, our findings disclosed that all (100%) of the 20 sampled corporations implemented definite programs for "ending epidemics and communicable diseases" with specific reference to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. On SDG#3, our findings divulged that 13 out of the 20 (65%) sampled firms implemented specific programs that directly addressed the target of "achieving health coverage and wellness for all at all ages." 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Existing literature highlights the exploration of sustainability research anchored in the UN SDGs, examined across different sectors, themes, and ‎geographic boundaries. Understanding the routes through which business practices contribute to sustainable development entails a nuanced ‎review of relevant components across corporate governance structure, stakeholder demands, to societal context. There has been a significant ‎proliferation in scholarly engagement of management and business disciplines with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals- the ‎UN SDGs. This study adopts a bibliometric analysis using bibliographic coupling to assess the evolving body of knowledge at the intersection of the UN SDGs and business practices. Analysis has been done using R-biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and MS Excel. Drawing on a corpus of 1,133 peer-reviewed articles, indexed in Scopus, between 2015 and 2025. This analysis identifies four dominant thematic clusters: (1) ‎Strategy, framework-based implementation of the UN SDGs by businesses; (2) Emergent themes in sustainability research; (3) Leadership ‎and HRM practices for achieving the implementation of the UN SDGs in the business context; (4) Accounting, Tourism and Human Re-‎source imperatives in the attainment of the UN SDGs. Relying on thematic groups, recognized through literature and bibliographic coupling ‎analysis anchored in UNSDGs. The present research synthesizes existing scholarly studies explaining the UNSDGs integration and execution ‎within businesses. In doing so, the study also outlines purposeful pathways intended for upcoming investigation focused on fostering the ‎organized and inclusive harmonious alignment of sustainability goals in the business and management context‎.

The advancement of the fourth industrial revolution has shaped the integration and interaction of different information, communication and technologies (ICTs) in the merging cyber, physical, and social infrastructures. The impact of ICT has accelerated the progress of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and influenced the evolution of smart, sustainable, stable society development. Making the trustworthy information and communication technologies infrastructure widely available will promote the community innovation needed to stimulate domestic economics, provide decent work, and reduce inequalities. This article attempts to outline a big picture about the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s trust provisioning framework, including its motivation, current status, and application for achieving the UN SDGs by 2030. This article first describes the purpose of the UN SDGs and the evolution of the industrial revolution, then demonstrates the challenges of global risks affecting the fourth industrial revolution and the need for trustworthy ICT infrastructures. Subsequently, the article evaluates the ITU trust provisioning framework and assesses its applications in the future knowledge society, trust provisioning ecosystem, and cyber, physical, and social infrastructure toward achieving UN SDGs. Use cases are also presented in this article to show the effectiveness of the ITU trust provisioning framework on achieving UN SDGs.

Internal academic mobility is practiced between universities in Kazakhstan, and it is also one of the designated tasks of the State Program for the Development of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020-2025. Despite this, not enough attention is paid to the study of academic mobility is- sues both at the level of educational policy development and at the expert level, especially to the aspects of the development of internal academic mobility. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to conduct a SWOT analysis of the implementation of academic mobility programs based on the practices of universities and the experience of students who directly took part in the processes of internal academic mobility in Kazakh- stan to improve the effectiveness of these programs. The study used the case study method. The successful organization of internal mobility can become one of the factors for the development and creation of a more flexible, high-quality and competitive academic environment in Kazakhstan. In general, students of the regional university positively assessed the experience of short-term mobility in Kazakhstan. The results of the research can be used by employees and decision-makers in the field of higher education to build and develop mechanisms for the implementation of processes of internal academic mobility. Key words: higher education, case studies, academic mobility, internal academic mobility, SWOT- analysis.

The purpose of the study is to explore the role of university alumni associations in aligning with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) articulated by the United Nations, emphasizing the criteria that defi ne a sustainable alumni association and their impact on university operations and broader economic and management practices. Methodology. Emphasis is placed on elucidating criteria that characterize a sustainable alumni association. This is complemented by a comprehensive analysis utilizing qualitative research methodologies, including indepth interviews and expert assessments. Originality / value of the research lies in its focus on the intersection of university alumni associations and sustainable development goals, an area that has received limited attention in academic discourse. Findings. The derived conclusions are rigorously substantiated through mathematical computations, culminating in actionable recommendations aimed at fortifying the future endeavors of alumni associations. The study is contextualized within the framework of a university in Kazakhstan, off ering practical insights and implications for economic and management practices in the contemporary academic landscape.

