situation analysis on csr activities on sme's 2011 - prepare network

510543-LLP-1-2010-1-SI-LEONARDO-LMP

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION AND

TRAINING IN EUROPE

SITUATION ANALYSIS ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

(CSR) ACTIVITIES ON SMEs - 2011

Progress Report

510543-LLP-1-2010-1-SI-LEONARDO-LMP 2/133

Project information

Project acronym: CSI EU

Project title: Corporate Sustainability Information and Training in

Europe

Project number: 510543-LLP-1-2010-1-SI-LEONARDO-LMP

Sub-programme or KA: Leonardo Da Vinci

Project website: http://www.prepare.dk/CSIEU.html

Reporting period: From 01. 12. 2010

To 31. 03. 2011

Report version: 1

Date of preparation: 15. 04. 2011

Beneficiary organisation: University of Maribor

Project coordinator: Dr. Rebeka Kovačič Lukman

Project coordinator organisation: University of Maribor

Project coordinator telephone number: + 386 2 23 55 439

Project coordinator email address: [email protected]

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

© 2011 Copyright Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency.

The document may be freely copied and distributed provided that no modifications are made, that the source is

acknowledged and that this copyright notice is included.

http://www.prepare.dk/CSIEU.html

mailto:[email protected]


Table of Contents

Introduction

1 Overview of the CSR in CSI Consortium‟s partners countries .................................6

1.1. The social responsibility of organizations: recent trends ................................6

1.2. The social responsibility implemented by SMEs ............................................7

1.3. Focus of CSR activities ..............................................................................8

2. Country specific situation analysis of current CSR training offer ............................9

2.1. Existing training institutions on CSR in each country .....................................9

2.1.1. Universities.................................................................................9

2.1.2. VET institutions ......................................................................... 18

2.1.3. Others ..................................................................................... 27

2.2. Existing training materials on CSR in each country ..................................... 31

2.2.1. Contains and covered areas ........................................................ 32

2.2.2. Target groups of the training offer ............................................... 40

2.3. Existing other training tools on CSR in each country ................................... 42

2.3.1. Contains and covered areas ........................................................ 42

2.3.2. Target groups addressed by training offer .................................... 52

3. Country specific analysis of needs of competences on CSR from SMEs‟ and VET

institutions‟ perspective ..................................................................................... 54

3.1. SMEs‟ perspective in each country ............................................................ 54

3.1.1. Current practices for integrating CSR ........................................... 60

3.1.2. Needs of competences on CSR .................................................... 82

3.2. VET institutions perspective in each country .............................................. 93

3.2.1. Areas covered by current CSR training offer .................................. 94

3.2.2. Needs of competences on CSR .................................................. 107

4. Gap analysis on CSR training offer and identified needs on SMEs ...................... 111

5. Recommendations ...................................................................................... 115

References .................................................................................................... 118

Glossary of Abbreviations ................................................................................ 122

Annexes ........................................................................................................ 124


Authors:

AUSTRIA:

STENUM

Karin Tschiggerl

BULGARIA:

SERC

Dimitar Matev

LITHUANIA:

Institute of Environmental Engineering –

Kaunas University of Technology

Ginte Jonkute

Jurgis Staniskis

POLAND:

ATMOTERM

Thomas Schoenfelder

SLOVENIA:

University of Maribor

University of Maribor

Rebeka Kovacic Lukman

Bojana Ziberna

DENMARK:

Aalborg University

Danish Standards

Stig Hirsbak and Kirsten Schmidt

Kim Christiansen and Charlotte Trap-

Kinberg

SPAIN:

Prospektiker,S.A.

Prospektiker,S.A.

CIRCE

CIRCE

Ibon Zugasti

Oihana Hernaez

Miguel Fondevila

Juan Aranda


Introduction

This report includes the analysis carried out about the situation of training offer on

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), with a special focus on SMEs, by the 8 partners

included in this Consortium, in 7 different European countries: Austria, Bulgaria,

Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Spain.

This analysis is the result of the 3rd work package coordinated by Prospketiker, one of the

two Spanish partners and it has been conceived under the “Corporate Sustainability

Information and Training in Europe” project, coordinated by the Slovenian partner,

University of Maribor, Department of Interdisciplinary Research. This project is being

supported by Leonardo da Vinci Program, under the Education and Culture DG of the

European Commission.

The aim of this state of the art analysis will be to identify the existing SME’s activities,

needs and perspectives, along with VET institutions and Universities’ training offer and

materials in the field of CSR. A special focus on ISO 26000 issue will be made during all

the analysis.

Therefore, this analysis has basically based on the following activities:

- Review of training materials and other sources which are relevant for CSR in each

partner country.

- Review of vocational training offers on CSR and what extent are the

environmental and social dimensions covered.

- Analysis of needs of competence on CSR from SME’s and VET institutions /

Universities’ perspective. To that aim, two different surveys have been elaborated

and sent to selected SMEs and VET institutions / Universities.

This situation analysis will be used to inform of the development of the project training

materials, ensuring high quality, relevance and appropriateness in order to make

recommendations for the future development of the CSR integrated electronic platform.

As part of this 3rd work package, the following deliverables will be released:

- Progress Report: Situation Analysis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

activities on SMEs – 2011.

- 7 National Reports, one per country.

- 7 Executive Summaries Report, one per country.


1. Overview of the CSR in CSI Consortium’s partners

countries

1.1. The social responsibility of organizations: recent trends

The European Commission's definition of CSR is: "A concept whereby companies

integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their

interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis."

Corporate Social Responsibility is part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable

and inclusive growth, as it can help to shape the kind of competitiveness model that

Europe wants. In fact, in March 2010 the European Commission made a commitment to

“renew the EU strategy to promote Corporate Social Responsibility as a key element in

ensuring long term employee and consumer trust”.

However, the development and the implementation of CSR initiatives is quite different

depending on which country we focus on, and depending on the dimension of the

company or organization.

In this sense, and according to the different analysis carried out in each partners‟

country, it can be drawn how countries like Austria and Denmark, CSR has a longer path

comparing to countries like Slovenia, Lithuania or Poland, and therefore, companies and

specially the SMEs, are more used to implementing CSR initiatives within the company.

Although there are important differences among countries, we can summarize the

following trends:

Although the reason of being environmental and social responsible still

consists of generating wealth to its shareholders, by making profit out of its

business operations, there is a growing interest on CSR; capital market shows

remarkable interest on CSR issues. It shows a growing strategic social

interest, being the response to real necessity, and not only marketing trick

towards social involvement of business.

In the last years there has been a slight change in the way CSR is understood

by companies, shifting from a perspective of “well-being doers” to a broader

one based on the stakeholders‟ involvement and triple bottom line strategic

planning.

Social responsibility of business is not still well known both among consumers

and small business, in some countries.

In some cases, it still continues the perception of the companies that CSR is

rather to comply with the existing national and ratified international legislation

related to industrial relations, working conditions, social security, prohibition of

child labour and social labour, lack of gender, ethnic, religious discrimination,

security of jobs, etc.

Many companies see CSR as a one dimensional concept. The environment and

social areas have more weight than the economic aspects when it takes to

CSR reporting, reflecting the higher resistance present in many companies

regarding the implementation of CSR economic policies such as transparency,

good governance, corporate ethics, etc.

Transmitting and enforcing companies‟ CSR practice along their supply chain

still remains as an important challenge.


On the other hand, all countries are supporting National Strategies for CSR, and it seems

clear that emerging new international tools of implementation strategies with social

responsibility focus will help its extension to more and more companies. In this sense,

global standardization reflected through ISO 26000 directive, can be an important driving

force.

ISO 26000 directive defines business responsibility as “accountability for impact of

business decisions and activities (products, services, processes) on community and its

environment", with respect to transparent and ethic attitude towards balanced

development and wellbeing of society, but also expectations of parties involved. Socially

responsible business complies both with existent law, as well as, international standards

of behaviour. It introduces a vivid distinction between concepts of “balanced

development” and “social responsibility”, considering balanced development as the

political and economical doctrine of civilization development, and balanced development

as social, environmental and business challenges in accord with each other. Thus, CSR

must not necessarily create costs; it can create an instrument of added value, while

supporting innovations and competition.

Main issues considered by ISO 26000:

- Good business practices

- Human rights respect

- Employment relations

- Natural environment protection

- Consumer relations

- Social engagement supporting local communities and solving their immediate

problems

To sum up, in all partner countries it has been identified the necessity to release CSR

from its niche existence and to establish as an essential part of a modern market

economy.

1.2. The social responsibility implemented by SMEs

Although the growing interest in CSR among SMEs, many analysis still confirm how big

companies are still the main developers of CSR strategies. SMEs are still the least active

enterprises‟ section under the CSR activities.

Identified main trends show the following ideas:

As SMEs‟ resources, know-how and their disposition to implement CSR processes

and initiatives is much lower than in the case of big companies.

SMEs tend to prioritize short term financial rather than long term social gains.

The marketing focus does not work with SMEs as much as with big companies.

Many SMEs are confused about what CSR really means.

SME are remarkably less efficient in showing their CSR activity then big ones, and

many interesting initiatives on their part are simply hard to identify. What is

more, SME often do not realize that their business approach and activities may be

classified as social responsibility.


SMEs tend to have unwritten policies regarding mainly labour conditions, social

security and workplace safety, respect for the local environment and local

development, although they do not consider this kind activities as CSR strategies.

Many medium, and particularly, small and micro businesses have no strategic

plans of development, taking CSR decisions occasionally and ad hoc.

It seems the changes in consumer awareness and following buying decisions may

become decisive force in awakening of social responsibility among small and

medium enterprises.

There are important differences among SMEs from countries like Austria and

Denmark, where CSR activities carried out by SMEs is much higher than in other

countries, like for example, Lithuania, Bulgaria or Poland.

As well as this, in the case of SMEs, there is a lack of know-how and training materials to

support the systematic integration of social responsibility considerations in the

management process of SMEs. In general, there is a necessity for training for SMEs in

the concept of the corporate social responsibility including awareness raising, principles

and instruments of CSR, and specifically as for monitoring and control of the results from

the implementation of CSR.

1.3. Focus of CSR activities

Due to the limited activity and limited geographical area of influence of SMEs, the most

common SMEs‟ CSR activities will be related to local and environment development

(promoting and supporting local activities, initiatives or infrastructures), stakeholders‟

involvement and quality recognition. On the contrary, voluntary policies related to

transparency, accountability, participatory processes, etc., are seldom if not rare when

talking about SME, frequently owned by a family. In this sense, community related

activities like the sponsorships are some of the most usual, along with charity or

donations and participation on different campaigns.

Even if the focus of CSR activities could vary from one country to another, the following

CSR activities can be identified, as mainly focused by companies:

Sustainable economic performance and employment

Employee competence development; workforce and employee related activities

(welfare of the employees, opportunities for lifelong learning…)

Market related activities; customer care activities

Environmental sustainability and climate

Responsible supply chain management

Internal social programmes

However, those activities are less formal and are implemented more intuitive, avoiding to

standardize the CSR practice and to integrate it into various codes and management

systems.


2. Country specific situation analysis of current CSR

training offer

In this second section, each country has carried out a situation analysis about the current

CSR training offers. It aims at identifying the references that will be useful for the

development of training material to be included into the future platform, in order to

ensure high quality, relevance and appropriateness.

Depending on the country, the situation can be very different as for training institutions,

contents and target groups addressed.

The following analysis shows the specific situation of current CSR training offer in each

partners‟ county.

2.1. Existing training institutions on CSR in each country

2.1.1. Universities

As for the analysis carried out within different countries, it can be concluded that

Universities‟ training offer includes CSR related contents. However, in the vast majority

of cases, this offer is related to modules or subjects integrated into other broader

modules. In this sense, we cannot talk about CSR degrees.

There are a great number of masters and programs specialized on CSR, and many

degrees include CSR subjects and lectures as part of their contents, as for instance,

“Business or Professional Ethics”. These CSR related courses are mainly societal or

environmentally oriented ones.

On the other hand there are some differences among countries; while in Bulgaria there

are very few universities with courses related to teaching corporate social responsibility,

in Spain the offer is wider.

As well as this, it can be drawn that in general, CSR related training is not specifically

focused on SMEs.

The following analysis includes the universities‟ training situation in each country:

AUSTRIA

The Austrian universities offer different training possibilities focussing on ethics. For

example, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration arranges special

lectures on business ethics and CSR and University of Graz/Faculty of Theology offers a

master‟s course on Applied Ethics including one module on business and social ethics.

Currently, there are two comprehensive CSR training courses provided by universities,

further two trainings are planned by WU Executive Academy, “Professional MBA in Social


management” and a “University course ISMOS”, both are going to start in summer

2011.1

University of Applied Sciences at bfi Vienna

Continuous Education Training “Academic CSR Manager” at University of Applied Sciences

at bfi Vienna2

General Information

This continuous education training finishes with the title „Academic CSR Manager“, and is

organised in collaboration with respACT. The programme duration is 2 semesters extra

occupational including 350 lessons (60 ECTS).

Objectives

Managers, project managers, PR consultants, employees of ministries or authorities, CSR responsibles and consultants have in practice increasingly to deal with complex CSR issues and projects. Up to date, there are a few adequate and practical trainings on academic level. The focus and the objective of this training is an interactive development of problem solutions and improvements in the daily tasks of the participants. During the lessons, the adopted methods are tested and deepened. The graduates should obtain skills to launch CSR projects efficient and professional, to fulfil new requirements and to implement and optimise ongoing and planned CSR projects. This shall be done with actual methods, step-by-step tools and efficient communication tools.

Target group and admission

criteria

The training assesses to

Managers from private and public organisations

CSR responsibles

PR managers and consultants

Consultants

Project managers

Managers from NGOs

Admission criteria: academic degree or comparable professional experience

Curriculum

Overview of lessons incl. ECTS: Courses 1st semester ECTS

Methods and tools of CSR management – Introduction into the concept of social responsibility of organisations

2

CSR strategies – from SME strategies to concern strategies 6

CSR concepts – defining objectives, mission statements and organisational visions 2

Stakeholder communication – intercultural competence and communication 6

Business ethics, corporate governance, compliance and values 2

Marketing and presentation of European and international CSR projects 4

Ethics and idea of man – human rights and anti-discrimination in CSR projects 2

Pestl analysis and project start in CSR projects – problems matrix and stakeholder map 6

30

Courses 2nd semester ECTS

The social dimension – 12 CSR activity fields concerning employees 2

Investment and CSR – CSR cost planning and regulatory framework 2

Introduction into scientific working 1

Examples of good practice, best practice and worst practice in European and international project management

4

Codes, standards and quality assurance in CSR management – Overview with focus on Austrian, European and international standards

4

Introduction to European and international CSR business plans 2

Assessment tools and goal systems for CSR – Measuring CSR performance, KPIs and indices 4

Job description CSR manager – practical experiences 1

Diversity management and human resources 2

Attended elaboration of a final project thesis/presentation and exam 8

1 CSR Annual 2011, p. 150 2 http://www.fh-wien.ac.at


30

Danube Business School at Danube University Krems

Certified programme “Corporate Responsibility and Business Ethics”3

General Information and objectives

Although this programme mainly focuses on issues on the company level, also topic of

general economic ethics as well as on managers‟ individual level are part of the program.

All relevant new approaches to corporate responsibility and business ethics are included

in the three levels of economy: macro, meso, and micro level.

The first three modules of the program take a close look at these three levels of Business

Ethics: Economic Ethics, Corporate Responsibility & Ethics and Management Ethics. For

the fourth module students may choose one module of another program of Danube

University Krems that deals with related topics, thus allowing students to strengthen

their individual skills or to become an expert in their favourite field.

Participants will be provided with a strong theoretical and analytical background and the

possibility to demonstrate the developed skills in specific case studies. Furthermore, a

study trip will enable the students to access and practice business ethics and corporate

responsibility.

Contents

Specialised Modules Content

Module 1: Economic Ethics

This module deals with the interrelations between ethics and economics on a systems level. Basic ethics knowledge is combined with business administration and economics to give participants an overview on modern economic ethics approaches. While historical developments are described where necessary, and a strong theoretical background is provided, a major

focus lies in recent case studies of ethical dilemma situations in business and the economy. Ethical decision models, ethical company structures and cultures, and organizational questions of ethics are presented. After finishing this part of the course, participants are able to discuss economic ethical problems on a high theoretical level and know how to combine ethical considerations with actual business problems, especially when strategic CSR measures and organizational change is concerned.

Module 2: Corporate Responsibility & Ethics

This module deals with the eco-responsibility of businesses. The theoretical background of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is highlighted from different standpoints of responsibility, and an instrument for measuring CSR based on the approach of Alternative Nobel Prize winner Alice Tepper Marlin is shown in practice. Furthermore, different approaches to evaluate businesses while setting up CSR will be discussed. Companies need to be transparent on their values and strategic goals and take responsibility for their environmental and social impacts, especially when being listed as ethical investments. Participants learn how companies manage repsonsibility in their supply chain, how they monitor the related performance and what makes their sustainability reporting trustful and successful. A broad view to CSR in Europe and a specific method to install CSR in small-and-medium sized enterprises will close the module. Both, the instrument and the method will encourage the participants, based on a theoretical framework, to enrich their business life with CSR.

Module 3: Management This module concerns the individual level of managerial decision making. It

3http://www.donau-uni.ac.at/de/studium/businessethicsmba/index.php


Ethics centres on the stakeholder approach to management and teaches methods to operationalize stakeholder management. Communicative strategies regarding the building of reputation in our media society make up a second important focus. Different leadership models and their implications for ethical management are presented and case studies and scenarios of ethical dilemma situations help participants train their ethical personality and decision style. The special case of human capital management is presented as possible

application field. After going through this part of the course, participants have a subtle understanding of their role as responsible managers in a “stakeholder society”. They can develop stakeholder strategies and communication policies with special regard to company reputation.

Module 4: Compulsory Subject Choice

In consultation with the program coordinator you may choose one module of the following programs of Danube University Krems (vacancies provided):

Intercultural Competencies

International Relations

Migration Management

Human Rights

Target group This program targets any business professionals who deal with ethical situations and/or moral decision making: Chief executives, CSR managers, compliance managers and community affairs managers, managers who want to understand how organisations can put ethical commitments into practice as well as consultants and accountants who want to develop their competence in business ethics and corporate responsibility.

BULGARIA

Although the conclusion in the UNDP international baseline survey is that “Academia has

played a significant role in the development in CSR in all the countries surveyed, more so

than in Western Europe” in Bulgaria there are very few universities with courses related

to teaching corporate social responsibility”. In the survey the following universities and

courses are quoted:

o The National and World Economy University – courses on business ethics

o Bulgarian Academy of Sciences: Institute of Economics,

o New Bulgarian University: Course: Business ethic and corporate social

responsibility

o American University in Bulgaria: Business Administration: Course: Business Ethics

In Table1 are the results of the desk-top research regarding courses on social

responsibility in the Bulgarian universities:

Table 1

University Courses

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” 4 Masters programme “Management of

Human Resources and Corporate Social

Responsibility (Sorbonne/English)”,

module 6 “The social responsibility of

the company and the sustainable

development”, courses “Stakeholders

management”, “Business ethics”,

4 www.uni-sofia.bg

http://www.uni-sofia.bg/


“Socially responsible investment”

New Bulgarian University5 Masters programme “Financial Auditing

programme”, course “Social Auditing”;

Business ethics and corporate social

responsibility”

University of Architecture, Civil

Engineering and Geodesy6

Specialty “Road construction”, course

“Business ethics”

Academy of Economics “D.A.Tsenov” 7 Speciality "Environmental

management", courses “Environmental

policy and social responsibility”,

“Globalisation and sustainable

development”, “Environmental ethics”

VUZF University (Higher School for

Insurance and Finance) 8

BA (HONS) in Business studies

(Accounting & Finance), course

“Corporative Social Responsibility and

Ethics”

Varna Free University9 Speciality “Business administration –

tourism management”, course “Social

responsibility and business ethics”

The conclusion which can be drawn from the above table is that there are courses on

ethics – business and environmental - included in some Bachelor or Masters programmes

with the aim the future specialists in road construction, environmental management,

accounting and finance, business administration as well some courses explaining some

aspects of CSR such as social auditing, sustainable development, etc. The only

comprehensive programme with a target group specialists in human resource

development is the Masters programme in the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

DENMARK

Several universities, university colleges and institutions for vocational training have CSR

related courses, seminars etc. The courses range from general introduction to advanced

learning on a masters level. Below are given some examples.

University of Copenhagen:

International Labour Law and Corporate Social Responsibility10

Corporate Social Responsibility11

CBS (Copenhagen Business School)12:

5 www.nbu.bg

6 www.uacg.bg

7 www.uni-svishtov.bg

8 www.vuzf.bg

9 www.vfu.bg

10 http://jura.ku.dk/students/courses/master/int_labour_law_corp_soc_responb/

11 http://sis.ku.dk/kurser/viskursus.aspx?knr=137375&sprog=1&forrige=609

http://www.nbu.bg/

http://www.uacg.bg/

http://www.uni-svishtov.bg/

http://www.vuzf.bg/

http://www.vfu.bg/

http://jura.ku.dk/students/courses/master/int_labour_law_corp_soc_responb/


Courses in strategic CSR

CSR and Climate-strategy, innovation and communication

Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility for managers

Summer school course on CSR "CSR and Climate: Strategy, Innovation and

Communication" targeted at managers and employees in Danish companies,

public institutions and non-profits. It does not require specific knowledge of CSR.

Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences13

Sustainability reporting (incl. ISO 26 000)

University of Southern Denmark, Faculty of Engineering14

Course in Strategic Global Sourcing (MSc Product Development and Innovation)

The course is about both the strategic and the tactical aspects of global sourcing.

University of Southern Denmark, Master's degree programme in Business Economics and

Auditing15

Corporate Social Responsibility – CSR and Sustainability

Aalborg University16

Master program on Environmental management and sustainability sciences

Technical University of Denmark, Department of Management17

Part of master program: Course on Global Product Chains and Sustainable

Development

Roskilde University18

Business Ethics and CSR

Silkeborg Business School (not a university, but offers vocational training):

Diploma course on managing Human resources, incl. from a CSR perspective

LITHUANIA

During the research of Lithuanian high school education (degree) programmes, it was

ascertained that the individual CSR or CSR training modules discipline, integrated into

other modules, are taught at the main universities in Lithuania - Kaunas University of

Technology (KTU), Vilnius University (VU), Vytautas Magnus University (VDU), Vilnius

Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), University of Management and Economics (ISM),

12

www.cbs.dk 13

www.au.dk 14

http://www.sdu.dk/Uddannelse/Kandidat/Product_Development_Innovation/Uddannelsens_opbygning/GlobalSourcing 15

www.sdu.dk 16

http://www.pgsn.aau.dk/planogmiljo/em7/?nt=26 17

http://www.man.dtu.dk/English/Education/Courses_at_IPL.aspx?coursecode=42644 18

http://www.ruc.dk/uddannelse/fag/virksomhedsstudier/om-faget/kursuskatalog/



Klaipeda University (KU), Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) and others, mostly in

master„s studies programs 19

These CSR-themed subjects, which are taught at the universities, are called as "Business

Ethics" or "Professional Ethics". However, not all educational institutions give the same

meaning on these subjects. Sometimes the topic of the subject is replaced by the

content, which the lecturers from local universities and colleges of specific faculties are

able to teach. Therefore, instead of CSR, Etiquette, "Corporate Culture", "Professional

Psychology," "Psychology of the Organization", "General Philosophical Questions of

Ethics" and similar courses are taught.

Students can gain knowledge of CSR studying subjects in which this discipline is included

as a "Quality Management", or within environmental education modules, "Environmental

Management" subjects. In some cases, CSR topics are included formally in the study

modules of economics.

However, the disciplines related to CSR are often not mandatory subject of study area or

they are treated just as a currently fashionable subject. University students can get the

greater amount of experience and knowledge by participating in international projects.

POLAND

Postgraduate studies:

SGH (General Trade School) Warsaw - Teoria i Praktyka Społecznej

Odpowiedzialności Przedsiębiorstwa; Zarządzanie Reputacją Firmy [Theory and

Practice in Social Responsibility for Business]; Zarządzanie Reputacją Firmy [The Management of Reputation in Businenss]

20

Leon Kozminski Academy in Warsaw in cooperation with

PricewaterhouseCoopers - CSR. Strategia odpowiedzialnego biznesu [Strategy in Business Responsibility]

21

Wyższa Szkoła Europejska im. Ks. Józefa Tischnera w Krakowie [Tischner

European College in Kacow] – Społeczna odpowiedzialność biznesu (studia

dofinansowane z UE) [Social Responsibility of Business (UE sponsored studies)]

22

Uniwersytet Warszawski Wydział Zarządzania - Zarządzanie Zaoczne

Odpowiedzialność Społeczna Biznesu [Warsaw University, Management Department - Remote Management Social Responsibility of Business]

23

SGGW (Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego) w Warszawie - „CSR –

strategia społecznej odpowiedzialności biznesu” [General Farming School in Warsaw - 'CSR – The Strategy of Social Responsibility of Business]

24

WSP TWP (Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna TWP) w Warszawie - Społecznie

odpowiedzialny biznes [Pedagogy High School in Warsaw – Socially responsible Business]

25

19

Institutions of Higher Education, Colleges and secondary schools in Lithuania, available at: http://www.on.lt/hedu3.htm

20 http://www.sgh.waw.pl/ksztalcenie/podyplomowe/spis/teorii_i_praktyki_spolecznej_odpowiedzialnosci_przedsiebiorstwa/

21 http://www.studiapodyplomowe.kozminski.edu.pl/index.php/pl/specjalistyczne/csr_strategia_odpowiedzialnego_/

22 http://www.wse.krakow.pl/pl/Lider_nowej_gospodarki/artykuly/art,227,spoleczna_odpowiedzialnosc_biznesu.html

23 http://www.wz.uw.edu.pl/studia,opis,60,podyplomowe,zarzadzanie-zaoczne-odpowiedzialnosc-spoleczna-biznesu.html

24 http://www.spcsr.sggw.pl/?file=ogolne.php

http://www.on.lt/hedu3.htm

http://www.sgh.waw.pl/ksztalcenie/podyplomowe/spis/teorii_i_praktyki_spolecznej_odpowiedzialnosci_przedsiebiorstwa/

http://www.studiapodyplomowe.kozminski.edu.pl/index.php/pl/specjalistyczne/csr_strategia_odpowiedzialnego_/

http://www.wse.krakow.pl/pl/Lider_nowej_gospodarki/artykuly/art,227,spoleczna_odpowiedzialnosc_biznesu.html

http://www.wz.uw.edu.pl/studia,opis,60,podyplomowe,zarzadzanie-zaoczne-odpowiedzialnosc-spoleczna-biznesu.html

http://www.spcsr.sggw.pl/?file=ogolne.php


Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wrocławiu [Wroclaw School of Economics] - „Manager CSR”

26

Collegium Civitas w Warszawie - Zarządzanie przyszłością [Warsaw Civitas

College – Management of the Future]: Foresight i planowanie strategiczne [Foresight and strategic planning]

27

Olsztyńska Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Zarządzania - Menadżer Jakości

Zintegrowanych Systemów Zarządzania Jakością [Olsztyn Higher IT Colledge –

Manager of Integrated IT Quality Systems] 28

SLOVENIA

All 4 Slovenian universities were analyzed:

1) University of Maribor (UM)

At the UM we have found out that 8 of 16 faculties are offering CSR related courses

within 15 study programmes (only 1st Bologna programmes have been analyzed). Within

these 15 programmes 44 courses have been found, which can be denoted as

sustainability oriented. 10 of them were more social oriented, such as Management of

human resources, socio-economic changes and changes in values. 33 of them were

environmentally oriented, such as Environmental Chemistry, Biodiversity, Sustainable

energy usage, renewable resources, etc. Only 1 course has been economy oriented,

which is Environmental economics. Most of the courses are not obligatory one, but can

be chosen as additional courses.

2) University of Ljubljana (UL)

At the UL we found out that 8 faculties are having 34 sustainability oriented courses

within their programmes. Most of the courses are environmentally oriented (28), such as

Introduction to the ecology, sustainable agriculture, environmental monitoring, energy

and environment, etc. 5 of the courses are more societal oriented, such as: social

movements and global inequality, human resources in transport, management of human

resources, biological security and ethics, and societal work with families. Only 1 course

has been economically oriented: Environmental management.

3) University of Primorska (UP)

At the UP 14 study programmes have 44 SR oriented courses. Most of them are

environmentally oriented (30), such as environmental monitoring, sustainable tourism,

ecology of the Mediterranean ecosystems, management of the protected areas, water

protection, etc. 14 of the courses are societal oriented, such as human resources in

tourism, management of human resources, psychological issues by human resources,

ethic and society of knowledge, etc.

4) University of Nova Gorica (NG)

25

http://wsptwp.eu/n/warszawa/dla_kandydatow/spolecznie_odpowiedzialny_biznes 26

http://www.bsdesign.nazwa.pl/Binsztok/index.php?id=7 27

http://studia.biz.pl/137/collegium-civitas-w-warszawie/zarzadzanie-innowacjami/10610/ 28

http://www.owsiiz.home.pl/index.php5?page=97

http://wsptwp.eu/n/warszawa/dla_kandydatow/spolecznie_odpowiedzialny_biznes

http://www.bsdesign.nazwa.pl/Binsztok/index.php?id=7

http://studia.biz.pl/137/collegium-civitas-w-warszawie/zarzadzanie-innowacjami/10610/



3 study programmes are offering SR oriented courses: Environmental Sciences,

Economical Engineering, and Viniculture. Within these 3 programmes, 27 courses are

offered. 21 of them are environmentally oriented, such as environmental engineering,

environmental impacts, environmental chemistry, waste management, etc. 4 are more

societal oriented: society and environment, health ecology, management of human

resources and quality management. 2 of them are more economy oriented:

environmental management and economy of the environment.

SPAIN

Currently Spanish Universities (both private and public ones) have no any specific degree

of Corporate Responsibility. According to a report elaborated by the Spanish Ministry of

Employment and Immigration “An approach to the state of CSR in education in Spain

2010”29, there are just five universities (two public and three private) that have

introduced a compulsory subject of corporate responsibility in their curriculum. Other

concepts such as sustainability have also been included in different courses, mandatory

courses and other areas that are confined within the broad spectrum that includes

corporate responsibility, such as ethics, the environment and the treatment of equality

and diversity. Degrees that include CSR topics are mainly Business Administration,

Human Resources and Social Work.

Masters and Business Schools:

The specific postgraduate courses in corporate responsibility have proliferated in recent

years due to an increase of the demand and due to the rigidity of the university system

that makes it difficult to meet this demand. However, the CSR impact remains limited in

the case of other nonspecific masters, especially in MBA and financial graduates.

CSR non specific masters that include contents related to CSR (%):

According to the previous report, 17 Spanish universities or business schools have

established specific graduates on corporate responsibility. Some of the most relevant…:

29

Una aproximación al estado de la RSE en la enseñanza en España. Ministerio de Trabajo e Inmigración, Club de

Excelencia en Sostenibilidad, 2010.


Centre Master/Course/Degree Training form

National University of Distant

Education (UNED) Sostenibilidad y Responsabilidad Social Corporativa Official Master

University of Vigo Administración integrada de empresas: responsabilidad social

corporativa, calidad y medio Official master

University of Castellon, Jaume I Máster en Sostenibilidad y Responsabilidad Social Corporativa Distance Official master

(1 year)

University of Castilla La Mancha I Edición del Curso de Experto en Dirección, Organización y RSE

para pymes y entidades de economía social

Course

(180 hs)

University of La Rioja

Sistemas Integrados de Gestión de la Calidad, Medio Ambiente,

Responsabilidad Social Corporativa y Prevención de Riesgos

Laborales

Online Master

University of Alcalá de Henares Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (Part Time) Master

University of Barcelona Máster en Responsabilidad Social Corporativa. Contabilidad y

Auditoría Social Master

Technical University of Valencia University Specialist on Corporate Social Responsibility Master

(580 hs)

ESERP Business School Corporate Social Responsibility in Organizations Online Master (9

months)

European School of Management

and Business (EUDE)

Master en Gestión Sostenible: Medioambiente,

Responsabilidad Social Corporativa y Agenda 21

Master (distance)

(1.340hs)

European School of Management

and Business (EUDE)

Corporate Social Responsibility and Communication Process in the

Enterprise Online Course (225 hs)

Industrial Organization School

(EOI)

International Master in Sustainable Development and Corporate

Responsibility International Master


(EOI) MBA Corporate Responsibility Course


(EOI)

Master Executive en Desarrollo Sostenible y Responsabilidad

Corporativa Online Master Executive

2.1.2. VET institutions

The analysis of CSR offered by VET institutions is quite different depending on the

analyzed European Countries.

In East European countries like Bulgaria and Lithuania the offer is quite limited; in fact,

CSR is not offered on the level of vocational schools in Poland.

However, in countries like Slovenia, Austria or Spain, the available offer is much wider.

AUSTRIA

Quality Austria

Quality Austria30 offers a training series “Corporate Social Responsibility and

Sustainability Management” and additionally three seminaries (one general and two

specific seminaries) and a refreshing seminar.

Training Series “Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Management”

30 http://www.qualityaustria.com

http://www.uclm.es/fundacion/cursoexpertoRSE/

http://www.uclm.es/fundacion/cursoexpertoRSE/

http://www.unir.net/master-sistemas-integrados-gestion-calidad-medio-ambiente.aspx



http://www.tumaster.com/Master-en-Responsabilidad-Social-Empresarial-RSE-mmasinfo15838.htm

http://www.il3.ub.edu/es/master/master-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-contabilidad-auditoria-social.html_1843741735.html

http://www.il3.ub.edu/es/master/master-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-contabilidad-auditoria-social.html_1843741735.html

http://www.emagister.com/especialista-universitario-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2465918.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-organizaciones-cursos-2586376.htm

http://www.eude.es/cursos-masters/masters-online-distancia/master-en-gestion-sostenible-medioambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-y-agenda-21/

http://www.eude.es/cursos-masters/masters-online-distancia/master-en-gestion-sostenible-medioambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-y-agenda-21/

http://www.emagister.com/experto-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-procesos-comunicacion-empresa-cursos-2719015.htm


http://www.eoi.es/portal/guest/inicio


http://www.emagister.com/mba-responsabilidad-corporativa-cursos-2561623.htm




The structure of the training series looks as follows:

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Management Part 1 and 2

The duration of the training is 3 days (Part 1) and 2 days (Part 2), whereby the

participant has to do a project thesis between the two parts.

Contents

Basics of CSR and Sustainability

Tripple-Bottom-Line

Generation of a sustainability report

Integration into existing management systems

Standards and codes

Measurability of CSR systems

Project thesis: after finishing part 1, this thesis includes relevant parts of a sustainability

report and is requirement for part 2 and the exam

Target group and admission criteria

Quality, environmental and safety managers

Food safety managers

CSR officers, CSR coordinators

Authors of sustainability reports

Employees, teams who are responsible for sustainability related activities

CRSP – Exam CSR and Sustainability Manager/Assessor

The contents of the exam are related to the contents of the trainings part 1 and part 2.

The exam requires the trainings and the project thesis and includes a written and a

verbal part where the thesis is presented by the participant.

Certification

After passing the exam the certificate “CSR and Sustainability Manager” will be awarded,

upon request the EOQ Certificate “CSR and Sustainability Manager”. Participants that do

not have a Quality Austria training for Quality, Environmental or Safety Manager are

certified as “CSR and Sustainability Assessor”. The certificate is valid for three years,

after that a refreshing seminar and a proof of implementing a sustainability report and/or

CSR projects has to be done for a re-certification.

Seminar “CSR-S: Applying CSR practical and sustainable”

The seminar deals with the basics of CSR.

Contents

Definition of CSR and Sustainability

Tripple-Bottom-Line

Standards and codes

CSR Part 1

Project

thesis

CSR Part 2

CRSP

Certificate CSR & Sustainability Manager/Assessor optionally: EOQ Certificate


Pestl analysis

Integration of CSR into existing structures

Main features of sustainability reports

Communicating sustainability

Target

group

Managing directors, assistant managers, SCM coordinators,

quality/environmental/safety managers, PR managers and other interested in CSR

Seminar “CSR-PD: Sustainable Products and Services”

This seminar presents social and ecological mega trends and shows existing innovations

in different industries. The competencies are completed with sustainability assessments

of products and services, Ecodesign and strategic integration of these issues.

Contents

Sources of ideas for sustainable products and services (SPS)

Market analysis: target groups for SPS

Ecological and social ration of products/services

Ecodesign

Strategic monitoring of SPS

Target group

Managing directors

Quality/environmental managers

Product manager/developer

CSR manager, CSR assessors, CSR coordinators

Marketing officers

Seminar “SA 8000 - Social Accountability – Contents and Certification CSR-SA”

SA 8000 is a comprehensive international standard for the independent auditing and

certifying of these requirements.

Contents

SA 8000 – Origin and development

Contents of SA 8000

Explanation of specifications

Integrating SA 8000 into existing management systems

Auditing and certification of SA 8000

Networking

Target group

CSR officers

Quality managers

Human resource managers

Purchasers and supply chain managers

Other interested in sustainability

Refreshing Seminar “RCSR – Refreshing for Corporate Social Responsibility and

Sustainability Managers and Assessors”

The focus of this seminar is on the exchange of information and experiences between

CSR Managers and other interested CSR professionals, themed “from professionals for

professionals”. Admission criteria for this training are an education as CSR Manager or

Assessor or concrete experiences in applying CSR.

Contents Actual CSR relevant issues


ISO 26000

Integration of CSR into existent management systems

Target group

CSR Managers, CSR Assessors

CSR Consultants, CSR Officers

Experts in the field of CSR

Plenum Akademie

Plenum is a consulting and research company with an academy31 where three trainings

are offered in cooperation with respACT. The contents are based on a holistic approach of

sustainability and CSR.

Integrated CSR management

Contents

Module 1 “Leading companies valuable”: Business ethics, implementation of

sustainability and CSR, sustainability tools, development of organisational values and culture

Module 2 “Involving human and society”: Personnel policy based on sustainability,

knowing internal social work, developing methods and projects for personnel development, global Human rights

Module 3 “Developing sustainable innovations”: Sustainable product development and

innovation management, increasing resource efficiency for products and processes, sustainable lifestyles as a field for innovation, from product to systems innovation

Module 4 “Developing communication and networking spaces: Stakeholder

management, CSR from civil society‟s viewpoint, sustainability reports according to GRI, networking in the field of CSR and sustainability

Module 5 “Setting new purposes”: Design of CSR projects and sustainable products and

services; presentation of individual projects and certification; networking with alumnis

Target group

Persons, that have influence on the strategic management or are responsible for

organisational, human resource or product development, knowledge management or investor relations. Through its holistic conceptualisation the training is adapted to executives and employees from SMEs.

Pioneers of Change

This one-year training attends participants in developing their own project or

organisation with seminars, support days and coaching. The aim is to implement

initiatives in ecological and social fields, like local agenda projects, organic agriculture or

cultural campaigns, etc.

Contents

Module “My vision for the world”: Status quo of the world and identifying causes of

problems, reflecting ethics and idea of man, positive trends and sustainable alternatives, social entrepreneurship, living visions, appreciating communication

Module “Creative project design”: presenting and communicating projects, target

setting, project planning, generating sustainable innovations

Module “Business plan, financing and fundraising”: Dreaming the own projects,

developing a business model, developing aspects of financing and fundraising, reflecting the global finance system

Module “Public relations and marketing”: Designing corporate identity, developing public

relations and marketing, reflecting media power, applying new media

Module “Effective communication”: Communication and conflict culture, non-violent

communication, coaching/moderation/teambuilding

Module “Reflective and contemplative hike”: Life balance, contemplation, creating power

Module “Networks and co-operations”: Living Art of Hosting and generating networks,

identifying open source possibilities, individual contents

Module “Conclusion and restart”: Individual contents

Target group Persons, who want to implement a project or build up an organisation in ecological and

31 http://www.plenum.at


social fields.

Sustainable Leadership

Contents

Module 1 “Leading in times of sustainability”: Sustainable leadership and management

Module 2 “Consistent talking and acting”: Sustainable communication and attentive

negotiation

Module 3 “Leading with title and cordiality”: Leadership and stakeholder management

Module 4 “Moving the world together”: Team development and holistic synergies

Module 5 “Departure to new ages”: Being leader of the whole thing”

Target group

Persons who want to lead an organisation, initiative or groups forward-looking and

holistic

Persons in executive positions

Potential managers

Persons who want to expand their leadership competences regarding sustainability

Sustainability and CSR officers who want to improve their leadership skills

Students of all fields and Sustainable-Entrepreneurs and -Intrapreneurs

Incite

Incite32 offers one training in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

and respACT, that aimed at responsibility in industry and economy. Contents are actual

documents, like ISO 26000, ÖNorm 2502:2009, respACT‟s guiding vision (“Erfolg mit

Verantwortung: ein Leitbild für zukunftsfähiges Wirtschaften“, see 2.2 Existing training

materials on CSR) and results from ongoing standardisation activities and international

trends.

Contents

Module A: Ethics, values, CSR, sustainability and professionalism in consulting; basics of

a CSR consulting process according to ÖNORM S 2502:2009

Module B: Basics of process design based on CSR of the second generation, according

to actual standardisation documents; central elements for the design of a “humane management system”

Module C: Sustainability reporting – basics, key figures (according to GRI) for SMEs,

structure, design

Target group Consulting experts and responsible persons for CSR from industry, economy,

consultancy that want to implement CSR in their professional activities.

TÜV Süd Österreich

TÜV Süd Österreich33 offers three trainings with different levels of intensity in the field of

CSR.

CSR 1 – Corporate Social Responsibility – A “nice to have” or more?

This one-day training offers a rapid introduction into the issue and gives a compact

overview of CSR.

Contents

Definitions and basics of CSR and sustainability

Terms, methods and tools of CSR management

ISO 26000 and ÖNORM S2502 and their practical implementation

Stakeholder relations and communication

Target group Managing directors

Entrepreneurs

32 http://www.incite.at/ausbildung/de/lehrgaenge/lehrgang-csr 33 http://tuev-sued.at/akademie


Management boards

Executives

CSR officers

CSR coordinators

PR managers

Consultants

CSR 2 – Corporate Social Responsibility – Steps for implementing CSR – Walk the talk

This 2-days seminar for the middle management gives an overview of the CSR concept,

the responsibility of organisations, challenges and a comparison of standards.

Contents



ISO 26000 and ÖNORM S2502 and their practical implementation

Stakeholder relations and communication

CSR concepts, defining objectives, mission statements and organisational visions

Triple bottom line approach

Basics for implementing and launching CSR projects

Planning and evaluating CSR measures

Financial aspects, problems and solutions in CSR projects in theory and p

Target group

Managing directors

Entrepreneurs

Management boards

Executives

CSR officers

CSR coordinators

PR managers

Consultants

CSR 5 – Corporate Social Responsibility – Projects

The 5-days training is targeted to project managers. After introductions and basics,

analyses of examples, planning and evaluation of CSR measures, the own CSR project

will be developed.

Contents



CSR concepts, defining objectives, mission statements and organisational visions

Triple bottom line approach

Investment and CSR, Planning and evaluating CSR measures

Financial aspects, problems and solutions in CSR projects in theory and practice

Project plans, organisation and controlling in CSR projects

Pestl analysis and project start in CSR projects (problems matrix, stakeholder map,

etc.)

Implementation of CSR projects

Target group

Managing directors

Entrepreneurs

Management boards

Executives

CSR officers

CSR coordinators

PR managers

Consultants


ARGE Bildungsmanagement

Diploma course Sustainability & Innovation

This diploma course SustaIN34 connects Sustainable Development and innovation. The

aim is to procure key competences for the design of sustainable innovation processes.

Participants will be able to implement Sustainable Development, CSR and innovation

processes in companies and organisations.

Contents

Training Sustainability & Innovation (3 semestres/20 ECTS), “Graduate Innovation manager”

Basics on Sustainability and innovation

Theory of Sustainable Development

Innovation theory and “innovation stories”

Basics on systemic thinking and acting

Design of social processes

Project management: methods and tools

Design for Sustainability

Sustainable Consumption and Production

Change management, assessment and monitoring systems

Sustainable innovations in public management

Implementation of strategies, visions and future scenarios

Business plan, programmes and sponsorships

Sustainability marketing

Upgrade Master programme (1 semestre/20 ECTS), “ MBA (Project management)”

Proseminar 1 “Socio-scientific methods”

Proseminar 2 “Scientific technics/Writing skills

Master programme Part 1: “Subject identification and guidelines for the master thesis”

Master programme Part 2: “Graduand group, working on the master thesis”

Master thesis and master exam

Target group

Executives from companies, NGOs and administrations

Future executive managers

Internal/external consultants

Project leaders

in the fields of marketing, strategy development and strategic market research, product and life cycle management, network and cluster management, R&D, programme management, public management

BULGARIA

The National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (NAVET) has licensed 800 VET

centres and has developed approximately 100 state vocational education standards.

There is no standard developed for an occupation related to human resources

management, business ethics, environmental management or sustainable development

and respectively no VET centre provides training in corporate social responsibility

whatsoever.

It is difficult to identify a VET centre which provides training including subject related to

corporate social responsibility because NAVET lists on its web-site only the title of the

occupations for which the respective training centre is licensed but not the training

34 http://www.bildungsmanagement.at/index_sustainability.shtml


programmes. This was explained with the reluctance of the very training centres to

publicise the training programmes.

DENMARK

Several large and small Danish consultancies are working within the CSR field as a part

of their business range. Some have specialized in environmental, or occupational health

and safety aspects and some are focusing on workforce or global supply chain issues.

Most of them have broadened their services within CSR to comprise still more issues.

Moreover, smaller consultancies have also been established focusing uniquely on global

CSR services.

Examples of such VET institutions are:

Alectia: http://www.alectia.com/eng/competences

COWI:

www.cowi.com/menu/service/WaterandEnvironment/Pages/waterandenvironment.

aspx

CSR Strategy: www.csr-strategy.dk

Danish Standards:

www.ds.dk/en-GB/Services/Courses_and_conferences/Sider/default.aspx

FORCE Technology:

www.force.dk/en/Menu/Consultancy+and+Development/Environment/

NIRAS: http://www.niras.com/Business-Areas.aspx

Pricewaterhouse Coopers: www.pwc.com/dk/da/sustainability/index.jhtml

Rambøll: www.ramboll.com/about-us/corporate%20social%20responsibility

Viegand &Maagøe www.vmas.dk/uk/about-us

LITHUANIA

Lithuanian colleges (institutions of non-university higher education) have less chance of

setting up CSR teaching disciplines than the universities since there is a lack of suitably

qualified college teachers working in this field. Current situation shows that there are less

colleges which are oriented to disciplines of CSR than universities. However, those that

are oriented often review CSR more widely and pay more attention to it not only in

business management (e.g. a separate study module of “Corporate Social

Responsibility”), but also in industrial production (e.g. a discipline under a study module

of “Furniture Design”) study areas.