In compliance with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sustainability reporting guidelines, this paper aims to determine the financial institutions’ reporting formats, standards, and frameworks for sustainability reporting. It explores how they prioritize the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and contribute to the specific UN SDGs (Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, 2019; United Nations [UN], 2015). The annual and sustainability reports were gathered from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and companies’ websites of 30 publicly listed financial institutions from 2019 to 2021. Using a descriptive research design, this study found that the SEC sustainability reporting template and standalone report are the most common reporting formats. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards are the most widely used by Philippine publicly listed financial institutions. Although they support all 17 UN SDGs, the study denotes that SDG 1, no poverty, and SDG 8, decent work and economic growth, are the most important goals aligned with their business activities. This indicates that they comply with the requirements set by the Philippine SEC sustainability reporting guidelines. Their sustainability achievements show their commitment to the UN SDGs. The guidelines drive them to assess and manage their organization’s economic, environmental, and social aspects, encouraging transparency and accountability through public disclosures.

North Korea is actively utilizing the SDGs as a means to emphasize the unfairness and contradictions of the U.S. and other U.N. sanctions, saying that they are hindering peace-making and global partnerships, including the promotion of the SDGs and development cooperation, and to inform the international community that they are threatening North Korea's survival in non-political areas such as energy, food, water and sanitation, and the climate crisis. Furthermore, by actively embracing the UN SDGs, the DPRK is emphasizing its image as a ‘normal country’ and a ‘moderate country’ by accepting universal norms and values of the international community, including the United Nations, and cooperating with the international community, and recognizing the SDGs as a key means to attract development cooperation from the international community. In other words, the DPRK is establishing an implementation system by linking the UN SDGs to the Kim Jong-un regime's mid- and long-term national development plans, including the National Development Strategy and National Plan. Analyzing the specifics of the linkages and understanding the implications of the North Korean regime's policies can have important implications for advancing inter-Korean relations in the future. North Korea's legislative and policy responses to the implementation of the SDGs, particularly in the area of climate and environment, have so far fallen far short of the 30-year target. Nevertheless, North Korea's diplomatic diversification strategy to actively deal with the prolonged sanctions and diplomatic isolation is centered on the United Nations. North Korea's internal development strategy is also seeking a new direction, and the five-year plan for national economic development established at the 8th Party Congress in January 2021 and the new third UNSF (2022-2026) are also clarifying its intention to implement the SDGs with the international community. Among them, the renewable energy and circular economy sectors are being promoted by North Korea with a very active and urgent will to fulfill the SDGs, which is seen as a way to overcome the internal and external economic difficulties faced by North Korea. In addition, the disaster response field due to the climate crisis is being promoted by the North Korean regime with all its might. Given the need for the United Nations to include integrated SDGs on the Korean Peninsula in the new third UNSF (2022-2026), it is time for North and South Korea to work together with the United Nations to implement the SDGs, and we believe that cooperative projects in the field of climate and environment will be a key driver.

Ports are essential to global trade, yet their high volume of ship traffic significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating urgent strategies for climate neutrality. This study focuses on medium-sized ports where climate neutrality has not yet become a priority and explores how they can achieve this through a systems thinking approach and sustainable development practices, referencing leading ports like Rotterdam and Hamburg. Using a combination of systems thinking, comparative case studies, and qualitative analysis, the study examines various decarbonization scenarios for port infrastructure. Causal loop diagrams (CLDs) are utilized to map the interactions among environmental, economic, and operational factors affecting port sustainability. Three scenarios – baseline, moderate transition, and ambitious transition – are developed and evaluated based on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, energy efficiency, infrastructure investment, alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), and resilience enhancement. The findings demonstrate that port operations are influenced by reinforcing and balancing feedback loops, where economic growth and customer satisfaction may face challenges from regulatory pressures and climate-related operational costs. The study highlights essential areas for improvement in achieving climate neutrality in medium-sized ports. Key decarbonization techniques identified include electrification, alternative fuels, renewable energy integration, and enhancements to existing infrastructure like automated mooring systems and onshore power supply. Ultimately, the research provides insights into developing a decarbonization strategy for small and medium-sized ports, fostering sustainable development aligned with the UN SDGs and the European Green Deal.

Global competitiveness is like the lion and the impala roaming the open field in the Serengeti looking for booty. Each freely comes and goes but with a prize for the impala to pay because the mighty lions are in control and can consume the small and weak animals at their discretion. The analogy of the lion and the impala above signifies the generally implied notion of incursions of advanced knowledge-based economies in less developed countries. This study investigates the possibilities offered by indiscriminate educational policy borrowing from advanced knowledge-based economies to reform human capital development and make Kazakhstan's universities globally competitive. The article critically examines and reformulates the beliefs about human capital and how it induces development and enhances global competitiveness. The present inquiry utilizes a qualitative methodology case study to investigate the global competitiveness goals behind educational policy borrowing in Kazakhstan. We draw a linkage between global competitiveness and educational policy borrowing. Our findings indicate that educational policy borrowing in context is a means of advancement that streams development criteria into global competitiveness. Whereas it is essential to become closer to advanced knowledge-based economies, it is also important to find ways to avoid the forfeiture of the best accomplishments of national education, self-identity, and culture.