Together with the partners from Central Europe's universities, community of colleges are

often involved in international projects with SMEs in CSR related areas. Here students

learn how to develop strategies of corporate social responsibility.

http://www.alectia.com/eng/competences

http://www.cowi.com/menu/service/WaterandEnvironment/Pages/waterandenvironment.aspx

http://www.cowi.com/menu/service/WaterandEnvironment/Pages/waterandenvironment.aspx

http://www.csr-strategy.dk/

http://www.ds.dk/en-GB/Services/Courses_and_conferences/Sider/default.aspx

http://www.force.dk/en/Menu/Consultancy+and+Development/Environment/

http://www.niras.com/Business-Areas.aspx

http://www.pwc.com/dk/da/sustainability/index.jhtml

http://www.ramboll.com/about-us/corporate%20social%20responsibility

http://www.vmas.dk/uk/about-us


POLAND

CSR is not offered on the level of vocational schools in Poland.

SLOVENIA

We have reviewed all the currently existing VET programmes in Slovenia. Within the 17

programmes we have found 63 SR courses. 47 were environmentally oriented, such as

Ecology, environmental protection, sustainable development including selected biology

topics, forest ecology, waste management, air protection, wastewater treatment, etc. 15

of the courses were societal oriented, such as health protection, physical activity and

nutrition, safety at work, law issues and ethic regarding the environment, social

environment, healthy life, emotional intelligence and personal development, stress

management, etc. Only 1 economically oriented course has been found: quality and

reliability of processes.

SPAIN

As for Vocational Education and Training institutions, different courses on CSR are

available as well. However, just a few of them are courses focused specifically on small

and medium enterprises.

Centre Master/Course Training form

Efiaula Open Business School Social Responsibility on Organizations Mater Online

(9months)

Efiaula Open Business School Social Responsibility on Organizations and Human Resources Master Online

(9months)

Efiaula Open Business School Social and Environmental Responsibility for the Promotion and

Advancement of Social Economy Companies

Online Course

(100hs)

Grupo IMF Formación Corporate Social Responsibility Distance Course

(80hs)

eCátedra Corporate Social Responsibility Expert Distance Course

(80hs)

eCátedra Master on Sustainable Development: Renewable Energies, Agenda 21

and Corporate Social Responsibility

Distance Master

(800hs)

Clay Formación Internacional Corporate Social Responsibility Expert Distance Course

(150hs)

Clay Formación Internacional Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility and Communication Process

in the Enterprise

Distance Course (225

hs)

Centre Master/Course Training form

Clay Formación Internacional Professional Master on Sustainable Management: Environment,

Corporate Social Responsibility and Agenda 21

Distance Master (830

hs)

Cenproex SL Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility Course

Acedis Formación Expert on Corporate and Business Social Responsibility Online Course

(120hs)

Bureau Veritas Formación Social Responsibility Management, according to SGE 21 Standard Online Course (60hs)

Grupo MBC Corporate Social Responsibility Expert Distance Course (150

hs)

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-organizaciones-cursos-2754029.htm

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-organizaciones-rrhh-cursos-2754021.htm

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-ambiental-para-fomento-progreso-empresas-economia-social-cursos-2753975.htm

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-ambiental-para-fomento-progreso-empresas-economia-social-cursos-2753975.htm

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2685213.htm

http://www.emagister.com/tecnico-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2718526.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-desarrollo-sostenible-energias-renovables-agenda-21-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2719069.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-desarrollo-sostenible-energias-renovables-agenda-21-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2719069.htm




http://www.emagister.com/master-profesional-gestion-sostenible-medio-ambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-agenda-21-cursos-2578723.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-profesional-gestion-sostenible-medio-ambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-agenda-21-cursos-2578723.htm


http://www.emagister.com/tecnico-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-empresarial-cursos-2669742.htm

http://www.emagister.com/gestion-responsabilidad-social-segun-norma-sge-21-cursos-2638146.htm

http://www.emagister.com/tecnico-responsabilidad-social-coorporativa-cursos-2572750.htm


Grupo MBC Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility and Procedures for Business

Communication

Distance Course

(250hs)

Grupo MBC Sustainable Development: Renewable Energy, Agenda 21 and

Corporate Social Responsibility

Distance Master

(1.340hs)

Food & Beverage Training Corporate Social Responsibility Online Course (16hs)

Intergrupo Master in Prevention, Quality, Environment and Corporate Social

Responsibility

Online Master

(630 hs)

Instituto de investigaciones

Ecológicas Specialized course on Corporate Social Responsibility

Distance Course

(110hs)

Instituto Europeo de Estudios

Empresariales Superior Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility

Distance Course

(300hs)

Euroinnova Formación Superior Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility Distance Course

(300hs)

Geodem Business Corporate social Responsibility Online Course

(100hs)

Intergrupo Master on Integrated Quality, Environment and Corporate Social

Responsibility

Online Master (500

hs)

Mundifor Centros de Formación Course of Corporate Social Responsibility focused on the SMEs‟

Management

Distance Course

(80hs)

ESODE CSR. Corporate Social Responsibility Course (30 hs)

Iem Business School Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility Master (400 hs)

Global Estrategias How to Implement, Manage and Communicate Corporate Social

Responsibility Actions in the Entreprise Course (7 hs)

Servicios Normativos Centro de

Formación Corporate Social Responsibility – SA 8000 Online Course (30 hs)

Grupo Ascant de Formación Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility and Communication

Processes in the Enterprise

Distance Master (225

hs)

SGS Tecnos Corporate Responsibility Course (40 hs)

2.1.3. Other Institutions

Different kinds of institutions have been identified within the partners‟ countries. This

way, as for other institutions that offer training on CSR, we find the following ones:

NGOs

Consulting companies

Private business vocational trainers

Quality and certification institutions

Chambers of commerce

RSE institutions

Others agents and projects: Catholic Social academy in Austria, European

Management Center (EMC) in Bulgaria, Business Responsibility Forum Conference

in Poland...

http://www.emagister.com/experto-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-procedimientos-comunicacion-empresa-cursos-2574781.htm

http://www.emagister.com/experto-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-procedimientos-comunicacion-empresa-cursos-2574781.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-desarrollo-sostenible-energia-renovables-agenda-21-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2673814.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-desarrollo-sostenible-energia-renovables-agenda-21-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2673814.htm

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-empresaria-cursos-2756973.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-prevencion-calidad-medioambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2691010.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-prevencion-calidad-medioambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2691010.htm

http://www.emagister.com/curso-especializacion-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2754181.htm

http://www.emagister.com/tecnico-superior-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2577549.htm

http://www.emagister.com/tecnico-superior-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2509636.htm

http://www.emagister.com/responsabilidad-social-corporativa-ambito-empresarial-cursos-2637333.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-sistemas-integrados-calidad-medioambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2691012.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-sistemas-integrados-calidad-medioambiente-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2691012.htm

http://www.emagister.com/curso-responsabilidad-social-empresa-gestion-pymes-cursos-2728357.htm

http://www.emagister.com/curso-responsabilidad-social-empresa-gestion-pymes-cursos-2728357.htm

http://www.emagister.com/rsc-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2696661.htm

http://www.emagister.com/master-desarrollo-sostenible-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-cursos-2670913.htm

http://www.emagister.com/como-implantar-gestionar-comunicar-acciones-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-empresa-cursos-2645848.htm

http://www.emagister.com/como-implantar-gestionar-comunicar-acciones-responsabilidad-social-corporativa-empresa-cursos-2645848.htm

http://www.emagister.com/curso-resposabilidad-social-corporativa-sa-8000-cursos-2725462.htm

http://www.emagister.com/experto-responsablidiad-social-corporativa-procesos-comunicacion-empresa-cursos-2660169.htm

http://www.emagister.com/experto-responsablidiad-social-corporativa-procesos-comunicacion-empresa-cursos-2660169.htm

http://www.emagister.com/formacion-responsabilidad-corporativa-cursos-2671085.htm


AUSTRIA

ksoe Katholische Sozialakademie Österreichs

Training Social Responsibility

ksoe is the catholic social academy and offers a training that allows interested to develop

skills and competences to initiate and attend processes of social responsibility in the

professional, social and political environment. The training includes the implementation of

a concrete innovative project during the two-years-phase of the training. In every

training period the focus is on one specific European country, so that contents handle

with i.e. cooperations in the field of SR between organisations from Austria and the other

country.35

Contents

Phase 1

□ Basic competences and basic knowledge: Introduction; cooperation and conflict culture; social-ethical judgement; processes of interaction; criteria for social responsibility

□ Basic modules in the fields of economy, politics and civil society

Phase 2

□ Development of future-oriented projects: project management; networking – lobbying – fundraising; law as an instrument; cooperation and conflict culture; public relations

□ Action-learning groups: attendance, consulting and reflection of projects

Phase 3

□ Project presentation and certification: participants are certified with the title “Academic Social Responsibility Developer”

Target group

Interested that initiate and implement social responsibility projects

(future) Managers and leaders

Project managers, Human resource developers

Members from economic, political, social and ecclesiastic organisations

Trainers and teachers

Consultants

Students (theology, economy, politics, sociology)

BULGARIA

There are few NGOs and consulting companies which provide training in corporate social

responsibility or in some of its components. These trainings are mainly short-term – 1-2

days maximum and are not made on permanent basis. They are either on demand by

certain client for a certain purpose (request by a stakeholder, occurring of a problem

which requests training, awareness raising among the staff, etc.). Below is given

programme for a training proposed by the European Management Center (EMC). This

programme might be considered more or less a typical example of a training on

corporate social responsibility.

Training programme of EMC:

1. Corporate social responsibility – basic aspects

2. “Sustainable development” concepts, “the triple helix”

35 http://www.ksoe.at/pb/


3. Short history of CSR

4. Definitions and CSR perception models

5. Social responsibility – consumption, management, investment

6. CSR standards – UN Global Compact, ISO 26 000, CSR Label

7. Steps to implement CSR – Human resources, occupational health and safety,

human and labour rights, environmental management, stakeholder analysis, drafting an

action plan

The most often quoted methods of training by the different organisation providing

training in CSR are lectures and presentations, discussions, role plays and case studies.

DENMARK

CSR Forum36 was established as a network in 2004 and became an association in 2009.

The Forum aims at strengthening professional development and interdisciplinary

understanding as well as qualifying the CSR debate in Denmark by being a common

forum for the individuals, networks and professional groups working professionally with

CSR. CSR Forum makes 2-3 joint events a year, and, additionally, arranges ongoing

events in the various working groups with special focus on specific themes.

See more on: http://www.csrforum.dk/uk-om-csr-forum

Moreover, LinkedIn has a CSR Denmark Group with more than 370 members, and

another LinkedIn group “CSR 2.0” focus on CSR and social medias.

LITHUANIA

With regard to the growing interest in social responsibility in companies, as well as

implementation of social and environmental responsibility standards, the number of firms

that train and issue certificates in Lithuania has increased substantially. Currently, in

Lithuania there are such CSR training leading companies as UNDP Lithuania, JSC „EKT

Group“, JSC „Bureau veritas LT“, JSC „Det Norske Veritas LT“, JSC „Sertika“, VsI (public

enterprise) „LST SERT“, JSC „TUV Uolektis“, JSC „Kvalitetas“ and some others. These

companies are engaged in SMEs and large enterprises consulting, training and

certification on workers' ethical, environmental and social responsibility issues. It is likely

that the growing demand for setting up the new standards in business management and

production practices will also influence the need of training companies‟ potential growth.

36

www.csrforum.dk

http://www.csrforum.dk/uk-om-csr-forum


POLAND

Corporations offering CSR (including interactive online trainings) ex.:

SN Polska - CSR - Społeczna Odpowiedzialność [Social Responsibility];

Empower Group - Zarządzanie wiekiem w organizacji [The Management of

Business Age];

Fundacja Republika Kobiet - Manager społecznej odpowiedzialności biznesu

[Women Republic Foundation - Manager of Social Business Responsibility];

Akademia WWW - SPOŁECZNA ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚĆ BIZNESU (CSR) CSR a e-

pr.[WWW Academy - SOCIAL BUSINES RESPONSIBILITY];

Polska Akademia Public Relations Sp.z o.o. [Polish Academy Public Relations

Ltd.] - Odpowiedzialność i etyka w biznesie; Kampanie społeczne [The

Responsibility and Ethics in Business; Social Campaigns];

JOTCONSULT, Jarosław Rubin - BUDOWA PRZEWAGI KONKURENCYJNEJ W

OPARCIU O WARTOŚCI - NARZĘDZIA SKUTECZNEGO MENEDŻERA

[JOTCONSULT, Jarosław Rubin - CREATING COMPETETIVE ADVANTAGE ON THE

BASIS OF VALUES - EFFICIENT MANAGER'S TOOLS];

eko-net.pl - Jak zbudować strategię zrównoważonego biznesu

CSV :: Trainings & Coaching – Marketing in truism; CSR - SOCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY IN BUSINESS

Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu [Business Responsibility Forum] - the greatest

non-governmental organization in Poland, engaged in Business Social Responsibility

Concept.

The organization stands for dialog and exchange of experience on responsible

business and balanced development between businesses, government bodies, non-

governmental organizations and academics.

Their span of activity includes:

Responsible business promotion (Responsible Business Forum Conference,

Good Practice Fair CSR, Portal www.odpowiedzialnybiznes.pl, Newsletter Respo,

publikacje o odpowiedzialnym biznesie, współpraca z mediami);

Business support in implementation responsibility:

□ Partnership program - complex cooperation program including public

debate on responsibility in business; workshops, meetings, newsletter,

consulting and mutual project;

□ Talks on responsible business - a round of meetings on different aspects

of CSR.

Cooperation with business for public case:

□ Liga Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu [Responsible Business League]

(educational program) – CSR supporters from around Poland including

student organizations engaged in promoting responsible business idea in

their local communities. The program creating new managers and

businessmen, social animators and leaders of change37

Analysis and development of responsible business in projects:

□ Odpowiedzialny biznes w Polsce ['Responsible Business in Poland'] report;

□ Surways - among others "Społeczna odpowiedzialność biznesu w Polsce.

Wstępna analiza" ['Social responsibility of business in Poland. Initial

37

http://lob.org.pl/strona.php?kat=341

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/597229/csr-spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-biznesu-50/cele-odpowiedzialnosc-spoleczna-biznesu-planowanie-8000/

http://inst.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/604150/zarzadzanie-wiekiem-w-organizacji/dyskryminacja-emerytura-rozwoj-strategia-wiek-zespol/?typ=otwarte

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/604150/zarzadzanie-wiekiem-w-organizacji/dyskryminacja-emerytura-rozwoj-strategia-wiek-zespol/?typ=otwarte

http://frk.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/604669/manager-spolecznej-odpowiedzialnosci-biznesu/csr-spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-biznesu-szkolenie-gdansk/?typ=otwarte

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/604669/manager-spolecznej-odpowiedzialnosci-biznesu/csr-spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-biznesu-szkolenie-gdansk/?typ=otwarte

http://akademiaw12.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/609317/spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-biznesu-csr-csr-a-e-pr/?typ=otwarte

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/609317/spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-biznesu-csr-csr-a-e-pr/?typ=otwarte

http://papr.nf.pl/

http://papr.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/567824/odpowiedzialnosc-i-etyka-w-biznesie/csr-etyka-biznesu-odpowiedzialny-biznes/

http://jot.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/595831/budowa-przewagi-konkurencyjnej-w-oparciu-o-wartosci-narzedzia-skutecznego-menedzera/csr-efektywnosc-motywowanie-odpowiedzialnosc-przywodztwo-wartosci/?typ=zamkniete




http://eko-netpl.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/596882/jak-zbudowac-strategie-zrownowazonego-biznesu/?typ=elearning

http://csc1.nf.pl/

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/598018/csr-spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-w-biznesie/?typ=zamkniete

http://szkolenia.nf.pl/Szkolenie/598018/csr-spoleczna-odpowiedzialnosc-w-biznesie/?typ=zamkniete

http://www.odpowiedzialnybiznes.pl/



analysis'] for EC and UNDP, Managers 500, "Zarządzanie różnorodnością

w Polsce" [Diversification management in Poland under international

CSR/Diversity project;

□ Publications - "15 polskich przykładów społecznej odpowiedzialności

biznesu" ['15 Polish examples of business responsibility'];

SIFE Poland will coordinate domestic editions of SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise

program) 38

SPAIN

The following other institutions can be identified in Spain:

Quality/Certification Institutions Master/Course Training form

AEC – Spanish Association for Quality39 European Expert on Corporate Social Responsibility Distance Course (120 hs)

AENOR - Spanish Association for

Standardization and Certification40 Expert on Social Responsibility Course (60hs)

Chambers of Commerce Master/Course Training form

Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce Free training on CSR for SMEs Advising, courses and seminars

Mallorca Chamber of Commerce Training on CSR for SMEs Seminars,courses…

Several Chambers of Commerce have training courses and specific support on CSR for SMEs. The objective of the Spanish Chambesr

of Commerce on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to create mechanisms and resources to integrate social responsibility in the

model of business competitiveness, especially in small and medium-sized companies, helping to strengthen management systems in

terms of trust, transparency and value creation for all stakeholders, improving the performance of companies in both economic, and

environmental and social areas, creating a distinctive identity and, through training (seminars ... ).

RSE institutions / NGOs Master/Course Training form

Fundación Entorno Rse+5. The Social Responsibility Focus on SMEs Online Course (60 hs)

CSR Observatory41 CSR: Challenges and Opportunities

Contents: An area focused on SMEs Online Course (125 hs)

2.2. Existing training materials on CSR in each country

The analysis of training materials on CSR shows how manuals and written guides are the

most common materials; in the form of text documents in varying forms, like books or

booklets, along with presentations and slides. Case studies and practical examples seems

to be common as well.

In some cases, both distance and online methods are used. However, in some countries

no modern methods as e-learning or self-study or evaluation methods have been

identified.

A more specific analysis has been carried out as for contents covered and targets groups

addressed by these training materials.

38

http://sife.pl/ 39

Asociación Española para la Calidad: http://www.aec.es/web/guest/formacion/catalogo/listado/for0454/RS-GE-D454-18102010-ED05621?gclid=CL7c3sGd_aYCFcse4QodkQ8rZg 40

Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification: http://www.aenor.es/aenor/actualidad/actualidad/noticias.asp?campo=9&codigo=18018&tipon= 41

CSR Observatory: http://www.observatoriorsc.org/images/stories/audio/Proyectos/Informacion_cursoRSC.pdf

http://www.aec.es/web/guest/formacion/catalogo/listado/for0454/RS-GE-D454-18102010-ED05621?gclid=CL7c3sGd_aYCFcse4QodkQ8rZg

http://www.aenor.es/aenor/actualidad/actualidad/noticias.asp?campo=9&codigo=18018&tipon=

http://www.formapyme.com/noticias/23/11/2010/1754/Formacion-gratuita-para-las-pymes-de-Zaragoza-sobre-Responsabilidad-Social.html

http://www.cambramallorca.com/seccion/46/responsabilidad-social-corporativa

http://www.emagister.com/rse+5-enfoque-responsabilidad-social-pymes-cursos-2549066.htm

http://www.observatoriorsc.org/images/stories/audio/Proyectos/Informacion_cursoRSC.pdf

http://www.observatoriorsc.org/images/stories/audio/Proyectos/Programa_cursoRSC_general.pdf

http://sife.pl/



http://www.aenor.es/aenor/actualidad/actualidad/noticias.asp?campo=9&codigo=18018&tipon



2.2.1. Contains and covered areas

As for the contents of the training materials, some elements have been identified as

more usual, within the analyzed countries, mainly related to environmental, societal and

economical issues:

Market and business

Community and social programs

Environment and sustainable development

Human resources

As well as this, other elements have been included, as for example: business ethics,

transparency and governance, business negotiations, moral responsibility,

communication and knowledge management, ethical aspects of advertisement, cultural

identity or awareness raising.

Finally, no references to ISO 26000 have been identified into the analyzed training

materials (just in two cases in Austrian analysis).

AUSTRIA

There exist several training materials on CSR in Austria, whereby most of them have a

special emphasis on SMEs. The most relevant ones in this context and described in the

following, were developed in national and EU-funded projects as well as initiated and

provided by respACT, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Austrian Standards

Institute and NeSoVe.

Corporate Social Responsibility Training Handbook

The objective of this training handbook42, is to support the organisation and development

of CSR trainings. It was developed by FO.FO.s in the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci

project “CSR/SME – Promoting social responsibility in small and medium size

enterprises”.43

Contents and covered areas

The handbook is organised in different parts:

“General conditions of a training” gives an overview of the all training modules and the

structure they are following (description of target groups, trainers profile, objective,

specific goals, theory/learning contents, structure of the module, methods and training

activities, didactic resources/materials, time schedule)

Description of training modules handles the different modules

□ CSR Basics/introduction □ Business ethics □ Work place □ Environment

42 CSR Trainingshandbuch (2007), p. 5ff 43 http://www.fofos.at


□ Market □ Local community

Supporting training activities “Exercises”, “Case studies” and “Ethical dilemmata”

The handbook also includes a feedback questionnaire for the training evaluation, a

guideline for company visits, national state-of-the-art reports, and a comprehensive

glossary

Target group The CSR Training Handbook refers to trainers and VET institutions, who are planning and implementing CSR trainings for SMEs, executives from public and non-profit organisations, consultants, VET-experts and students.

CSR Guidelines of the Austrian Standards Institute

German title: „Der österreichische CSR Leitfaden“

The Austrian CSR Guidelines were developed in 2004 from the working group AK 1112

„Corporate Social Responsibility“ of the Austrian Standards Institute. The guidelines were

translated in five languages and were developed according to the Green Paper of the

European Commission. They took strong impacts on other comparable activities and the

ISO 26000 process.44


The guidelines present principles, systems and tools and offers guidance and recommendations for its users. The primary benefits for companies are

the implementation of the concept “Sustainable Development” into operative business

activities;

the integration and further development of social obligations for employees and the

local community and the environment systematically into the management

the protection and development of the organisation‟s reputation

the minimisation of risks

a protection of the economic viability of the company

The model for a management system for CSR helps companies to illustrate to its stakeholders

self commitment, approved by the corporate policy and the company‟s targets. This

commitment also includes regulatory appointments.

that the focus is on avoidance of failures rather than on removal.

The first chapter of the guidelines defines economic, social and environmental requirements. These include recommendations for social minimum requirements and also for the voluntary commitment. A next chapter deals with the organisation of systems based on a model for CSR that in turn is based on the model for continuous improvement. To secure the success of such a management system, there‟s a special input on the self-commitment of the management board. Furthermore, the guidelines give concrete instructions and practical help for a starting analysis, internal and external communication, corporate policy, planning (operative target setting, programmes for targets achievement), implementation (resources, organisational structure and responsibilities, competencies, training and awareness, documentation), control (monitoring and measuring, assessment, failures, corrections, preventive measures, documentation, audits). The process concludes with a management assessment and instructions for a continuous improvement. The part “Sustainability Reports” describes in an own chapter how to develop a report in 7 steps. The last chapter of the guidelines include a glossary with important terms concerning CSR.

Target group This guidelines refer to enterprises from all branches and sizes, and besides that also other organisations – like associations, public institutions, municipalities, project organisations – should be encouraged to apply the guidelines correspondingly.

Handbook of Procedures: A Sustainability Report in 7 Steps

44 Köppl, Neureiter (2004), p. 325


German title: “Methoden-Handbuch: In 7 Schritten zum Nachhaltigkeitsbericht“

Editor of this handbook45 is amongst others the Austrian “Ministry for Agriculture and

Forestry, Environment and Water Management”. The objective of this procedures‟

handbook is to support the development of a Sustainability report. Therefore, it shows a

way how to describe an organisation‟s performance and activities from the viewpoint of

Sustainable Development.


The handbook includes a collection of methods, whereby tools applicable for SMEs or large companies, beginners or advanced are marked. The procedures/methods within this handbook have a consistent structure:

Result: shows the achievements with a method

Resources: describes time expenditures, which persons should be included and with

equipment is necessary

Description: gives background information for the method and describes the activity

Working Sheets: allow a application of the method

The 7 steps to develop a Sustainability Report represent the content of the handbook‟s chapters:

Step 1 “Clarification of framework conditions”

Step 2 “Identify issues and stakeholders”

Step 3 “Objectives for the company and the report”

Step 4 “Collecting data and information”

Step 5 “Writing the report”

Step 6 “Design of the report”

Step 7 “Disseminating the report”

Target group

Organisations who want to develop a Sustainability report.

Persons that are responsible for risk, quality and environmental management

Organisations who want to engage in sustainable development

CSR Guidebook: A CSR Strategy in 7 Steps

German title: “CSR-Ratgeber: In 7 Schritten zu einer CSR Strategie“

The objective of the guidebook46, edited by respACT, is to give encouragement and

advise about a profitable implementation of CSR to companies. Additionally a test for

self-assessment and lists with indicators and measures were developed by respACT and

supported by the Ministry for Economy and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Guidebook and accompanying instruments are available for different sectors, whereby

the development was accomplished in cooperation with entrepreneurs from the different

industries. Currently the training materials are available for these industries:

Timber/Furniture/Building Components

Textiles/Clothing/Footwear

Paper/Printing/Bookbinder

Tourism Industry

Food and Drinks

Transportation and Shipping

Building Industry

Jewellery

Promotion and Market communication

45 Resel et al. (2006), Methoden-Handbuch. In 7 Schritten zum Nachhaltigkeitsbericht, p.3 46 respACT, Editor, CSR-Ratgeber. In 7 Schritten zu einer CSR Strategie


Finishing (production and application)

Toys and Sports equipment


The guidebook for the implementation of CSR in SMEs considers branch specific background information that is relevant for CSR and at the same time points out recommendations for a CSR strategy. The 7 steps are as follows:

Step 1 “Appraisal and Vision”

Step 2 “Documentation”

Step 3 “Stakeholders”

Step 4 “Risks”

Step 5 “Measures”

Step 6 “Communicating CSR”

Step 7 “Linking information”

The self-assessment test analyses in a few minutes the individual understanding of a vision for sustainable development and a sustainable management. The training material also includes a list with indicators and measures, which is included in the guidebook‟s annex.

Target group The guidebook is targeted to SMEs that handle with CSR for the first time and that want to understand the concept, but also companies that are active in some CSR activity fields and want to develop an integrated concept with the company‟s relevant dimensions.

Network Social Responsibility: CSR Criteria Catalogue NICK

German title: “Netzwerk Soziale Verantwortung: CSR-Kriterienkatalog NICK“

This criteria catalogue47 is based on the triple bottom line and evaluates companies

regarding the implementation of sustainability through a numerical value generated from

ca. 100 criteria. The objective is to provide an indicator for social responsibility.

Furthermore, this catalogue was published with the aim to start discussions regarding the

implementation of social responsibility. NeSoVe also views these criteria as a basis for

future legal obligations.


The catalogue is based on the position paper of NeSoVe, GRI and criteria of Ethibel and Clean Clothes.

Target group Companies and organisations, civil society, politics

CSR Guiding Vision for the Austrian business sector “Economic Success. Responsible

Action”

German title: “Erfolg mit Verantwortung: ein Leitbild für zukunftsfähiges Wirtschaften“

“The concept of Success with Responsibility supports companies in taking their social

responsibility. It addresses all Austrian companies and offers to them a catalogue of

objectives for responsible business on the basis of five fields of action: leadership and

organisation, market, employees, environment, community.”48


The concept is useful for a stepwise implementation of a CSR strategy, but also for the systematic documentation of CSR engagements. The concept describes four concrete application areas to every field of action, each with a short introduction and specific objectives. Furthermore, the website http://www.respact.at/csrleitbild contains more than 100 practical tipps regarding the fields of action and the application areas. On the basis of the following fields of action, the companies learn step wise how to develop

and implement CSR activities.

47 http://www.netzwerksozialeverantwortung.at (02/2010) 48 respACT (2010), Erfolg mit Verantwortung, http://www.respact.at/csrleitbild

http://www.respact.at/csrleitbild


“Leadership and organisation” deals with organisational culture and role model status;

strategy, implementation and risk management; communication and transparency;

stakeholder relations

“Market” includes products and services; innovations; value chains; business relations

“Employees” is about compensation and working times; rights of employees and labour

protection; human resource development and continuing education; diversity and

equality

“Environment” concerns the protection and prevention of the environment; resource

efficiency, energy efficiency and climate protection; mobility and transport

“Community” deals with the protection of human rights and cultural diversity;

combating poverty and development cooperation; continual social commitment;

dissemination of social responsibility

Target group

The CSR Guiding Vision supports companies to assume their social responsibility. It addresses to all Austrian enterprises and provides them a catalogue of targets for responsible business on the basis of five fields of action (leadership, market, employees, environment, community).

CSR Handbook for Sole Proprietorships

German title: „CSR Leitfaden für Ein-Personen-Unternehmen“

This in Europe unique handbook was developed by respACT and the Austrian Federal

Economic Chamber in collaboration with experts.49


The handbook helps sole proprietorships to adopt CSR in 5 steps:

Step 1: Decide what your company stands for

Step 2: Collect relevant information

Step 3: Target setting

Step 4: Implement your measures

Step 5: Evaluate the results and communicate your commitment

For each step, concrete support (“HELP”) for the handling is available. For example, in Step 2 “Collect relevant information” it looks like this:

HELP 2: Who are my stakeholders? Examples for Stakeholders:

□ Consumers: Who do I sale my products and services to? □ Suppliers, sources and origin: Where do I purchase from? What are my

information sources? □ Partners and networks: Who do I cooperate with in projects or events? □ Neighbours and local environment: Does my business impact my neighbours?

How do my activities impact the local area? □ Family, friends and private environment: Which people in my social environment

are concerned by my business activities? □ Organisations, platforms, NGOs: Which organisations do exist for my

professional guild and for my stakeholders? □ Community: What are the trends and developments in my market? Which core

competence could I bring in where? □ Media: Who informs about my business activities in regional newspapers or in

trade press? A self-assessment, where the entrepreneur evaluates the interactions of the company with environment, market and society, complements the handbook. Some other deepening questions help to complete the self-assessment. The formulation of objectives in the categories society, environment and market that are related to each stakeholder, with measures and a time frame for the implementation, generates the last part of the handbook.

Target group The handbook aims at sole proprietorships that engage in CSR for the first time and want to understand the concept. It is unique in Europe and offers a simple introduction into CSR for

that target group.

49 respACT (2009), Editor, CSR Leitfaden für Ein-Personen-Unternehmen


Regarding the contents and covered areas and their usefulness for SMEs in terms of a

simple language, the described training materials show varying specificities. The

following table gives an overview of training materials‟ completeness:

Table 2: Contents and Covered Areas of Austrian CSR training materials

Training Materials

Contents and Covered Areas

Sim

ple

Language

Definitio

n o

f Term

s

Vis

ion/B

usin

ess C

ase

Mark

et

Work

pla

ce

Com

munity

Environm

ent

Perf

orm

ance F

igure

s

Sta

kehold

er

Managem

ent

Com

munic

ation

Managem

ent

Appro

ach

Tripple

Bott

om

Lin

e

Refe

rence t

o I

SO

26000

(1) CSR Training Handbook by FO.FO.s X X X X X X X X X X X

(2) CSR Guidelines of the ASI X X X X X X X X

(3) Handbook of Procedures: A Sustainability Report in 7 Steps

X X X X X X X

(4) CSR Guidebook: A CSR Strategy in 7 Steps X X X X X X X X X X X X

(5) NeSoVe: CSR Criteria Catalogue NICK X X X X X

(6) CSR Guiding Vision “Economic Success. Responsible Action”

X X X X X X X X X X

(7) CSR Handbook for Sole Proprietorships X X X X X X X X

Only two of the described training resources show references to ISO 26000. In the case

of the “CSR Guidelines of the ASI”, they were a basic document for the whole

development process of ISO 26000. Therefore it can be assumed that there are strong

correlations between these two documents. In the case of the “CSR Guiding Vision, the

authors indicate, that the discussion process was based amongst other documents also

on ISO 26000.

They are all available in the form of text documents in varying forms, like books or

booklets. Some of them include working sheets, checklists and/or selftests (1, 3, 4, 7)

and a power point presentation (1).

The most comprehensive SR training material and adapted to SMEs seems to be the

“CSR Guidebook: A CSR Strategy in 7 Steps”, which has also the benefit that it is

adapted to specific sectors. On the other hand it doesn‟t have any reference to ISO

26000.

BULGARIA

Taking into account the number of credit hours the higher schools provide more

comprehensive training in the subjects related to corporate social responsibility. For

example the Masters programme “Human resource management and corporate social

responsibility” includes module 6 with the courses “The social responsibility of the


company and the sustainable development”, courses “Stakeholders management”,

“Business ethics”, “Socially responsible investment” each one of them with 15 credit

hours.

Normally a subject course in Bulgarian higher schools is not less 30 credit hours so it can

be assumed that the courses in business ethics, etc. provided by the universities in

Bulgaria have the average duration of 30 hours.

In the course “Social responsibility and business ethics” in the Varna Free University the

students learn about the nature and basic components of the business ethics, the social

responsibility, the specificity of business negotiations, the reasons which cause a conflict

during the negotiations and the mechanisms for their solutions.

The course “Engineers ethics” in the University Architecture, Civil Engineering and

Geodesy will provide the future road construction engineers with skills to identify the

theory of the engineer problematic into the moral socialising, to analise the problems of

the professional ethics in the engineer activity – the moral responsibility of the

construction business, the trust as a moral resource in the business relations, the

corporate loyalty and the conformism, the ethical aspects of advertisement, business

etiquette and cultural identity, etiquette and social responsibility in the consultancy, etc.

The courses offered by training centres are usually 1-2 days and the topics covered are

normally of information providing, awareness raising or promotional nature. In item 2.1.3

a training programme was quoted as typical and the duration of the training is 1 day and

the training method is discussions, role plays and brainstorming.

Apart from the topics quoted in 2.1.3 the topics covered in other trainings include: CSR

instruments and measures (material and money donations, providing of services and

right of use, providing of people, time and knowledge), working pro bono as an

instrument of personal policy and contribution to corporate culture, areas of CSR activity

and tasks in the company, implementation of CSR, etc.

LITHUANIA

CSR training materials for different target groups in the seminars and lectures are

introduced in the oral manner and in written training manuals. Students are taught CSR-

related courses in the form of information presentation (MS Power Point slides) or written

material. Training companies analogically organize seminars for executives and SMEs

representatives on CSR principles and implementation system, often by dividing

additional printed material.

During the lectures and seminars, the principles and strategies to facilitate the

implementation of social responsibility activities in the company are taught. After the

course, companies‟ managers and representatives consolidate the obtained theoretical

knowledge in practice, carrying out the activities in accordance with CSR implementation

guide that provides examples which facilitate the CSR implementation. Students, as


future professionals, consolidate their knowledge by preparing written work or taking

examinations.

POLAND

Social responsibility in SME. Practical examples of SME competitiveness increase –

a file including abbreviated versions of selected studies on practical CSR actions in

European SME in PDF format50.

Training companies provide training and additional materials (case studies,

exercises) available in digital version as PDF files.

SLOVENIA

Training materials have been reviewed as well. Training material at the university as well

as in the VET institutions comprises textbooks (denoted to each course) and study

material provided by the professors. No ICT material has been found, such as e-learning

options. Sometimes, only lectures of the professors could be found on the web as ppt

presentations. The educational process at the universities as well as within the VET

institutions is mostly lecturer oriented frontal method (lecturer has presentation in front

of the classroom), followed by exercise done by students. No modern (e-learning, self-

study and evaluation methods) have been perceived within the courses reviewed.

Areas which are mostly covered within the courses offered are environmental issues,

followed by societal and economical. No course, such as corporate social responsibility

has been perceived.

SPAIN

As it has been showed in the previous analysis, almost all the existing training materials

on CSR does not focus on SMEs. As well as this, the vast majority of courses, apart from

these offered by Spanish Universities, have a distance or online basis. In this sense, the

training mainly consists of training literature (both on physical paper, or electronic

documents), along with the continuous support of a tutor via phone/email.

As it has been showed in the previous analysis, almost all the existing training materials

on CSR does not focus on SMEs. As well as this, the vast majority of courses, apart from

these offered by Spanish Universities, have a distance or online basis. In this sense, the

training mainly consists of training literature (both on physical paper, or electronic

documents), along with the continuous support of a tutor via phone/email.

As for the contents included in the courses/masters on CSR focused on SMEs, the

following areas are covered:

50

http://www.csr-in-smes.eu/downloads/brochure_poland.pdf (Detailed descriptions at: www.csr-in-smes.eu)

http://www.csr-in-smes.eu/downloads/brochure_poland.pdf

http://www.csr-in-smes.eu/


Definition of Corporate Social Responsibility: Vision and Context

CSR and the Enterprise

Transparency and Governance

Sustainable Development

Environmental Issue

International guidelines and European framework on CSR

Impulse and direction of CSR in Spain

General context and academic and business initiatives

Public Policies

Scope, contents and implications of CSR

Enterprise culture

Human Resources

Market initiatives

Community and Social Action Programs

Environmental Impact

Communication and knowledge management

Management tools and indicators

Spanish SMEs in front of the CSR

Stakeholders

Strategy

2.2.2. Target groups of the training offer

Several training materials focused on SMEs have been analyzed; however, it can be

drawn that, in general, although analyzed training materials can be useful for them,

existing materials have not been elaborated specifically for SMEs, as they are targeted to

all kind of organizations.

Among the identified target groups, the following have been highlighted:

University students and university graduates, from different specialities

Senior managers, middle management and team leaders.

Professionals on CSR.

Professionals on human resources.

Marketing and communication managers, PR and sale.

People engaged in creation and implementation of strategies in business.

People interested in competitiveness increase.

Compliance managers.

Nongovernmental workers, family businesses and public administration workers.

Technical Staff from chambers of commerce, Unions, associations of enterprises…

Public Administration staff.

Responsible for social economy companies.

Managers and technicians from SMEs that want to manage CSR departments or

social economy programs.

Usually, applicants for these courses must not comply with special requirements as for

previous knowledge of specific skills, as they are focused for beginners or other

specialities‟ experts.


In some cases as well, some of the identified training materials refer explicitly to trainers

and VET institutions.

AUSTRIA

The CSR Training Handbook refers explicitly to trainers and VET institutions, who are

planning and implementing CSR trainings for SMEs, executives from public and non-profit

organisations, consultants, VET-experts and students.

All the other training resources (CSR Guidelines of ASI, Handbook of Procedures, CSR

Guidebook: A CSR Strategy in 7 Steps, CSR Guiding Vision for the Austrian business

sector, CSR Handbook for Sole Proprietorships) are useful for SMEs as well as for other

organisations. In the cases of the “CSR Guidebook: A CSR Strategy in 7 Steps” and the

“CSR Handbook for Sole Proprietorships”, they are explicitly targeted to SMEs and micro-

companies. Furthermore, the described training materials can be used for beginners but

also for advanced persons to implement SR.

BULGARIA

The target groups in the universities are the students from different specialities - road

construction, environmental management, accounting and finance, business

administration, financial auditing.

The target groups of the training courses provided by consulting companies and NGOs

are senior managers, middle management, HR specialists, communication and PR

specialists, other company officials, etc.

LITHUANIA

Basic target groups of the training offer are university and college students of corporate

governance and business organization, human resource management, international

business, organizational management, environmental management, business

administration, economics, environmental protection and environmental engineering as

well as the executives of existing enterprises or companies‟ representatives responsible

for certain corporate policies51.

POLAND

People engaged in creation and implementation of strategies in business.

51

Institutions of Higher Education, Colleges and secondary schools in Lithuania, available at: http://www.on.lt/hedu3.htm

http://www.on.lt/hedu3.htm


People interested in competitiveness increase.

Marketing managers, PR and sale.

Professionals on CSR.

Professionals on communication with market.

Professionals on human resources.

Compliance managers.

Team leaders.

Nongovernmental workers, family businesses and public administration workers.

Students.

SLOVENIA

The target groups at the university level are full-time students, while at the VET level is

also elder population, studying while also working.

SPAIN

Students and University graduates.

Technical Staff from chambers of commerce, Unions, associations of enterprises…

Public Administration staff and responsible workers.

Responsible for social economy companies.

Managers and technicians from SMEs that want to manage CSR departments or

social economy programs.

Usually, applicants for these courses must not comply with special requirements

as for previous knowledge of specific skills.

2.3. Existing other training tools on CSR in each country

These other tools include, several CSR toolkits, along with other platforms and guides.

2.3.1. Contains and covered areas

Several contains have been covered by these tools. Among them, we can find a toolkit

developed according to ISO 26000.

AUSTRIA

The described CSR tools range from sustainability checks to very specific tools in the

form of business plan generation. However, one of these tools is especially based on ISO

26000 and was published in May 2010.

The Complete CSR Toolkit


The purpose of this software is to enable the user to implement CSR into the

management system and strategy of the company or organisation. This is done by

evaluating the current situation of the company and through a unique CSR-Matrix which

includes all the core CSR subjects and issues as described in ISO 26000. As soon as the

user fills out the CSR Matrix he/she will be able to see the CSR situation in the company

in relation to ISO 26000. Further the software provides clear stakeholder engagement

steps to better evaluate the own position and propose ways forward. Eventually, ”The

Complete CSR Toolkit” program enables the user to observe the improvements, through

a chart line of progress. The data resulting from the user input can be used in Power

Point Presentations via a direct link to an exporting function; there are no complicated

exporting processes involved.52


This software programme leads the user step by step through a CSR management system according to ISO 26000. The integration of internal and external stakeholders is an integral part. The toolkit allows companies to

identify the current situation

discover gaps in the field of CSR

develop a coherent and comprehensive CSR strategy

measure the company‟s performance through key performance indicators

visualise the company‟s CSR situation

describe the performance over time

The user starts with an introduction to CSR: What is CSR? What are the benefits? The second step describes the key components for a CSR strategy and leads the user with a questionnaire stepwise through the relevant issues. The third step “CSR Step by Step” guides the user through an adapted matrix of ISO 26000. On the basis of this matrix, the implementation steps, action plans and key figures for each CSR activity are identified. In step 4, a stakeholder management system, that identifies the stakeholders and the types of communication, is implemented. Step 5 deals with reporting. It offers different types of report samples, i.e. also a progress report for UN Global compact. Step 6 provides tools for internal and external audits, whereby also different formats and possibilities for the individual adaption are available.

Target group “The complete CSR Toolkit” can be used by all kinds and sizes of organisations that want to implement CSR into their management system and strategy.

SUMMIT – Sustainable Management Methods Integrating Tool-Kit

SUMMIT53 is a tool that supports SMEs in implementing sustainability as a holistic

strategy. Principles of communication, cooperation and coordination are therefore

combined with management tools to integrate sustainability into company policy and

daily business.


SUMMIT consists of several modules and tools:

Module 1 “SUMMIT Methods register”: established management practices, systems and

tools are evaluated concerning social, ecological and economical criteria and

categorised. The established instrument PREPARE is expanded through the TRIZ

approach (Theory of inventive problem solving) and a relevant element within the

collection of instruments

Module 2 “Summit Sustainability Check”: This assessment tool includes a

comprehensive business analysis based on sustainable criteria. It allows an evaluation

of the status “stage of sustainable development” and shows potential for the

implementation of sustainable visions.

52 http://www.csr-toolkit.com 53 http://summit.stenum.at/


Module 3 “Summit Tools Matrix” is the key element and innovation of SUMMIT. It

combines the methods register with criteria of the sustainability check. Based on

objectives and the status-quo of the company, the results of interviews can be inserted.

This matrix allows to determine targets and management tools that support the

individual sustainable development of the companies.

Target group The target group are small and medium-sized companies, who were also involved in the development of SUMMIT.

Sustainable Business Planner: IT supported Management Tool for the Integration of

Principles of the Impulse Programme “Sustainable Business”

German title: “Sustainable Business Planner: IT-gestütztes Management Tool zur

Integration der Prinzipien des Impulsprogramms “Nachhaltig Wirtschaften” in

Businesspläne“54

Contents

and covered areas

Sustainable Business Planner is a software, that is conceptualised as a tool for use and learning. It supports the user to stepwise develop a sustainable business plan in 6 modules. Each module covers a specific task. They guide the user from idea generation,

team building, stakeholder identification to analysis of the business environment. Module 1 “Idea generation”

Module 2 “Sustaining ideas”

Module 3 “Sound innovation potential”

Module 4 “Establishing the company”

Module 5 “Knowing stakeholders”

Module 6 “ Analysing the business environment”

By working through the 6 modules the user develops stepwise the business plan for a business idea. The seven principles of sustainable business are integrated in the modules that way, they serve as sources for ideas and also as criteria for the

integration of sustainability aspects. After finishing the work in the modules, a business plan with classical chapters is generated automatically from the inserted data. According to the developers, the Sustainable Business Planner shall close the gap between business plan tools integrating sustainability and tools for the development of new business ideas. Therefore, seven principles of sustainability (according to the national programme “Sustainable Business”) with elements of a

business plan:

7 Principles of “Sustainable Business”

Key elements of a business plan

Orientation on service and benefit

Use of renewable resources

Efficiency

Recyclability

Adaption, flexibility and compliance

Fault tolerance and risk prevention

Protection of work, income and life

quality

Executive summary

Company

Product/service

Branch and market

Marketing

Management and key personnel

Implementation plan

Opportunities and risks

5 years plan

Financial demand

Target group

Innovative entrepreneurs who want to go into business with their ideas

Innovation friendly companies

Start-up initiatives

Business lobbies

Universities and colleges of higher education

54 http://sbp.fabrikderzukunft.at


The described tools are all software tools supported by written documents (handbooks

and user guides). Except the “Complete CSR Toolkit” they are free available on the web

after registration. Regarding the contents and areas they cover, the following table gives

an overview.

Table 3: Contents and Covered Areas of Austrian CSR training tools

Training Tools

Contents and Covered Areas

Sim

ple

Language

Definitio

n o

f Term

s

Vis

ion/B

usin

ess C

ase

Mark

et

Work

pla

ce

Com

munity

Environm

ent

Perf

orm

ance F

igure

s

Sta

kehold

er

Managem

ent

Com

munic

ation

Managem

ent

Appro

ach

Tripple

Bott

om

Lin

e

Refe

rence t

o I

SO

26000

(1) The Complete CSR Toolkit X X X X X X X X X X X X X

(2) SUMMIT X X X X X

(3) Sustainable Business Planner X X X X X X X

The “Complete CSR Toolkit” seems to be a good instrument for implementing CSR

according to ISO 26000, and currently without relevant competitors. In 5 steps the CSR

concept is separated into concrete subjects and attends the user in defining its position

regarding the recommendations of ISO 26000 and implementing CSR into the corporate

strategy. Therefore a special matrix was developed. The toolkit is also useful for the

generation of Global Compact progress reports.

“SUMMIT” is useful for a first analysis of a company‟s sustainable performance, whereby

it‟s not clear connected with the concept of CSR.

The “Sustainable Business Planner” aims at the generation of ideas for starting a

business in the field of sustainability and supports the user also with the development of

a business plan. It also doesn‟t refer to the concept of SR.

BULGARIA

N/A

DENMARK

As mentioned in part 1, Danish authorities have supported the development of a number

of tools. Some of them are directed especially towards SME‟s, others are more general.


But as 99,5 percent of Danish companies have less than 250 employees, all the major

tools are included below.

The Ideas Compass55

The Ideas Compass is a web-based tool, where small and medium-sized companies can

find inspiration to innovate and evolve. The focus of the website is on CSR-driven

innovation (corporate social innovation - CSI) – an innovation process focusing on

current social and environmental needs which gives companies an opportunity to develop

sustainable products or services.

The Ideas Compass was created by the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency under

the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs with support from Region Zealand, the

Nordic Innovation Centre and TrygVesta.

The Climate Compass56

The Climate Compass is a web-based tool that offers inspiration in terms of preparing a

climate strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Compass can help

the company calculate its carbon footprint, preparing a climate strategy and reducing

emissions and costs.

The tool was created in cooperation with The Confederation of Danish Industry.

Global Compact Self Assessment Tool57

In collaboration with the secretariat of the UN Global Compact, the Global Compact Self

Assessment Tool is a partnership between The Danish Ministry of Economic and Business

Affairs, The Confederation of Danish Industry, The Danish Institute for Human Rights and

The Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries.

Using the Global Compact Self Assessment Tool a company can go through a simple self-

assessment to find out how the company is doing in all areas of the UN Global Compact.

The tool is designed for companies who are committed to upholding basic social and

environmental standards in their operations.

The CSR Compass58

The CSR compass is a tool for companies who wants to demand social responsibility from

their suppliers, or companies whose costumers expect them to make these demands. The

tool was made in cooperation with The Confederation of Danish Industry and The Danish

Institute for Human Rights.

The Communication Compass59

The Communication Compass is a web-based tool helping businesses communicate about

their CSR work. The tool is intended for businesses that already work with CSR and that

want to improve the communication of their efforts to the outside world. The tool has

been developed by Copenhagen Business School, with financial support from Kraks Fond

and the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency.

55

http://ideascompass.dk/en 56

www.climatecompass.dk 57

Global Compact self assessment tool: www.Globalcompactselfassessment.org 58

www.csrkompasset.dk 59

www.kommunikationskompasset.dk

http://www.globalcompactselfassessment.org/


Partnerships for increased growth and employment60

Project “Virksom.nu” on social responsibility concerning the tolerant job market. The

purpose was to increase growth and employment in local areas with special attention to

integration of ethnic minorities at workplaces.

People and Profit Guide61

The People and Profit guide was made in 2007 to help prepare small and medium-sized

companies working with voluntary environmental and social issues. The guide is a

reference guide and a workbook which allows a company to identify the CSR activities

which are strategically relevant to the particular business and to learn more about the

relevant activities.

The guide is based on a 3-year project involving several consultancies within the CSR

foiled and it is the most comprehensive in Denmark in relation to CSR in SME‟s. As a part

of the project, more than 12.000 persons joined training seminars focusing on elements

of the guide.

The guide is a reference guide and a workbook which allows the company to:

Identify the CSR activities which are strategically relevant to the individual

company

Finding out more about the relevant activities

Finding guidelines and inspiration for getting started.

The guide is divided into a number of subjects and activities, the description of which is

two-fold: An introduction with an overview and a guide with inspiration and instructions

for working with the subjects in a particular company. The instructions are hands-on

taking into consideration that small and medium-sized enterprises in various sectors are

very different.

In the guide, implementing CSR is seen as a stepwise, ongoing, iterative process based

on a plan-do-check-act approach. The activities are divided into nine focus areas:

Communication

Stakeholder dialogue

Employees

CSR innovation

Leadership and Management

Customers

Environment

Community

Suppliers

The People and Profit Guide is available on the internet for free in a Danish and an

English version. The English version can be found here: People and Profit Guide (PDF).

The material serves as a reference guide for working with CSR in SME‟s. The guide was

developed by a number of consultancies within the CSR field in Denmark and it is still

used by i.e. these consultants.

On the environmental field, the Danish EPA has supported more than 100 projects

resulting in different tools and guidelines e.g. on implementing cleaner technologies,

60

Danish Commerce and Companies Agency: project “virksom.nu” (Project “active.now”): www.virksom.nu 61

People and Profit website: www.overskudmedomtanke.dk/sw63523.asp and

People and Profit Guide (PDF)

http://www.overskudmedomtanke.dk/graphics/publikationer/CSR/Final%20OmO%20in%20WB%20edition-ny.pdf

http://www.virksom.nu/

http://www.overskudmedomtanke.dk/sw63523.asp



substituting hazardous chemicals and implementing environmental management systems

– or on conducting LCAs and designing greener products62.

Within the regionally based Green Network, a number of manuals and tools have been

developed to support the member companies63 – many of them are small – in working

with environmental and social aspects in a systematic way. Each year the member

companies must publish a report stating their policy, plans and results. When approved

by the network, the company receive a diploma and a flag to make the effort more

visible. The diplomas can be seen as a step towards certification.

LITHUANIA

Some of the educational institutions provide CSR framework and implementation

principles not only during the seminars and in the form of training manuals. The future

leaders and managers studying at certain universities and colleges gain also some

practical skills on CSR implementation.

College or university students can learn to implement CSR in the virtual (non-existent)

company, and in some cases, they can learn to implement CSR in real companies by

participating in the international projects. In this way, they acquire not only theoretical,

but also practical knowledge. However, such experience is available only to students of

universities or colleges which participate in the similar projects.

POLAND

Internet platforms ex.:

Communication and education platform

64

Enables tracking events, explains issues and presents new tendencies. The site

is updated Monday to Friday. The site includes the following divisions:

□ News (latest information on events and tendencies);

□ Knowledge (CSR library);

□ Workshops (info on workshops, meetings and seminars);

□ Service catalogue (bodies offering professional services in CSR and

balanced development).

Responsible Business Forum65

Responsible Business Forum (business description in p. 2.1.3) including:

□ Project description (Responsible Business Forum Conference,

"Odpowiedzialny biznes w Polsce. Dobre praktyki" [Responsible Business

in Poland. Good Practices] rapport, Social Rapports Competition, Ranking

of Responsible Businesses, Talks on Responsible Business, Responsibility

Pen - A Competition for Journalists, Manager Survey 500/Leader CSR,

Project RespEn, CSR Fair);

62

www.mst.dk/en 63

http://www.greennetwork.dk/page123.aspx 64

http://www.csrinfo.org/pl/wprowadzenie 65

http://odpowiedzialnybiznes.pl/en/about-us.html

http://www.csrinfo.org/pl/wprowadzenie



□ CSR practices (latest news, events, good practices - including annual

rapports - "Odpowiedzialny biznes w Polsce. Dobre praktyki")

['Responsible Business in Poland. Good Practices']

□ Know-how database (info on CSR in Poland and EU, survey results,

publications).

Good CSR Practices Fair by Responsible Business Forum66

Target: popularization of social idea of Business Responsibility among business

sector representatives and wide spectrum of interested people: workers,

consumers, suppliers, students, nongovernmental workers, local communities

Fairs will include among others:

Presenting business achievements in Social Responsibility;

Subject seminaries: responsible utilization and recycling, responsible

exploitation of natural resources, responsible consumption and balanced

infrastructural investments;

Open lecture (online) „Green Marketing and sustainable innovation” by John

Grant - an expert on Balanced Marketing;

Film on Global Production and Consumption System - „Story of Stuff”;

Collection of electrical waste under All-Poland Eco-Campaign EKOgraty.pl;

A competition on the Best Presented Practice.

Publications, ex. the handbook prepared by Economy Ministry for small and medium

enterprises, entitled „Zrównoważony rozwój ”['Balanced Development']; Challenges

of Sustainable Development in Poland67; articles on social responsibility issues and

similar (over 1500 articles of 2009)68

Projects (including sponsored by EU) promoting social responsibility ex.

Platform Odpowiedzialnybiznes69

Platform Asbiznesu70

Platform Odpowiedzialne71

WMcentrum-CSR 72

CSR.Haus 73

SOB.underline74

Platform odpowiedzialna firma75

CSR.bcc76

CRnavigator77

Competitions ex. on the best examples of cooperation with business partners.

Social campaigns.

Conferences, seminars, meetings.

Actions.

66

http://csr.fob.org.pl/wazne-informacje.html 67

http://sendzimir.org.pl/en/textbook 68

sample newspaper supplement: http://projects.mediaplanet.com/poland/csr_5_5_6350/kompendium_csr__dgp__grudzien_2010.pdf 69

http://www.odpowiedzialnybiznes.com.pl/; http://www.odpowiedzialnybiznes.edu.pl/ 70

http://www.asbiznesu.pl/ 71

http://www.odpowiedzialne.pl/ 72

http://www.wmcentrum-csr.net/ 73

http://www.csr.haus.pl/ 74

http://sob.underline.pl/ 75

http://www.odpowiedzialnafirma.pl/ 76

http://csr.bcc.org.pl/ 77

http://www.crnavigator.com/

http://csr.fob.org.pl/wazne-informacje.html

http://sendzimir.org.pl/en/textbook

http://projects.mediaplanet.com/poland/csr_5_5_6350/kompendium_csr__dgp__grudzien_2010.pdf

http://www.odpowiedzialnybiznes.com.pl/

http://www.odpowiedzialnybiznes.edu.pl/

http://www.asbiznesu.pl/

http://www.odpowiedzialne.pl/

http://www.wmcentrum-csr.net/

http://www.csr.haus.pl/

http://sob.underline.pl/

http://www.odpowiedzialnafirma.pl/

http://csr.bcc.org.pl/



SLOVENIA

In Slovenia we could not find any training offers within the CSR area in the formal

education options, no training tools and no training materials. Therefore, no target

groups have been addressed.

It is important to mention a project, carried out in 2007 “CSR – an opportunity for

SMEs”, but no training options or material have been found. Most likely when the project

was finished there was not any maintenance of the activities.

SPAIN

On the other hand, apart from CSR classic training literature, a wider offer of CSR

training tools can be found in order to involve SMEs on CSR issues:

CSR guides:

Guide for the implementation of the CSR in the enterprise. Izaite (Association of

Basque companies for sustainability)78.

Guide for the implementation of the CSR in the SME79.

Corporate Social Responsibility Guide for SMEs: “Corporate Social Responsibility

Observatory” and “El Monte Foundation”.

Environmental awareness for SMEs in Navarra80. Guide for the elaboration of diagnosis on CSR for SMEs in Navarra81. Methodology guide for implementation of action plans on CSR in SMEs in

Navarra82.

At European level:

Guide for an effective communication for SMEs: European Commission

Introduction of CSR to SMEs: European Commission

Report of the round table on “Fostering CSR among SMEs: European

Multistakeholder Forum on CSR

Analysis of good practices:

Catalogue of Good Practices on CSR. Excellence Club83.

At European level:

78

Izaite: http://www.izaite.net/docs/guiarse.pdf 79

http://www.clubsostenibilidad.org/f_publicaciones/smes.swf 80

http://guiaderecursos.crana.org/directorio/detalle.php?ob=1&id=586 81

http://www.navarra.es/NR/rdonlyres/A8657C74-45D7-4445-B12A-482B3EEF66DE/157643/GUIADIAGNOSTICOSRSE.pdf 82

http://www.crana.org/ficheros/File/GestionAmbiental_RSE/Documentacion/Publicaciones_crana/Metodologia_innovarse/E3-RSE_Guia_Planes_Actuacion_InnovaRSE.pdf 83

http://www.clubsostenibilidad.org/f_publicaciones/best_practices.pdf

http://www.izaite.net/docs/guiarse.pdf

http://www.clubsostenibilidad.org/f_publicaciones/smes.swf

http://guiaderecursos.crana.org/directorio/detalle.php?ob=1&id=586

http://www.navarra.es/NR/rdonlyres/A8657C74-45D7-4445-B12A-482B3EEF66DE/157643/GUIADIAGNOSTICOSRSE.pdf

http://www.crana.org/ficheros/File/GestionAmbiental_RSE/Documentacion/Publicaciones_crana/Metodologia_innovarse/E3-RSE_Guia_Planes_Actuacion_InnovaRSE.pdf




Compilation of good practices on CSR among SMEs in Europe: European

Commission

Compilation of CSR good practices: European Commission

CSR and Competitiveness; European SMEs’ Good Practice: Ikei Research &

Consultancy. Project funded by “Mainstreaming Corporate Social Responsibility

(CSR) among SMEs” Program.

Awareness questionnaire:

At European level: Responsible Companies: European Commission

Websites of interest:

xertatu:adi Methodology for the continuous improvement on CSR84.

This methodology includes different tools to help and support enterprises to

integrate CSR within their organizations.

e-RESPYME: Programmed Learning System to provide the necessary knowledge

and tools for the implementation of an Ethical and Socially Responsible System

adapted to SMEs. This system is based on the standard SGE 21: 200585.

VADEREGIO – CSR in action in the regions: a website integrating diverse tools in

order to promote CSR within in organizations86.

Red Pacto Mundial España – Spanish Global Compact Network: This network

enables different tools for the development of CSR: Conferences, seminars,

presentations, work groups…87:

Web for the diagnosis of CSR on SMEs, by the Spanish Asociation of Accountancy

and Business Management (AECA)88.

Bank’s involvement: Caja Navarra – Civic Bank: support for SMEs as for CSR89. Gubernamental Support: The support of the Spanish Gobernment to SME son

CSR: This support is a funding support as for advisory, training…90.

Both guides and reports on good practices, try to give a support to SMEs as for the

implementation of CSR within the organizations. In this sense, the contains of these tools

focus mainly on tips and information on methodologies for a good integration of CSR. The

following areas are covered:

Social entrepreneurship

Competitiveness and responsible innovation in products and services

Dialogue with stakeholders

Talent management and work-life balance

Corporate Governance and ethical management

84

http://www.xertatu.net/ca_plantilla.asp?idMenu=21 85

http://www.respyme.es/formacion/newsletters-1-esp.pdf 86

http://www.csrvaderegio.net/en/homepage/index_en.asp 87

http://www.pactomundial.org/index.asp?MP=5&MS=10&MN=1 88

http://www.compromisorse.com/rse/2010/07/02/la-aeca-pone-los-informes-de-rsc-al-alcance-de-las-pymes/ 89

http://www.compromisorse.com/best-practice/competitividad-e-innovacion-responsable/caja-navarra/ayuda-a-los-clientes-

pymes-a-elaborar-sus-memorias-de-rc/ 90

http://www.ipyme.org/es-ES/SubvencionesAyudas/RSE/Paginas/ResponsabilidadSocialEmpresa_Ficha.aspx

http://www.xertatu.net/ca_plantilla.asp?idMenu=21

http://www.respyme.es/formacion/newsletters-1-esp.pdf

http://www.csrvaderegio.net/en/homepage/index_en.asp

http://www.pactomundial.org/index.asp?MP=5&MS=10&MN=1

http://www.compromisorse.com/rse/2010/07/02/la-aeca-pone-los-informes-de-rsc-al-alcance-de-las-pymes/

http://www.compromisorse.com/best-practice/competitividad-e-innovacion-responsable/caja-navarra/ayuda-a-los-clientes-pymes-a-elaborar-sus-memorias-de-rc/




Equal opportunities for groups with special needs

Environmental preservation and improvement

Corporate volunteering

As for the segments covered by these contains, the following are highlighted:

Community neighbors and civil society

Markets: potential customers and current customers

Suppliers and partners

Public administration

Environment – Planet

Current employees and potential employees

2.3.2. Target groups addressed by training offer

As for the target groups addressed by the analyzed training offer, it can be said that

even if the contents could be useful for SMEs, they have not been specifically develop to

SMEs. In this sense, these resources are open to a wide kind of profiles.

AUSTRIA

In general, all the described tools are useful for SMEs or even explicitly targeted to them.

The “Sustainable Business Planner” aims more at start-up companies and initiatives and

all those that are in need of a structured business plan (tool) that considers sustainable

development.

The “Complete CSR Toolkit” refers as well to beginners and CSR professionals who need

an instrument to optimise measures, for reporting or communication, and also for those

who don‟t want to invest in personal CSR consulting.

BULGARIA

N/A


LITHUANIA

Such target groups addressed by above-mentioned training offer are not particular, but

just potential business leaders and representatives, and as a result, these teachings do

not bring immediate benefits to SMEs, since not all students that have received this

practice will work in the areas of their profession in the future.

POLAND

Target group made by wide spectrum of interested people: business sector

representatives, workers, consumers, suppliers, students, nongovernmental workers,

local communities.

SPAIN

Generally, these tools are open for all kind of profiles, focusing mainly on managers and

technicians from SMEs that want to learn about CSR in order to integrate CSR initiatives

within the organization.


3. Country specific analysis of needs of competences on

CSR from SMEs’ and VET institutions’ perspective

3.1. SMEs’ perspective in each country

The following part of the report includes the analysis carried out by each partner country,

as for the SMEs‟ perspective and identified needs related to CSR issues. Do they

implement any CSR strategy? Do they have the necessary competence or do they need

any special training?

In order to get direct information from SMEs, more than 800 questionnaires were

distributed within the participant countries in the Consortium. However, due to a low

response rate, just 46 surveys have been received and completed.

As for the profile of respondents, we can summarize the main characteristics as follows:

Almost the 50% of the companies are medium companies, with more than 50 employees.

As well as this, the 33% had a turnover of less than 500.000€ during last year, another

33% between 500.000€ and 5.000.000€, while the last 33% had a turnover than more

than 5.000.000€.

Number of workers: Estimated turnover (latest financial year)

The main activity of these SMEs is quite different, as it is specified in each country

analysis:

AUSTRIA

The survey includes a total of 9 enterprises, whereby one SME has less than 10

employees, three have between 10 and 50 employees and five companies have between

50 and 250 employees. Also five of 9 companies have an annual turnover of more than 5

million Euro, and three companies have an turnover between 500.000 and 5.000.000

Euro. All companies are working in different industry sectors, whereby the following are

involved:

< 10

10 < x < 50

50 < x < 250

< 500.000€

500.000€ < x < 5.000.000€

> 5.000.000€


Brewery

Construction

Environmental Services

Health

Metal/Glass/Wood

Printing

Recycling

Software

Telecommunication

BULGARIA

The questionnaire prepared was translated and distributed among 10 enterprises from

different economic branches – hotels (3 firms), paper production, transport (2), trade

(catering), electrical installation, consulting. Part of the selection was based on previous

experience of working on CSR issues with these enterprises (6 firms). The benefits from

such selection are that the companies were (i) aware what is CSR, (ii) engaged in the

issues of CSR, (iii) have been encouraged to develop and implement social and

environmental measures to improve the economic performance, (iv) not reluctant to

participate in CSR-related exercises.

The specificity of management of enterprises in Bulgaria especially of small and medium

enterprises is that the owners in most cases are also the top managers. Most of them

have not any training in management and business. They have accumulated their

experience in the conditions of planned economy (but are working in a market economy).

The most frequent manner of management is the paternalistic one. At a certain point of

development of the company this manner has exhausted its leverages. The

owners/managers feel that but do not know what to do next. This is the reason why they

are open to suggestions and new ideas from outside which provide new perspective and

new management tools.

The geographical coverage of the survey includes the capital Sofia where 4 of the

enterprises have their headquarters, 4 enterprises operate in the two biggest ports of

Bulgaria – Varna and Bourgas and two companies are from small towns in the North-East

and Central Bulgaria.


Figure 2. Geographical coverage of the survey

Half of the companies (5) were with turnover less than 500,000 Euro. Three companies

had turnover during the last financial year between 500,000 and 5,000,000 Euro, one

company has a turnover over 5 million Euro and one company did not report its turnover.

Three of the companies are micro-enterprises with number of staff less than 10 persons,

two are small enterprises – less than 50 personnel and 6 are medium enterprises having

staff more than 50 persons.

LITHUANIA

In the case of SMEs there are 9 enterprises from various sectors of industrial activities

such as manufacture of soft drinks, electrical installation and manufacture of electricity

distribution and control apparatus, manufacture of plastic goods, wastewater purification

and soil remediation, manufacture and central supply of heat and hot water (2

representatives), manufacture of biofuel (2 representatives either) as well as

manufacture of industrial gases. Ir order to get more presentable results, one company

was chosen not from industrial area, but from service sector with activities of sale,

maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories.

The detailed list of the participants in SMEs survey are presented in the table 1.

8 of the 10 companies interviewed have from 50 to 250 employees, only 2 remaining

companies have from 10 to 50 (i.e. JSC „Simatika“) and less than 10 employees (i.e. JSC

„Kylis“). Almost half (4 of 10) of the companies declared their turnover during latest

financial year as more than 5 000 000 EUR, 3 companies - from 500 000 to 5 000 000

4 enterprises

1 enterprise

4 enterprises

1 enterprise


EUR, 2 remaining companies - less than 500 000 EUR. One enterprise didn„t refered to

this clause at all.

Table 1. List of the participants in SMEs survey.

No. Name and the position of

the person interviewed

Name of the

organization

Sector of activity of the

organization Contact data

1.

Mr. Algimantas, chief engineer, the member of management for environmental and industrial safety

JSC "Selita & Co" 11.07 Manufacture of soft drinks; production of mineral waters and other bottled waters

V. Kreves pr. 118, LT-50313 Kaunas; +370 37 352020

2. Voldemaras Vilkas, project manager

JSC "Simatika"

43.21 Electrical installation 27.12 Manufacture of electricity distribution and control apparatus

P.Cvirkos str. 65A-34, LT-77159 Siauliai; +370 41 502226, +370 41 526519

3. Vita Matuliene, jurist, quality manager

JSC "Maksima" 22.22 Manufacture of plastic packing goods

Palemono str. 1b, LT-52159 Kaunas; +370 37 373030

4.

A. Binkauskas, the manager of the Department

JSC "Orlen Lietuva", Department of purification

37.00 Sewerage 39.00 Remediation activities and other waste management services (Wastewater purification, petrolic mud and soil remediation )

Juodeikiai, LT-89467 Mazeikiai district; +370 44 392121

5.

Edmontas Kripas,

the manager of manufacturing technical service

JSC "Mazeikiu silumos tinklai" (The heat system of Mazeikiai)

35.30 Steam and air conditioning supply (Manufacture and central supply of heat and hot water)

Ventos str. 31b, LT-89141 Mazeikiai; +370 44 365436

6.

Inga Dasevskiene, financier

JSC "Kylis"

45.40 Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories

Kanapiu str. 16, LT-78138 Siauliai; +370 41 52249

7.

Dovile Lileikyte, specialist of environment protection, manager

JSC „Bionovus“

19.20 Manufacture of refined petroleum products (Manufacture of biofuel from wood) 38.32 Recovery of sorted materials (Reprocessing of construction and destruction wastes)

Smolensko str. 12, LT-03201 Vilnius; +370 85 2394930

8.

Tomas Noreika, head of the storehouses

JSC „Mestilla“

19.20 Manufacture of refined petroleum products

Kretainio str. 5, LT-94103 Klaipeda;

mailto:[email protected],%20+370%2041502226,%20+370%2041526519

mailto:[email protected],%20+370%2041502226,%20+370%2041526519

mailto:[email protected],%20+37037%20373030

mailto:[email protected],%20tel.%20+370%2044365436

mailto:[email protected],%20+370%2041%2052249


(Manufacture of liquid and gaseous biofuel from rapeseed oil)

tel. +370 46 416230

9.

Loreta Griciuniene, engineer for industrial safety, ecologist

JSC „Silutes silumos tinklai“ (The heat system of Silute)

35.30 Steam and air conditioning supply (Manufacture and central supply of heat and hot water)

Klaipeda str. 6a, LT-99116 Silute; +370 441 62148

10.

Alvidas Lileikis, technical director

"Gaschema", subsidiary company of JSC "Achema"

20.11 Manufacture of industrial gases (Manufacture of technical gases, carbonic acid and urea solution “AdBlue”)

Jonalaukis, LT-55551 Jonava district; +370 349 56845, +370 349 56168

POLAND

Unfortunately not many SME which cooperate on CSR issues with other organizations are

engaged in Social Responsibility or Ethics in Business. On one hand, availability of

information and services in support of the issue make great potential (among others,

concealing, trainings, seminars, publications and press articles), on the other, SME

interest in such support is still not sufficient. It may by due to the fact, that in most

cases Enterprises are not familiar with CSR, and not knowing their needs for such

support. Additionally, the majority of SME do not plan in advance and do not prepare

Enterprise Development Strategy. What is more, they do not have free human resources,

which could be engaged in complex way in development of business competencies in CSR

and prepare action strategies adjusted to individual necessities.

SLOVENIA

In Slovenia we have distributed 20 questionnaires to the SMEs and have received 5

replies of which 3 are micro companies with less than 10 employees.

SPAIN

An interview for SMEs in Spain was designed and translated into Spanish, and after that,

disseminated throughout a wide selection of companies In Spain. The list of companies

contacted exceeded 500, however, the response rate has been very low. The reasons for

that low response level are, among others:

Lack of interest of SMEs on SR.

Lack of knowledge of the contacted staff on SR. In most SMEs the SR issues are

directly managed by the top management. It has been impossible in many cases

to contact the top management staff.

Lack of incentives to invest time on the questionnaire filling.


In spite of all the efforts done to come up with a short, easy to fill questionnaire,

some companies looked at it as hard and time consuming.

Among all the companies contacted, we managed to get 11 positive responses. The

results hereafter are extracted from the analysis performed on these surveys. The

questionnaire for SMEs can be found in Annexe 1.

The sample of companies analyzed show the following distribution according to size,

activity and geographical area.

Size

Medium size 5 45%

Small size 6 55%

Activity

Renewables 2 18%

Food 2 18%

Construction 1 9%

Logistics 1 9%

Development 5 45%

Traditional segment 4 36%

Innovation segment 7 64%

Geographical area

Aragón 8 73%

Others 3 27%

45%

55%

Sample by company size

Medium

Small

27%

55%

18%

Sample by turnover

< 500.000€ 500.000€ < x < 5.000.000€ > 5.000.000€


The innovation segment is the largest in the sample, including companies in the

Renewable Energy sector and the R&D sector, while the traditional segment is

represented by logistic, construction and food companies. The latter is mainly made up of

medium size companies while the innovative ones are all small companies with lower

turnover and lower number of employees.

3.1.1. Current practices for integrating CSR - Survey and

interview results

This part of the report tries to analyse the current practices carried out by consulted

SMEs in order to identify their needs and make some recommendations at the end of the

analysis.

First of all, three quarters of the consulted SMEs claim to have an Environmental

Protection policy. However, in the case of Human Resource Development policy, this

percentage descends to a 54%, being lower in the case of SMEs that have a Social

Responsibility policy; less than the 50% (the 48%) claims to have a CSR policy.

Does the company

have a Human

Resource

Development policy?

Does the company have

an Environment

Protection policy?

Does the company have a

Social Responsibility policy?

In accordance with this, the 40% of the respondent SMEs are certified by ISO 14001,

and the 35% is certified by ISO 9001. The 10% has the OHSAS 18001 certification.

18%

18%

9%9%

46%

sample by company activity

Renewables

Food

Construction

Logistics

Development

Yes 54%

No46%

Yes 76%

No24%

Yes 48%

No52%


Is the company certified or working according to any of the following

standards?

As well as this, more than half of the SMEs see CSR as one of the priorities of the

company.

Is social responsibility a priority area in your company?

Almost 50% of the companies have conducted any environmental audit within their own

company, in contrast to the 37% of SMEs that have not conducted any. The 21% has

conducted as well a social audit.

02468

101214161820

Yes

No


Does the company conduct any audits?

As for the question about what Social Responsibility means for SMEs, investing in the

human resources, investing in occupational health and safety and taking care of

environmental issues are the answers more repeated. Observing human rights and

charity are CSR related concepts for SMEs as well.

What do you understand by “Social Responsibility”?

It is important to highlight that almost the 50% of the consulted SMEs have carried out

social responsibility initiatives within the company, while the 35% has not carried out any

kind of CSR activities. The 30% has developed activities related to the local community

and the 15% in the supply chain.

0

5

10

15

20

25

Environmental audit in our own

company

Environmental audit in the supply chain

Social audit in our own company

Social audit in the supply chain

No

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Investing in the human

resources

Investing in occupational health and

safety

Observing human rights

Taking care of environmental

issues

Charity (donations)

Funding and contribution of

local associations


Does the company carry out initiatives for social responsibility?

If the company claims carrying out initiatives for social responsibility, almost the 80% of

them integrate this kind of activities in a management planning of the company.

Moreover, these initiatives are developed under the charge of a specifically assigned

person for CSR activities. In other 30% of the cases, this role is carried out by the same

responsible person or department for environmental protection, while in the 25% of the

cases it is the human resource department who is responsible for that. Just in the 15% of

the SMEs is the top management directly involved.

Are these initiatives

integrated in any

management planning?

If the answer is yes, who is the person in charge

for that?

0

5

10

15

20

25

Within the company

In the supply chain In the local community

No

Yes

No

There is a specially assigned

person for Corporate

Social Responsibility.

30%

This role is included in the Human Resource

Development department.

25%

This role is carried out by

the responsible

person/department for

Environmental Protection.

30%

This role is carried out by

Top Management

15%


The 41% of the SMEs carry out CSR activities due to company‟s awareness and ethical

consciousness, while the 24% do it due to market reasons. Just the 15% says having

developed CSR initiatives forced by clients‟ requirements.

Why does the company carry out these social responsibility initiatives?

Between 37% and the 35% of SMEs claim to have carried out initiatives related to

community involvement, labour practices and environment, while in the case of “fair

operating practices” the percentage reduces to 22% of SMEs.

Which areas of social responsibility are these initiatives related to?

From the 35% of SMEs that have not carried out any CSR initiative, the 56% do not do it

due to lack of time and human resources. In the case of the 25% of SMEs, it is a

consequence of lack of top management commitment and lack of know-how. Just one of

the SMEs that has not carried out any CSR initiative justify due to the fact that Social

Responsibility does not bring competitive advantage.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Market reasons Clients’ requirements Awareness and ethical consciousness

02468

1012141618


If the answer is “NO”, why does the company not carry out social responsibility

initiatives?

However, it is very high the number of SMEs that are intended to work on CSR issues, as

it is represented by the following graph:

Has the company considered working on social responsibility issues?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


Almost the 30% of SMEs has done any training on CSR; in the 54% of these cases, this

training was aimed at all employees.

Has the company done any training on

social responsibility? Who was the training aimed at?

As for the conducted training, it was developed internally; on one hand, based on own

knowledge, and on the other hand, supported by external experts. Just in the 25% of

cases the training was organized externally:

According to the answers, almost the 100% of SMEs that attended the training (93%)

would recommend this kind of courses to other companies.

ISO 26000 principles: How relevant do you judge the following principles for

your company?

Yes

No

Yes

No

Management All employees

Internal, based on own knowledge

Internal, with external experts

External


“Respect for the rule of law”, “respect for human rights” and “ethical behaviour” are the

principles considered as the most relevant by the SMEs, with a punctuation of 3.73, 3.64

and 3.64 respectively (out of 4). However all principles are considered very relevant, as

the least relevant, “respect for stakeholder interests” obtains a 3.41, as the lowest value.

The average of all principles is of 3.53 out of 4, which is quite high.

The 67% of the consulted SMEs have pointed out the main stakeholders, involving them

in the following way:

- The 65% of SMEs that claims to have pointed out its main stakeholders, has

informed them about the company‟s CSR efforts.

- The 39% has involved them in developing CSR strategies.

- The 35% has engaged them in carrying out the company‟s CSR initiatives.

- The 30% of the SMEs, although having pointed out its main stakeholders, they

have not involved nor informed them.

Has the company pointed out the main stakeholders?

3.25

3.30

3.35

3.40

3.45

3.50

3.55

3.60

3.65

3.70

3.75


Yes

No


If the answer is “YES”, are the stakeholders....

The following analysis focus on the SMEs situation in each country:

AUSTRIA

Regarding the analysis of corporate policies, 8 of 9 companies indicate to have as well a

Human resource development policy, an Environment Protection policy and a Social

Responsibility policy. Only one of 9 companies doesn‟t have a HR development,

Environment protection or SR policy.

The SMEs‟ understanding of “social responsibility” is very similar: for all companies it‟s

investing in occupational health and safety and taking care of environmental issues; 8 of

9 also think it‟s investing in human resources. Five SMEs also mentioned that it‟s an

observation of human rights, and four also understand charity/donations as SR. One

company mentioned also fairness and transparency against clients/suppliers/business

partners; another mentioned regional commitments and a third one mentioned that SR is

comprehensive and includes also fighting fraud and corruption.

All 9 companies indicated that SR is a priority area in their company. Reasons therefore

are mainly internal motivations: it‟s important for a good quality of their work, good

cooperation is good for the working climate, it helps to develop and support personal

skills and it‟s a condition for long-term success.

More than half of the companies (5 of 9) are certified according to ISO 14001, one third

has EMAS and ÖKOPROFIT®, and two SMEs have ISO 9001. Each one SME has the

following certifications or standards: Entsorgungsfachbetrieb (EfB; waste management

company), Sozialgütesiegel (Social Label), Investor in People, Best Health Austria, FSC

and PEFC, ISO 12647-2, Österreichisches Umweltzeichen (Austrian Eco-label). One

company is planning to implement OHSAS 18001.

Concerning audits, more than half (5 of 9) conduct environmental audits as well in the

own company and in the supply chain. This is conform with the companies that have ISO

0

5

10

15

20

25

Involved in developing CSR

strategies

Engaged in carrying out the company’s CSR

initiatives

Informed about the company’s CSR

efforts

Not involved or informed


14001. Only one respondent conducts a social audit in its own company. One respondent

does not conduct any audits.

Nearly all companies are implementing social responsibility initiatives, only one company

does not. Two third of the respondents are carrying out SR initiatives within the

company, more than half of them (5 of 9) is active in the local community, and 4 of 9

engage in SR measures in the supply chain.

In each of the eight companies, that are implementing SR, these initiatives are

integrated in management planning. In two cases, the managing directors are in charge

of this planning. In each two cases, this role is included in the Human Resource

Development department and in the Environmental Protection department. Two

companies have a specially assigned person for CSR, whereby in one of these

organisations this person is responsible together with the environmental officer of this

company.

Only one company does not carry out SR initiatives, the reasons therefore are lack of

know-how and lack of time and human resources.

For most companies the motivation to carry out SR initiatives is awareness and ethical

consciousness (6 of 9). One SME also mentioned clients‟ requirements as a reason to be

engaged. The main fields of the activities are related to the environment (7 of 9) and

community involvement and development (6 of 9). More than half of the companies (5 of

9) implemented initiatives in the field of organisational governance and fair operating

practices. Other initiatives are concerning consumer issues (4 of 9), labour practices (3 of

9), and human rights (2 of 9). One company indicated that SR initiatives are an integral

part of the company policy.

Most of the SMEs (7 of 9) considered working on social responsibility, whereby one

company wants to engage in SR in daily business but not within projects.

Also 7 of 9 companies have done a training on SR, only two have never done so. In 5 of

7 cases the management was the target group. In each one case the training was aimed

at internal experts and selected persons (Sustainability Officer and Environmental

Officer), and one training was aimed at all employees.

Most of the respondents (6 of 7) indicated that their training was internal with external

experts, three companies did their trainings external, and two had an internal training,

based on own knowledge. All of those who had conducted a training (7 of 9) would

recommend it also to other companies. Reasons therefore, mentioned by two

Managing Director25.0%

CSR officer12.5%

CSR officer + Environmental officer

12.5%

HR Department25.0%

Environmental department

25.0%


respondents, are because it‟s valuated very important for the development of a

company, and it supports them in attaining competences also in other areas.

Concerning the relevance of SR principles, the average values are as follows:

Table 4: Relevance of SR principles – Average values (from 9 SMEs)

PRINCIPLES How relevant are these principles for the

organization? (1-it is not relevant; 4- 100% relevant)

1. Accountability 2.78

2. Transparency 3.56

3. Ethical behavior 3.78

4. Respect for stakeholder interests 3.67

5. Respect for the rule of law 3.11

6. Respect for international norms of behaviour 2.44

7. Respect for human rights 3.11

Ethical behaviour is judged most important (3.78 on average) which corresponds with

the motivation for SR initiatives, where awareness and ethical consciousness was the

main reason. It is followed by respect for stakeholder interests and transparency,

whereas accountability (2.78) and respect for international norms of behaviour (2.44) are

judged less important. The reason therefore might be that SMEs don‟t operate as much

on international level and these principles might be seen more relevant by large-sized

companies.

Most of the companies (8 of 9) have pointed out their relevant stakeholders, whereby all

of them inform their stakeholders about their CSR efforts, six companies involve them in

developing CSR strategies and five have stakeholders engaged in carrying out SR

initiatives.

BULGARIA

The results from the survey should be interpreted bearing in mind that more than half of

the companies have been involved in awareness raising trainings as well as in

assessment exercises on CSR.

In table 2 are summarized the answers to the questions related to policy making.

Table 2 Availability of policies on social and environmental issues

Answers Human Resource

Development policy

Environment Protection

policy

Social Responsibility

policy

Yes 6 7 6

No 4 3 4

Most of the companies declare that they have a policy for development of their human

resources, for protection of the environment and for being social responsible. That

probably is true if a non-written policy is envisaged.

Figure 2 shows what the companies understand under „social responsibility‟. In „Others‟

an answer of a company which stated „sustainable economic development‟ is included.


Figure 2. Understanding of „social responsibility‟

The opinion of the companies on whether “social responsibility” should be a priority has

split in half. Only one company has declared that the global financial and economic crisis

is the reason for “social responsibility” not being a priority.

Regarding the socially responsible management only 2 companies have ISO 9001 – the

requirements for the implementation of quality management systems, and 1 has

implemented OHSAS18001 – for implementation of OH&S management system.

Half of the enterprises (5) have not conducted any audits related to social responsibility

and all the companies have not checked whether companies in their supply chain behave

responsibly. Two of the companies have conducted both social and environmental audits.

Approximately the same is the situation with carrying out socially responsible initiatives –

4 companies did not carry out any socially responsible initiative at all and all the

companies did not carry out such initiatives within their supply chain. The most attractive

fields for demonstrating socially responsible behavior were the company itself and the

community in which it operates. The whole variety of reasons is quoted for not doing that

– lack of resources (3), lack of top management commitment lack of know-how (2),

expensiveness (1), no economic benefit (1).

One of the main issues of implementing the CSR concept in the operations of an

enterprise is the lack of fully fledged strategy and of specially assigned person to do that.

3 of the companies did not respond to the question whether they have integrated CSR

measures in their planning and 1 has responded that they did not. Moreover two of the

companies have replied that CSR is responsibility of several persons or is part of every

activity which is a sign that the CSR issue is not a priority of itself. Only two of the

enterprises have integrated the CSR responsibility in the job description of the HR

specialist and two have responded that there is an official planning of the responsible

behavior.

From the companies who stated that they are planning the CSR initiatives in their

operation – 3 are doing this either due to market reasons or awareness and ethical

concerns and 2 are following client‟s requests.

What is Social Responsibility?

HR investment

OSH investment

human rights

environment

charity

others


Almost half of the companies (4) did not state what is their notion for social

responsibility. Approximately the same number (3-4) identified human rights, labour

practices, environment and community involvement as elements of CSR. The

organizational governance, fair operating practices, consumer issues and charity were

accepted as socially responsible domains by only one of the companies.

The optimistic note is that 80% of the companies are considering to work on the issues of

social responsibility. But only 3 enterprises have done training where the target group

was the management and some selected persons.

Another optimistic note is that the 10 companies evaluate very high the different aspects

of corporate social responsibility – from 3.0 (transparency) to 3.8 (respect for the rule of

law and respect for human rights) – see fig.3.

Figure 3. Interest and potentiality on Corporate Social Responsibility

DENMARK

For a large part of the SMV´s in Denmark, CSR is not an integrated part of the

company‟s business strategy and there is no governance model to support

implementation of CSR throughout the organization. CSR takes its point of departure in

3.5

3.03.3 3.4

3.83.5

3.8

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

Interest and potentiality on CSR


values and a “do good culture based on a sound ethical foundation”. The CSR activities

are often based on ad hoc activities and the SME´s internal guidelines for good practise.

The activities are often related to one “fiery soul” whereas companies with a more

structured approach to CSR also encompass a person specially assigned for the CSR-

responsibility. When focus on CSR grows, a slightly more strategic and thereby

systematic approach to the CSR-work can be seen in the SME‟s, including a better

understanding of the overall pamphlet of CSR-issues and the opportunities it can bring to

the company.

The SME´s characterised by ad hoc activities rarely have any CSR-policies but typically

address environmental issues, governmental regulations, quality, LCA and charity. The

companies with a more systematic approach have developed Environmental and Human

Resource policies and understand CSR as more than as just philanthropy. Furthermore

these might have a few ISO-certifications including audit procedures and some are

signatory to the UNGC. In addition, that stakeholders are pointed out and some

(employees) are involved in the development of the CSR- strategy and policies.

The CSR-initiatives carried out are mainly within the company for both groups (ad hoc

and systematic approach) of SME´s. The SME´s with a more systematic approach to CSR

also have some sort of CSR-training for employees conducted by the CSR-responsible

person. Other companies define their approach as being “careful” and as “building good

relations”. Both groups find the principles of social responsibility very relevant.

LITHUANIA

The section of the survey on current practices for integrating social responsibility in the

company started with the question: “Does the company have a Human Resource

development policy?”. Only 4 from all the respondents stated positively. Contrary, the

answers to the second question about Environment Protection policy of the companies,

attained positive answers from all the respondents. However, in the case of social

responsibility policy, the companies were even more unfavourably. Only 4 enterprises

stated they have such policy.

The question: “What do you understand by “Social Responsibility?” attained the following

results: 6 companies understand this term as investing in occupational health and safety

as well as in observing human rights, 5 respondents mentioned investing in the human

resources and taking care of environmental issues. Even 3 respondents marked all the

four statements. Only one company was unable to name CSR areas at all. It is

interesting that no one of the interviewees realize social responsibility as charity

activities. This perception definetely represents the growth in accurate knowledge and

deeper understanding about CSR in Lithuanian SMEs.

The next question was about social responsibility as a priority area in the company. In

this case, half of the respondents said “no”. The interviewee Mr. Algimantas from JSC

“Selita & Co” conflicted that the priority of the company is the highest quality of the

production. From the 5 remaining companies 1 respondent didn‟t answer this question at


all. Only two enterprises that replied positively added more comprehensive comments.

Mr. Vilkas from JSC “Simatika” said that the basic resources of the company are

employees. Mrs. Matuliene from JSC “Maksima” stressed that company seeks to work

responsible against society and environment, to ensure safe and healthy working

conditions and social guarantees.

The most popular standards identified within the enterprises are ISO 14001, ISO 9001

and OHSAS 18001. 4 companies from 10 interviewees stated that they are working on

both ISO standards, 3 interviewees - certified according to all of them. 3 respondents

noted their companies didn„t work according any standards. In the case of audits, the

majority (8 enterprises from 10) of companies stated the environmental audit within the

company. No one interviewee noted any social audits.

4 companies revealed they carry out social responsibility initiatives within the enterprise,

whereas 2 companies spread them across the supply chain. The majority of 4 above-

mentioned enterprises have integrated these initiatives in their management planning.

Every respondent from those social responsibility initiating companies declares that they

carry out these social responsibility initiatives due to awareness and ethical

consciousness of the company, with some exceptions related to the market reasons.

These initiatives are especially strongly related with such areas of social responsibility as

human rights and labour practices.

Respondents from those enterprises, which stated as not carrying out social responsibility

initiatives, mainly emphasized the lack of top management commitment as well as lack

of know-know. However, it seems that Mr. Noreika from JSC „Mestilla“ most correctly

remarked the current CSR situation in Lithuania. He stated that there is a lack of

information about social responsibility in general and its profit for company and

employees. Whereas Mr. Lileikis from “Gaschema” agreed that the concept of CSR is

quite new and company„s activities are still not oriented towards it.

The answers to the summarizing question “Has the company considered working on

social responsibility issues” were highly surprisingly. Despite all the above-mentioned

lacks and uncertainties, the majority of respondents - even 7 companies from 10 pointed

positively.

The analysis of the answers about training on social responsibility in companies was

really disappointing. Only one company - JSC “Selita & Co” have had some experience in

such trainings. This training was external and aimed at some selected persons, the staff

of marketing and administration departments to be precised. However, Mr. Algimantas

was highly dissatisfied about this training, therefore the company will never recommend

it to other enterprises. He said that training gave only general information without any

factual reasoning. According to Mr. Algimantas, such trainings could only turn off

company from further CSR implementation instead of promotion of CSR activities.

POLAND


No single, complete document concerning the practices for integrating CSR in SME is

available in Poland. It may result from the fact that SMEs are less effective in

communicating their activity than large companies. Thus, many actions and initiatives

organised by SME sector is difficult to identify, especially as most of Polish SMEs do not

apply the definition of CSR and do not consider their activity as a part of CSR context.

The examples presented below were described in the brochure titled “Corporate Social

Responsibility of SMEs, practical examples of enhancing the SME sector‟s

competitiveness91.

Employee-oriented CSR initiatives

MELBUD Ltd., medium enterprise operating in construction sector introduced the

social fund aimed at financing cultural, educational and sport activities of its

employees or Christmas/Easter gift vouchers. The best employees may be given a

loan, which may be partially remitted. The employees have a strong feeling of job

stabilisation and corporate identity. These factors foster better work atmosphere

and involvement.

Society-oriented CSR initiatives

Small PR agency – “Toolbox Creative Communications (TCC)” offers free-of-

charge PR services (such as contacts with mass media, organisation of press

conferences, web-site creation or cooperation with journalists) to NGOs operating in

aid of Polish-Jewish dialogue by means of promoting cultural diversity and

enhancing tolerance by education. The company established cooperational relations

and gained new customers. Moreover, a few press releases concerning the CSR

activities were published on PR&Marketing web-sites.

Market-oriented CSR initiatives

DEANTE Antczak Sp.J., medium enterprise selling wholesale kitchen and

bathroom products, introduced 7-year warranty on their products – longer than

regular warranty available on the market. What is more, customers are offered

current, effective and free-of-charge technical and warranty service. Due to the

good image and perception of the company associated with the excellent product

quality, the enterprise gained new customers and reduced staff turnover.

Environment-oriented CSR activities

LUMAG Sp. z o.o., medium enterprise, operating in automotive sector, not only

manage waste from company‟s premises, but also collects, stores and processes its

products after their wear and disassembly. Components obtained during recycling

may be applied as material for production of new elements for braking systems.

Moreover, the company has never applied asbestos in the production processes,

and formulas developed in the company‟s lab do not include any heavy metal

91

The examples presented were described in the brochure titled “Corporate Social Responsibility of SMEs, practical examples

of enhancing the SME sector’s competitiveness http://www.csr-in-smes.eu/downloads/brochure_poland.pdf.



compounds, which may pose a threat to environment and vehicle users. The

enterprise won good reputation among local society and it is perceived as honest

and flourishing business.

Other examples from Guidebook for SMEs, Balanced Business92

Talens (Polska), company operating in wood industry producing articles for artists

– due to the initiative of the owner of the company and its financial resources the

non-public secondary art school was opened offering free-of-charge education.

Annually ca. 30 children from the Bieszczady region will have the opportunity to

start art education. The school and its students are occasionally supported by the

company‟s business partners (e.g. journey organisation), group of artists

cooperating with the company, as well as local authorities.

Firma Meblik (Polska), the producer of children furniture took part in activities of

Polish Humanitarian Organisation in south Sudan. The company financed the well

construction by PHO, which will supply more than 1000 people with water. The

following example shows that partnership with NGO incorporates SMEs in resolving

global problems93.

SLOVENIA

All the companies questioned have Environmental protection policy, while only 1 micro

company, presenting 20 % has a Human Resource development policy. 60 % (3

companies) also have a Social responsibility policy.

Companies understand the term “Social Responsibility” in a very different ways. From

only investing in human resources (1 company only) to broader sense, including

occupational health and safety, human rights, take care of the environment, and charity

as answered by 2 companies. To sum up, companies mostly understand SR as investing

in the human resources, investing in the occupational health and safety, and taking care

of environmental issues.

80 % of the companies questioned claimed that SR is not a priority area. The main

problems in Slovenia are consequences of the financial crisis which emerged in 2008.

Two sectors that were most negatively influenced by global financial crisis were

construction and industry. Many large companies in above mentioned sectors went into

bankruptcy. Several medium and small enterprises were sub-contractors of these bigger

companies. SMEs will get just a small portion of the receivables from the bankruptcy

procedures. Thus, SMEs have to cut costs on all the areas of their operations. Indeed,

SMEs reduced costs on the areas that do not present their core businesses, such as social

responsibility.

92

http://www.mg.gov.pl/files/upload/7904/podrecznik.pdf 93

More information on www.filantropia.org.pl.

http://www.mg.gov.pl/files/upload/7904/podrecznik.pdf

http://www.filantropia.org.pl/


60 % of the companies questioned have ISO 14000, one company has ISO 9000 and ISO

17000. Other companies do not have any certificates. 80 % (4 companies) carry out

environmental audits, two of them also in the supply chain. On the other hand, three of

them also carry out social audits. However, none of the companies examined social

issues by the suppliers. Three companies carried out SR initiative in the company and 2

of them in the local community. In 40 % (2 companies) the initiatives are carried out by

responsible person in environmental field or environmental department. Companies

mostly carry out initiatives because of the awareness and ethical reasons (60 %), clients'

requirements (40 %), and market reasons (40 %). Initiatives are related to the

community involvement and development (40 %), environmental issues (40%), and

labour (40%). 2 companies claimed that they are not carrying out the social

responsibility initiatives. Main reasons are: lack of time and human resources and that

there exists no consumer demand.

80 % of the companies questioned have considered working on the SR issues and 2 of

them already went through the training options. The trainings were aimed to all the

employees (in 40 %), management (20 %) and experts (20%). The training was in all

the cases internal, based on companies' knowledge, and they would recommend this

training to other companies as well.

Companies questioned were mostly highly interested in the CSR principles. 80 % of

companies judged respect for the stakeholder interests and respect of the rule of law as

highly relevant issues within their companies. 60 % also judged accountability, ethical

behaviour, respect of international norms of behaviour and respect of human rights. 60

% graded the importance of transparency as modestly important. Furthermore, 2

companies pointed out the main stakeholders are mostly informed about the CSR

activities.

60 % of companies claimed that they are counting on the knowledge and skills to

integrate SR. None of the companies use any training materials/tool for integrating CSR

in their everyday activities. Companies thought that the most useful training material

would be computer/virtual based, followed by text and manuals, and audio. 2 companies

are interested in developing and testing training materials.

SPAIN

In the analyzed sample, 45% of the companies have a Human development and an

environmental protection policy, however, only 27% claim to have a SR policy in place.

This is confirmed by the amount of companies certified by ISO 9001 (45%) and by ISO

14001 (36%).


Main reasons argued not to work on SR are the lack of time and resources (36%), and

the lack of know-how and customer demand (18% each). It is important to notice that

none think management commitment is a reason, as most of the respondents belong to

their companies‟ top management.

A great majority understands by Social Responsibility the investment on human

resources (74%), the environmental care (73%), the contribution to local associations

(64%) and the labour health and safety (64%).

36%

46%

0%0%

0% 0%

0%

0%18%

Sample by standard certification ISO 14001

ISO 9001

OHSAS 18001

SA8000

Global Compact

Ethical Trade Iniciative

BSCI

AA1000

Other, please indicate which one:

0

2 2

4

0

1 1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Lack of top management commitment

Lack of customer demand

Lack of know-how

Lack of time and human resources

Social Responsibility

has no economic

benefit

Social Responsibility is expensive

Social Responsibility does not bring

competitive advantage

Sample by reasons for not doing CSR


It is remarkable that, for the survey responders, only 36% see SR as a priority area.

These companies perform social audits within the own company (18%) and

environmental audits (9%). The rest do not perform any audit at all.

No SR initiatives are carried out by 55% of the companies inquired. Among those who

claim to do any SR activity, they are pushed by market reasons (18%), awareness and

ethical consciousness (18%) among others. 36% do them in the own company and 27%

in the local community. These initiatives are mainly related to labour practices (36%),

organizational governance (18%) and community involvement and development (18%)

according to the surveys.

8

7

5

8

3

7

1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Investing in the human resources

Investing in occupational health and

safety

Observing human rights

Taking care of environmental

issues

Charity (donations)

Funding and contribution of

local associations

Others, please indicate:

Sample by CSR definition

1

0

2

0

7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Environmental audit in our own

company

Environmental audit in the supply chain

Social audit in our own company

Social audit in the supply chain

No

Sample by CSR audits performed


On the other hand, the intention to work on SR is clearly stated by the 55% of

companies who have considered working on SR issues.

The most important outcome of the survey is the overwhelming rate of companies that

have never attended a training on SR, raising up to 91%. The only company that has

promoted and attended such a training is actually involved in the research and promotion

of SR.

2

1

2

3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Market reasons Clients’ requirements Awareness and ethical consciousness

Others, please indicate:

Sample by reasons for CSR

4

0

3

6

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Within the company In the supply chain In the local community No (go to question 2.12.)

Sample by kind of CSR activity performed


In terms of the relevance of the 7 SR principles on the inquired people‟s point of view,

they can be seen in the following table. All the aspects seem to be highly relevant.

PRINCIPLES

How relevant are these

principles for the organization?

(1-low; 4- high)

1. Accountability 3,4

2. Transparency 3,5

3. Ethical behavior 3,5

4. Respect for stakeholder interests 3,6

5. Respect for the rule of law 3,8

6. Respect for international norms of behaviour 3,5

7. Respect for human rights 3,6

Average 3,6

It is important to notice that the sample composition is made up by either small

companies involved in innovative sectors or medium size companies rather in traditional

sectors. SR relevance seems to be lower for small size companies than it is for the overall

sample (3.2 vs 3.6). The rate of SR inntiative engagement is much lower for the small

size companies (17% vs 45%), and the main reason argued is the lack of time and

resources (67% vs 36% of the total sample).

9%

91%

Sample on previous trainings on CSR

Yes

No (go to question 3.1.)


3.1.2. Needs of competences on CSR

In general, it seems that more than the half of SMEs consulted, do not have enough

knowledge or skills in order to integrate social responsibility into the company‟s activity.

Does the company count on knowledge and skills to integrate social

responsibility?

On the other hand, just the 12% of these SMEs have used or use CSR training

materials/tools.

Does the company use CSR training materials/tools?

This two aspects show the low interest that SMEs have currently, as for CSR issues.

ISO 26000

As well as this, SMEs have been enquired on the relevance of the ISO 26000 core

subjects and issues for their organization, and the training needs they consider they have

about these issues. The following table shows the main results obtained, as for the

relevance and as for the training needs (on the basis of a minimum assessment of 1

points and a maximum assessment of 4 points):

Yes

No

Yes

No


CORE SUBJECTS and ISSUES

Relevant for the

organization?(1-

low / 4-high)

Training need on

this subject/issue?

(1-low / 4-high)

1. Organizational Governance: “system by which an organization makes and implements decisions in pursuit of its objectives”

3,63 1,38

Accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholder interests, and respect for the rule of law

3,63 1,38

2. Human rights: “basic rights to which all human beings are entitled because they are human beings”

2,66 1,36

Due diligence 3,13 1,43

Human rights risk situations 2,13 1,29

Avoidance of complicity 2,25 1,29

Resolving grievances 2,25 1,43

Discrimination and vulnerable groups 1,88 1,14

Civil and political rights 2,50 1,14

Economic, social and cultural rights 3,38 1,57

Fundamental rights at work 3,75 1,57 3. Labour practices: “all policies and practices

relating to work performed within, by or on behalf of the organization”

3,68 1,80

Employment and employment relationships 3,75 1,71

Conditions of work and social protection 3,88 1,86

Social dialogue 3,25 1,43

Health and safety at work 3,88 2,00

Human development and training in the workplace 3,63 2,00

4. The environment 3,63 1,50

Prevention of pollution 3,75 1,43

Sustainable resource use 3,88 1,57

Climate change mitigation and adaptation 3,38 1,57 Protection and restoration of the natural environment

3,50 1,43

5. Fair operating practices: “concern ethical conduct in an organization’s dealings with other organizations and individuals”

3,20 1,51

Anti–corruption 2,88 1,43

Responsible political involvement 2,88 1,43

Fair competition 3,50 1,57 Promoting social responsibility in the sphere of

influence 3,13 1,57

Respect for property rights 3,63 1,57

6. Consumer Issues 3,32 1,78

Fair marketing, factual and unbiased information and fair contractual practices

3,75 1,71

Protecting consumers‟ health and safety 3,50 1,71

Sustainable consumption 3,13 1,86

Consumer service, support, and dispute resolution 3,63 2,14

Consumer data protection and privacy 3,63 1,86

Access to essential services 2,63 1,57

Education and awareness 3,00 1,57

7. Community involvement and development: 3,21 1,59


“an organization's proactive outreach to the community”

Community involvement 3,75 1,57

Education and culture 3,13 1,43

Employment creation and skills development 3,25 1,57

Technology development and access 2,63 1,71

Wealth and income creation 3,25 1,43

Health 3,50 1,86

Social investment 3,00 1,57

On the whole, the SMEs consider that the seven core subjects included in the ISO 26000

are very relevant for them; “labour practices” receives the highest consideration, with

3,68 out of 4 points, followed by “human rights” and “the environment” and

“organizational governance”. “Community involvement and development” and “fair

operating practices” receives the lowest values, with 3,2 points in both cases. However,

in all cases the considered relevancy is very high.

As for the training needs, the score obtained is considerably lower than the relevancy

attached; this assessment shows the important SME‟s lack of awareness as for this

training issues.

ISO 26000‟s issues considered as with more training needs have been highlighted in

green. In this sense, “labour practices” and “consumer issues” have been identified as

the issues with highest score, specifically:

Labour practices:

o Health and safety at work

o Human development and training in the workplace

o Conditions of work and social protection

o Employment and employment relationships

Consumer Issues

o Consumer service, support, and dispute resolution

o Sustainable consumption

o Consumer data protection and privacy

o Fair marketing, factual and unbiased information and fair contractual

practices

o Protecting consumers‟ health and safety

This focus on consumer issues make it clear that the market and clients‟ pressure could

be a strong motivator and driving force for SMEs to be initiated within CSR issues and

planning.

With regard to the didactic resources, SMEs agree that the use of guides and virtual

platforms would useful for them in order to get trained in CSR. The support of a personal

trainer would be considered as helpful as well.


Which method would be useful for you?

AUSTRIA

More than half of the respondents (5 of 9) indicated to count on specific knowledge and

skills to integrate SR. One SME mentioned the consultation of experts, another one its

experiences with public calls for tenders which are to some parts on EU-level. One

company indicated that SR complies with the common sense in the region where they are

located. This might be seen as the good embedment of the company in the region and

the local community that is based on trust and honesty.

Regarding training materials and tools on SR, only two companies use them. One

respondent mentioned in this context certification standards as a resource.

Question 4.3 in the survey, concerning the relevance and training needs on subjects and

issues, shows the following average values:

0

5

10

15

20

25

30


Table 5: Relevance and training needs on subjects and issues – Average values (from 9 SMEs)


Is the core subject and its issues judged

relevant for the organization?

(1-low / 4-high)

Training need on this subject/issue

(1-low / 4-high)



3.66 1.44


Due diligence 3.11 1.33

Human rights risk situations 2.33 1.56

Avoidance of complicity 2.11 1.22

Resolving grievances 2.11 1.44

Discrimination and vulnerable groups 2.11 1.44

Civil and political rights 2.56 1.22

Economic, social and cultural rights 3.44 1.78

Fundamental rights at work 3.78 1.56

3. Labour practices: “all policies and practices relating to work performed within, by or on behalf of the organization”

Employment and employment relationships 3.56 1.56

Conditions of work and social protection 3.78 1.67

Social dialogue 3.22 1.33

Health and safety at work 3.89 2

Human development and training in the workplace 3.67 2

4. The environment

Prevention of pollution 3.78 1.56

Sustainable resource use 3.89 1.67

Climate change mitigation and adaptation 3.44 1.67

Protection and restoration of the natural environment 3.44 1.56


Anti–corruption 2.67 1.33

Responsible political involvement 3 1.33

Fair competition 3.33 1.44

Promoting social responsibility in the sphere of influence 3 1.44

Respect for property rights 3.44 1.44

6. Consumer Issues

Fair marketing, factual and unbiased information and fair contractual practices 3.67 1.78

Protecting consumers‟ health and safety 3.22 1.67

Sustainable consumption 3 1.78

Consumer service, support, and dispute resolution 3.56 2.11

Consumer data protection and privacy 3.33 1.89

Access to essential services 2.56 1.67

Education and awareness 3 1.67

7. Community involvement and development: “an organization's proactive outreach to the community”

Community involvement 3.67 1.44

Education and culture 3 1.33

Employment creation and skills development 3.33 1.67

Technology development and access 2.56 1.56

Wealth and income creation 3 1.33

Health 3.44 1.67

Social investment 2.89 1.44

Regarding the relevance of core subjects and issues (averaged range between 2.11 and

3.89), organisational governance, labour practices and the environment seem to be the


most important ones for the SMEs in the sample. The highest values are assigned to

health and safety at work and sustainable resource use (each 3.89), followed by

fundamental rights at work, conditions of work and social protection and prevention of

pollution (each 3.78). Subjects and issues that are judged less important are concerning

human rights, whereby the lowest values are assigned to avoidance of complicity,

discrimination and vulnerable groups and resolving grievances.

In general, training needs on these core subjects and issues are indicated rather low, the

range is on average between 1.22 and 2.11. In this context, some respondents indicated

no need, others definitely indicate a high or rather high training need on certain issues.

On average, the highest training need exists in the field of labour practices and consumer

issues, the field environment has middle values compared to the other core subjects and

issues. The highest training need is assigned to consumer service, support, and dispute

resolution (2.11 on average) followed by health and safety at work and human

development and training in the workplace (each 2). The lowest value (1.22 on average)

is assigned to avoidance of complicity and civil and political rights, followed by due

diligence, social dialogue, anti–corruption, responsible political involvement, wealth and

income creation and education and culture (each 1.33).

There seem to be no direct contexts between the relevance that is given to specific

subjects and the training need on it. Furthermore, within this sample of SMEs, no

contexts between the size of the company and the training need in general could be

identified. All in all, it seems that the values concerning the training need show individual

interests and motivations of the surveyed persons and also their assessments regarding

the applicability in the own company.

The methods most useful in trainings are guides (7 of 9) followed by personal trainers (6

of 9). One third of the respondents also indicates audio, CD-Rom, video, manuals and

computer/virtual as useful. Text seems to be less interesting as a training method, only 2

of 9 indicated it.

Recommendations regarding the development of training materials for SMEs are very

general: one SME indicated, that guides shall be short and compact, as in fact of a lack of

time and resources comprehensive material is not advantageous.

Text7% Audio

10%

CD-Rom10%

Video10%

Guides23%

Manuals10%

Computer/virtual10%

Personal trainer20%


BULGARIA

On figure 4 are presented the average results from the survey related to the relevance to

and the training needs for the core subjects of social responsibility of the respondents.

Figure 4. Relevance and training needs on subjects and issues of ISO 26000

The average assessment of the relevance of core subjects to CSR is quite high for

organisational governance (2,87), labour practices (2,97), consumer issues (2,84) and

community involvement (2,83). The average assessment for human rights (2,63) and fair

operating practices (2,42) is also above 50% and the lowest average mark for relevance

is for environment (2,05).

It should be pointed out that the training needs for every core subject is assessed

significantly less than the relevance. The highest score being for community involvement

and development and consumer issues.

DENMARK

The most prioritized subject and related issues for training is the environment:

prevention of pollution and sustainable use of resources. Labour practises are also

important but the need for training seems less. In general it was difficult for the

interviewees to answer the questions related to which extent they need training on

certain issues. Partly due to their lack of commitment to a structured approach to CSR

and partly because it is too overwhelming for them to work that detailed with CSR. Some

of the SME´s couldn‟t relate themselves to these questions and couldn‟t come up with

any useful training methods except brochures, internal material, and electronic

2.87

2.63

2.97

2.05

2.42

2.84 2.83

1.87 1.87 2.08 1.852.12 2.34 2.61

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Relevance of subjects from ISO 26000

Training needs on subjects from ISO 26000


documentation. One exception was a need for training material with regard to

communication to consumers from a life cycle perspective.

LITHUANIA

Firstly, in the section of needs of competences on CSR, it was necessary to judge the

relevance of main CSR principles for every organization. The analysis of the respondents„

answers shows that the most relevant CSR principle seems to be respect for the rule of

law as well as respect for human rights. Accountability and ethical behavior were marked

as also very important.

7 from 10 respondents stated that their companies point out the main stakeholders,

however they are mostly simply informed about the companies„ CSR efforts with one

exception in the case of JSC „Kylis“, where the stakeholders are not only informed, but

also engaged in carrying out the company„s CSR initiatives. However, it emerged that

almost all of the enterprises interviewied didn„t count on specific knowledge and skills to

integrate social responsibility in their companies„ activities. Only JSC „Selita & Co“, as it

was mentioned, has a general understanding about CSR. None of the companies use any

training materials or tools for CSR implementation.

The general analysis of the results of relevance and training needs on subjects and

issues, based on ISO 26000 standard, showed that the most relevant CSR subjects are

(listed under importance) technology development and access, organizational

governance issues, as well as prevention of pollution. Other important subjects seems to

be health and safety at work, sustainable resource use, consumer service, support and

dispute resolution as well as sustainable consumption. Interestingly, at least relevant

subjects for the companies interviewed appeared such CSR issues as anti-corruption,

avoidance of complicity and civil and political rights. In the case of general results on

training needs, the majority of respondents especially appointed technology development

and access as well as organizational governance issues, prevention of pollution,

consumer service, support and dispute resolution as the most relevant issues. It seems

to be that civil and political rights, due diligence, avoidance of complicity, discrimination

and vulnerable groups, anti-corruption and economic, social and cultural rights are at

least important CSR subjects on training needs.

The next question, going to the ending of the survey, was about the methods of training

on CSR, which would be useful for the enterprises. Even 8 respondents stated that the

most useful method for them would be training guides, 5 enterprises also mentioned

computer/virtual training material. The majority of interviewees indicated more than one

training method suitable for them. Interestingly, only two companies, JSC „Maksima“ and

„Gaschema“ to be precise, would like to have personal trainer on CSR.

When asked to specify other comments or recommendations for the development of

training material on CSR focused on SMEs, only one respondent gave some comments.

Mrs. Griciuniene remarked that training materials on CSR for SMEs should be easy

accessed and simple to understand and to apply.


At the end of interviews, all the respondents were asked if they are interested in

participating in testing the developed training materials. Almost all of them, except JSC

„Kylis“ and JSC „Bionovus“, answered positively. Mr. Algimantas from JSC „Selita“, which

already had dissappointing experience on the inappropriate training, corrected that he is

interested only in such kind of training that could ensure deep knowledge on CSR.

POLAND

Taking into consideration the fact that SME sector is not widely acquainted with the term

“CSR”, most of the companies do not have management strategy, and decisions

concerning Corporate Social Responsibility are made ad hoc and they are mostly of

occasional character. What is more, no complete information on training needs of Polish

SME sector concerning CSR is available. The project SOCIALISME was implemented from

1st October 2008 up to 30th September 201094; one of its operational goals was the

identification of SME‟s education needs concerning CSR in the following countries:

Lithuania, Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, Romania, Greece, Latvia, Portugal in order to tailor

the project‟s products to their needs. Additionally the project included:

Preparation of the learning methodology package initiated by CSR for SMEs in

English and the adaptation of the package in mother tongues of each country

participating in the project in accordance to its needs,

Testing of CSR learning concept in SME sector,

Preparation of the CSR learning package for the SME‟s development for SME

consultants,

Dissemination and valorisation of the product created in each country during and

after the project completion.

Currently no information is available on the results of the project aimed at the

identification of the SME’s education needs concerning CSR in Poland.

Analysing the scope of CSR/sustainable development and SME‟s potential needs it should

be highlighted that the importance of specific areas depends on, inter alia, type and size

of enterprise, industry, the situation on market and the strategy of the given

organisation, not forgetting about the condition and the strategy of the whole supply

chain, a company operates in, stated in the ISO 26000 draft.

SLOVENIA

Companies also answered what would be relevant topics/issues regarding their needs.

Topics/issues offered in the questionnaire were in line with the ISO 26000.

1) Organizational governance

94

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On average companies denoted organizational governance as modestly important

(average: 3.2). They think that trainings about the organizational governance are also

important (average: 3.4).

2) Human rights

Surprisingly, companies think that human rights are modestly important (average: 2.5).

Consequently, they claimed that trainings within these topics are modestly important as

well (average: 2.5). However, companies think that the most important topics is

fundamental rights at work (average: 3.4), followed by economic, social, and cultural

rights (average: 3.0). The least important topics within the human rights issues, based

on the companies' replies are: due diligence, human rights risk situation, resolving

grievances, discrimination and vulnerable groups (average of all the mentioned topics

was: 2.2)

3) Labour practices

Companies think that the labour practice issues are important (average: 3.3), whilst they

think that the trainings about the mentioned issues are less important (average: 2.7).

Companies claimed that the most important topics within the labour issues are conditions

of work and social protection, and health and safety at work (both have average: 3.8),

followed by employment and employment relationships, and human development and

training at the workplace (both have average 3). They think that the most needed

trainings will be from the following topics: human development and training at the

workplace (average: 3.2), and conditions of work and social protection (average: 3).

4) The environment

Regarding the environmental issues, companies think that environmental topics and

trainings are modestly important (both have an average: 3.1). Companies claimed that

the most important topic for them is prevention of pollution (average: 3.8), followed by

sustainable resource usage (average: 3.5). Consequently, they think that education in

both topics is needed.

5) Fair operating practices

Companies claimed that fair operating practices have modest importance for them

(average: 2.7). They think that the most important topic within the operating practices is

respect for property rights (3.0), followed by anti-corruption and fair competition (both

3.0). They also think that the educational needs within this area are modestly important

(average: 2.3).

6) Consumer issues

Companies claim that consumer issues are quite important (average: 3.2). They argue

that the most important topics within this issue are: sustainable consumption (average:

3.6), followed by consumer service, and support (average: 3.4) and education and

awareness (average: 3.4). Companies think that educational there are needs for further

education within the sustainable consumption topics (average: 3.0).

7) Community involvement and development


Companies think that the community involvement is important (average: 2.9). The most

important topics within the above mentioned issue are: technology development and

access (average: 3.8), followed by employment creation and skills development

(average: 3.2). They claimed that educational needs within this issue exist: community

involvement and technology development and access (both have average: 2.8).

SPAIN

Regarding the high interest on SR but the scarce training undertaken, a reduced majority

of companies show their interest to take part on a training program tailored for SMEs, as

reflected in the graph below.

There is no consensus on the course method, as most of the possible material media

would be useful for the companies, being the most preferred a virtual on-line training

(73%), followed by test, guides and manuals (45%). Onsite training is only chosen by

36% of the respondents.

55%

45%

Sample by interest on training participation

Yes, I would like to know more

No, thank you


About the contents, companies have been enquired on the relevance of the ISO 26000

core subjects and issues for their organizations and the training needs they think they

have within their organizations. The summary averages are shown in the table below.

We can conclude that the most relevant issue where the need of training is the highest is

organizational governance, followed by labour practices. In general, companies score

higher on the relevance of the SR subjects (2.7 over 4) than in their needs of training

(1.7/4), which is 20% less.

In terms of comparison between small and medium size companies The training needs

are declared to be the same (1.7/4), however the relevance of SR issues applying to the

company is assessed to be lower for small size companies (2.4/4) than it is for medium

size companies (2.7/4).

3.2. VET institutions perspective in each country

The analysis of training institutions, include 5 VET institutions, along with 10 universities,

1 quality and certification institution, 3 consultancy companies and 1 business school

5

23

1

5 5

8

4

1

0123456789

Sample by training method prefered


from Consortium‟s partners‟ countries. Thus, 20 questionnaires have been received,

some of them through personnel interviews.

3.2.1. Areas covered by current CSR training offer

The 56% of analyzed courses are stand-alone courses, while the 44% are courses

integrated into another module.

Are the subjects stand-alone CSR or included in other courses?

As well as this, more than one third of all courses are courses that exceed 40 hours (for

instance: one doctoral program of 150hours), in contrast to the 30% that are courses

with less than 10 hours.

The 22% of analyzed courses are courses between 10 and 20 hours. However, courses

between 20 and 40 hours are the least usual.

Which is the duration of the social responsibility course or training offer?

As for the structure of the courses, in half of the cases, theoretical and practical issues

are equally represented. On the other hand, the 19% are completely theoretical, being

the same percentage the case of courses more theoretical than practical. In this sense,

more practical contents are demanded both from SMEs and training institutions:

Stand-alone course

56%

Integrated in another

module44%

< 10 hours30%

10 < x > 20 hours 22%

20 < x > 40 hours 13%

> 40 hours35%


How would you define the content of the course/training offer?

As many of the analyzed training offer was related to universities, the students target

group has been the most important one.

Which are the target groups of the training offer?

“Community involvement and development” has been the issue more repeated during

the analysis as the content included in the courses. However, the other issues are

relevant as well, as described in the following chart; consumer‟s issues seem to be the

least repeated. In this sense, it must be highlighted how just very few number of courses

are addressed specifically to SMEs.

100% theoretical

19%

More theoretical

than practical

19%

50% theoretical

and 50% practical

50%

More practical

than theoretical

12%

Students

Companies and other organisations

Unemployed


Which subject areas does the training offer include?

Some of the identified other issues, we can find the following ones: alternatives in

economy-politics-civil society, initiatives for social change, social developments in

Europe, sustainable development, awareness and CSR models.

With regard to the current didactic resources used, the text manuals and the guides are

the most usual ones. However, usually they are complemented by other sources, like

videos or CD-ROMs, along with articles, case studies or example of best practices. It is

observed how traditional didactic methods or the lecturer oriented courses are the most

common. Although usually texts include all necessary information within the same

document, there is a demand from trainers for a standardization of materials, just in one,

only document.

On the other hand, almost half of the trainers use self-made materials, while the licensed

materials are the least used. Some of the advantages of using self-made materials

consist of the fact that these resources support participants in their learning, different

types of materials and resources enhance creativity and generate more success in non-

formal learning situations, and external point of views are included. As well as this, this

materials usually are updated, appropriate for the students‟ digital literacy, for the

integration into environmental management, learning for life, higher activity of the

students and to facilitate students to get their own conclusions.

02468

10121416


Which is the source of the used materials?

As for the disadvantages of used current resources, one of the most important, is the

lack of real practice during the lecture. As well as this, the following disadvantages have

been identified: not enough time for detailed presentation, missing simulations to

demonstrate learning concepts, often boring text, which reduces the interest in the

topics.

Therefore, innovating in didactic materials has been considered as essential, in order to

make contents more attractive, visual and easy to understand and remember. In this

sense, a complementary virtual training platform is considered as a recommended

resource, as it would help students to do more practises and analyze new concepts out of

the classroom training.

The following chart shows how the 30% of respondents would prefer to use some kind of

virtual platform for the training; it would be followed by guides, video, manuals and CD-

ROMs.

Which other documents/tools would be useful for you?

Self-made

Licensed

Free-access

CD rom13%

Video20%

Guides20%

Manuals17%

Computer/virtual30%


AUSTRIA

The analysis of VET institutions includes two private business organisations conducting

trainings, and one public institution.

They all offer SR related courses or trainings, whereby one third of the trainings are

stand-alone courses and two thirds are integrated in other modules in the fields of social

entrepreneurship, sustainability processes and evaluation, and poverty prevention. All

courses have different durations: one is 10 – 20 hours, one is 20 – 40 hours, and one is

more than 40 hours. Two of the courses are 50 % theoretical and 50 % practical, and

one training is more practical than theoretical. The target groups of these trainings are

the following: Students (2/3), companies and other organisations (2/3), civil society

(2/3) and unemployed (1/3).

The subject areas of the analysed trainings are: Organisational governance (1/3), human

rights (all), labour practices (2/3), the environment (1/3), fair operating practices (all),

consumer issues (2/3), community involvement and development (all) and others (1/3 –

alternatives in economy-politics-civil society, initiatives for social change, social

developments in Europe).

The didactic resources used are: Text (all), audio (1/3), video (2/3), guides (2/3),

manuals (2/3), computer/virtual (2/3), and others (1/3 – ceramic, art).

Two of the courses only use self-made materials, the third course uses as well self-made

and licensed and free-access materials.

Concerning the didactic resources, the training providers using self-made materials

mention the following advantages: their resources support participants in their learning,

different types of materials and resources enhance creativity and generate more success

in non-formal learning situations, and external point of views are included by videos.

Regarding useful other documents/tools besides already used ones, one institution

mentions CD room, video and manuals.

BULGARIA

The prepared questionnaires were distributed among 3 universities:

1. Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – the oldest state university in Bulgaria

2. New Bulgarian University – the biggest private university in Bulgaria

3. American University in Bulgaria – internationally renowned private university

Due to the short term of the request the questionnaires were send to certain

departments (and individuals) in order to ensure the timeliness of the responses. This

should be taken into account because the answers are related to particular faculty,

department or unit in the university.

Only the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Geological and Geographical

Department, reported the availability of a little course in CSR as part of the education in

Human Resources management, Organisational Behaviour and Social Capital. The course

is less than 10 hours so it is part of a subject. The content is 50% theoretical, 50%


practical and includes organisational governance, fair operating practices and community

involvement and development.

The practical exercises do not involve working with real enterprises and it is noted that

the lack of real practice is a disadvantage of the course. The tools include text and

manuals and are self-made.

The headquarters of the American University in Bulgaria are in the town of Blagoevgrad –

regional centre in South-East Bulgaria. The Elieff Center for Education and Culture is a

separate unit of the American University in Sofia. They intend to develop a CSR course

but do not have one now.

The Centre for Public Administration at the New Bulgarian University has developed a

CSR course also but have not started it as part of Human Resource Management

programme.

DENMARK

The interviewees mainly consist of consultancies and universities. All of them are offering

general CSR-courses and one company has Lead-auditor courses with diplomas on

Environmental audits and Occupational Health and Safety audits, respectively. A lead-

auditor course on CSR is also planned for, but not yet conducted.

In Denmark, the CSR-courses offered by consultancies are stand-a-lone courses carried

out as one or two day courses, except for the lead auditor courses which have a full week

scheme. At the universities CSR-courses are typically expressed as optional CSR-subjects

included in a minor, a master-degree or a MBA. The duration of the courses are app. 30

hours or 7,5 ECTS.

The CSR courses are mainly a mix of theory and practice. Half of the organisations were

using between 75-100 % theoretical content and half considered the content offered as

being 50% theoretical/ 50% practical.

As regards the subjects included in the training offers, the CSR-courses are on a general

level and therefore contain many of the core subjects included in ISO26000. Least

covered are human rights and consumer issues. The auditor course covered

organizational governance and Labour Practise and Environment – legislation is an

important part here.

Trainers are using text, video, guides and manuals as a didactic resource. None are using

CD and audio. E-learning is seen as a media when teaching large groups in a company,

and on the auditor course, real hands-on audits are conducted.

All trainers are using self-made material, a great part licensed material, and on the

auditor course accredited material is used. The advantages of self-made teaching

materials are that it is easy to adapt the materials to different courses even though the


adaption is time consuming; and the material will always be up-to date. Moreover, the

course participants can have easy access to review the material whenever needed.

LITHUANIA

In the case of VET institutions, there are 4 organizations involved in this survey -

Institute of Environmental Engineering from Kaunas University of Technology, two

different departments - the Department of Social Sciences and the Department of

Management from Klaipeda University as well as one private business vocational training

institution JSC „Det Norske Veritas LT“. The detailed list of the participants in VET survey

are presented in the table 2.

Table 2. The list of the participants in VET survey.

No.

Name and the

position of the

person interviewed

Name of the organization

Subject of social

responsibility

course/training

offer/seminar

1.

dr. Visvaldas Varzinskas, lecturer

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Institute of Environmental Engineering (APINI)

Social Business Responsibility, study subject

2.

Darius Pamakstys, auditor, lecturer

JSC “Det Norske Veritas” Business Assurance, Lithuania

Social Accountability (SA8000), seminar

3.

Jelena Dementjeva lecturer, assistant

Klaipeda University (KU), Department of Social Sciences

Leader Ethics, study subject, topic - ethical

responsibility of the organization

4.

dr. prof. Ligita Simanskiene, lecturer

Klaipeda University (KU), Department of Management

The Establishment of Organizational Culture, study subject

All the respondents from separate educational institutions, which were interviewed,

stated the presence of courses or training offer on specific subjects related to social

responsibility. Half of the respondents noted that these training offers prevail as the

stand-alone courses. Dr. Varzinskas from Institute of Environmental Engineering named

study subject „Social Business Responsibility“, whereas Mr. Pamakstys indicated seminar

on Social Accountability (SA8000). The representatives from different departments of

Klaipeda University - Ms. Dementjeva and dr. prof. Simanskiene indicated CSR subjects,

integrated in two study modules such as „Leader Ethics” and “The Establishment of

Organizational Culture”. The majority of training offers are shorter than 10 hours and

their content are equally theoretical and practical. The target groups of these offers are


mainly students in the case of all universities, only JSC “Det Norske Veritas LT” offers

social accountability seminar for companies‟ managers and representatives. The main

areas included in all these training offers are organizational governance issues. Other

subjects, mostly incorporated in the education offers, are human rights and the

environment issues. All of the respondents stated that the didactic material which are

used for trainings are usually self-made or free-access text materials. Other training

resources are guides, video and computer/virtual materials as well as various scientical

articles.

POLAND

There is no training offer available in Poland concerning CSR at the stage of vocational

education and training. However, there is a wide range of projects, conferences, trainings

and courses for SMEs.

The publication titled “Institutions of the CSR market in Poland in 2010” („Instytucje

rynku CSR w Polsce 2010”) constitutes the guide to key organisations, media and

initiatives promoting and educating in Corporate Social Responsibility in Poland95.

Projects for SMEs:

1. Challenges of Sustainable Development in Poland (Kurs Wyzwania

Zrównoważonego Rozwoju).

3-week summer school 'Challenges of Sustainable Development in Poland' is the

most important element of the project. Course has been held every year since 1998.

The structure of the course:

a. Theory and practice of Local Society Sustainable Development –

lectures concerning the local aspects of sustainable development;

preparation, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of development

programmes and strategies for local societies; dealing with social conflicts,

mediations. Participants conduct a big project parallel to lectures.

b. Sustainable business – project consisting in study tours of work groups

aimed at conducting the analysis of company‟s performance from the point of

view of CSR together with company‟s representatives.

c. Practical aspects of sustainable development – the opportunity of

appliance of sustainable development concept in the practice in many areas

and aspects of life, such as education, architecture, construction, agriculture.

Guest lectures concern the problematic of “sustainable” architecture in

Poland, sustainable transport and other possibilities of practical

implementation of sustainable development in our country.

2. Corporate Social Responsibility – The Józef Tischner’s European High School

(Społeczna Odpowiedzialność Przedsiębiorstw Wyższa Szkoła Europejska

im. Ks. Józefa Tischnera).

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Postgraduate studies are directed to top managers in charge of issues concerning

CSR or people, who plan to work in such area, including: board members,

communication managers, public affair and PR managers, CSR managers.

Curriculum: strategic management, CSR – theoretical background, social project

management, communication with the environment of a company, company‟s

stakeholders, employees as stakeholders, Corporate Community

Involvement/Investment (CCI), planning of cooperation with social partners,

environment management, corporate governance, Socially Responsible Investment

(SRI), social norms and standards, social responsibility reporting, ethics in business,

international CSR.

3. The Centre of Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility (Centrum

Przywództwa i Społecznej Odpowiedzialności Biznesu)

Predicted areas of the Centre activity includes, inter alia, conducting and

coordination of studies concerning CSR and leadership, publication of periodic

concerning CSR, support of enterprises and NGO in creating effective social

campaigns, mediation between business and NGO in order to establish cooperation

and implement projects.

French portal Reportingrse.fr published list of guides for SMEs concerning

CSR reporting96

The discussion forum “Stakeholders’ expectations concerning CSR in SME

sector („Oczekiwania interesariuszy w stosunku do CSR w MŚP”) is run as

German-Polish project aimed at identification of stakeholders’ expectations

as far as CSR in SMEs is concerned.

The foundation CentrumCSR.PL is the Polish partner of German organisation RKW

Kompetenzzentrum (www.rkw.de – The Centre of Rationalisation and Innovativeness

of German Economy) in the project concerning CSR in SMEs. The project was co-

financed by The Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation97.

So far RKW has published, inter alia, the practical guide for SMEs titled “Social and

environmental corporate responsibility in foreign subsidiary. Recommendations for

German enterprises having subsidiaries abroad”. The aim of the project on the current

stage is to study and determine the expectations of various social groups in Poland and

Germany in relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) of SMEs. Therefore, one

carried out the survey in Germany and Poland within various stakeholder groups.

There is also the report of expert group titled: “Opportunities and responsibility –

how to help SMEs in incorporating social and environemental issues in their

activity” („Szanse i odpowiedzialność – jak pomóc małym i średnim

przedsiębiorstwom w uwzględnianiu w ich działalności zagadnień społecznych i

ekologicznych.” The final version was published in May 2007 by group of European

professionals in the area of CSR and SMEs. The European Commission hopes that the

report will support everyone trying to help SMEs in gaining the better results in social,

environmental and financial activities98.

On 3rd May 2010 450 entrepreneurs, SME‟s representatives and people dealing with CSR

came to Brussels on the invitation of European Commission. The innovative event was

96

http://odpowiedzialnybiznes.pl/pl/praktyka-csr/aktualnosci/wiadomosci-od-partnerow/raportowanie-csr-dla-m%C5%9Ap,4301.html 97

www.fwpn.org.pl 98

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/csr/sme_expert_group.htm/

http://odpowiedzialnybiznes.pl/pl/praktyka-csr/aktualnosci/wiadomosci-od-partnerow/raportowanie-csr-dla-m%C5%9Ap,4301.html


http://www.fwpn.org.pl/



aimed at discussion: “How to help SMEs be socially responsible?”. The event took place in

the same time as the publication of the report of European CSR Expert Group titled

“Opportunities and Responsibility”.

In 2010 the publication “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guidebook for

enterprises’ self-evaluation” was published99.

The table below shows the examples of other projects, seminars, conferences

and workshops organised for inter alia SMEs.

Examples Institution responsible

for organisation Target Place and date Program

Project: Enhancing the regional competitiveness by corporate social responsibility (CSR) Project area: Development of private sector and promotion of SME‟s export Territorial scope: Poland

Polish Agency of Entrepreneurship Development is the implementing authority of the project.

Beneficiaries Inter alia: SMEs – target group in measures 1, 2 I 3.

Currently, the project is under assessment of authorities – it was positively verified by Intermediate Body (Ministry of Economy) and National Coordination Unit (Ministry of Regional Development); it awaits the final decision of Managing Authority of Swiss Contribution to Poland.

Measure 1 – the development of competences of City Halls, Service Centres for Investors and Exporters and SME sector in CSR by training, meetings, study tours and promotion/information activities concerning the concept of CSR. The measure 1 is aimed at organisation of meeting for SME sector representatives from Poland concerning CSR. Additionally, it is planned to conduct CSR trainings and study tours for representatives of City Halls and Centres for Investors and Exporters. The meetings and training are to be carried out in 16 regions. Measure 2 – assistance in implementation of CSR solutions by pilot projects for SMEs, including financial support for consulting services and investments. One plans to organise the call for proposal within the Measure 2 for SMEs applying for subsidies for the CSR implementation projects in the following areas: environment, relations with employees, social involvement. The call for proposal is the

most expensive action within the measure. Measure 3 – promotion of best practices and communication concerning the results of projects implemented under the Measure 2. The evaluation study is to be conducted under the Measure 3; it will include the evaluation of SME‟s projects results implemented by means of Measure 2, best practices from every region and

99

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their promotion e.g. in form of publication.


for organisation Target Place and date Program

Project „Cross-sector cooperation – project for business responsibility”

Lower-Silesian Federation of NGOs in partnership with “Krzyżowa/Cross” Foundation for European Understanding and private company Heapmail Internet Solutions Ltd. have implemented the projects since January 2011 r.

Target group: representatives of the following sectors from Lower Silesia: SMEs, NGOs, local authorities.

January 2011 – December 2012

The aim of the project is to prepare, test and implement the innovative programme and education solutions for Lower Silesia region up to 2012 in order to support SMEs in area of CSR fostering competitiveness and development of SMEs in the region. The project includes the following actions: The initial stage of the project – in-depth studies concerning authentic needs of SMEs and NGOs, and their identification in order to implement initiatives in aid of corporate social responsibility (CSR), determination of implementation areas for CSR projects, promotion of CSR initiatives and standards.

Conference "Responsible Cracow"

Panel discussion and training run by Cracovian International Consultants.

Małopolska‟s SME sector representatives

The conference took place on 9th January 2007 (10.00 – 14.30) in Chopin Hotel in Cracow (Przy Rondzie Street 2) Admission free

1. How to define responsible business in the modern economy?

2. How entrepreneurs perceive their role – what does it mean to be entrepreneurs?

3. How to build good relations with company‟s environment – employees, customers, local society?

4. Think globally, act locally – what may inspire development; where to find best practices?

5. Entrepreneurs versus government – what is wrong

in lobbing? 6. Is joining the discussion

about changing law regulations the entrepreneurs responsibility or not?


for organisation Target

Place and date

Program

Information and Consulting Centre for companies

interested in appliance in practice of the rules of Corporate Social Responsibility

Polish Chamber of Commerce

The service includes

providing information and consulting for SMEs concerning corporate social responsibility.

Via web site – free-of-charge

Contact with consultant of given regional chamber of commerce provides all interested companies with necessary information or consulting.

ORDER FORM „How to become Socially

Responsible Company?” I hereby request the EU Office consultant to send via e-mail the following materials (mark all the positions you would like to receive): 1. general information on

corporate social responsibility principles,

2. questionnaire for enterprise enabling to


assess its activity from the point of view of corporate social responsibility,

3. examples of „best practices” applied in Polish and European

companies, 4. effective ways of

communication – within and outside a company – communicating CSR involvement and activities,

5. contact list of organisations and institutions arranging various programs, call for proposals, trainings, courses or certificates concerning CSR,

6. useful link to other web sites concerning socially responsible entrepreneurship.

Workshops

Homepage CSRinfo100

- open workshop, - closed trainings adjusted to the needs of given organisation, - cooperation with companies, universities and social organisations, preparation of workshops, trainings and seminars for all partners within the scope of their own

training cycles

http://www.csrinfo.org/pl/warsztaty

Courses directed mostly to large companies and SMEs.

1. introduction to CSR 2. CSR strategy 3. stakeholder

management 4. CSR communication 5. CSR reporting 6. company‟s social

involvement 7. partnerships

between a company and NGO; evaluation of cooperation

8. evaluation of volunteer work

9. CSR standards 10. introduction to

sustainable development

11. ethics in business 12. responsible

investments 13. CSR in particular

industries/areas

SLOVENIA

From the 6 questionnaires send to the VET institutions and universities, we have received

only 3 replies from the universities. They claimed that their organization is offering

courses/subjects related to social responsibility. The courses are mostly integrated in

other modules (e.g. Sustainable water management, soil protection, environmental

100






management). There is only one stand alone subject: Responsible entrepreneurship as a

topic within the doctoral programme Responsible entrepreneurship. One of the

programmes dedicate less than 10 hours to the SR topics, another between 10 and 20,

and on doctoral programme around 150 hours are dedicated to the SR topics. One course

is more practical then theoretical, another more theoretical then practical and third has

both issues equally represented. In all the cases target groups are students.

The most common area that trainings include is environment, followed by fair operating

practices and community involvement and development. One of the trainings also

includes sustainable development and sustainable firm.

Regarding the pedagogical-didactical material used, the results of the questionnaires are

in line with our research of the courses at the universities and VET institutions. Mostly

textbooks and other text material is used and a lecturer-oriented lectures (traditional

didactical method), which is sometimes upgraded with video and audio material, CD

ROMs, etc. However, no computer/virtual materials are available. The material is usually

self-made, followed by free access material. Only one school is buying licences material.

Individuals in the survey claimed that the advantages of the materials used by the

courses are the following: up-to date, appropriate for the students‟ digital literacy,

integration into environmental management, learning for life, higher activity of the

students, coming to their own conclusions. Disadvantages are the following: not enough

time for detailed presentation, missing simulations to demonstrate learning concepts,

often boring text, which reduces the interest in the topics. It is interesting that all have

mentioned that they will use virtual/computer tools with manuals if available.

SPAIN

The analysis of VET institutions, include the interview to three different agents:

“Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU)”: Public University of the Basque Country.

Training offered by AENOR: Spanish Association for Standardization and

Certification

“Fondo Formación Euskadi” (FFE): VET Institution

From the three courses analyzed, two of them are stand-alone courses, while the training

offered by the Public University, is a training consisting of two courses included within a

specialization module as part of a Business Administration degree. In this case, these two

courses account for 120 hours (2 courses x 60hours). The two other courses consist of

50hours, in the case of FFE and 60hours, in the case of AENOR.

As for the contents, the answers are quite different: in one case all the contents are

theoretical; in another one, theoretical and practical contents are included at the same

level (50% & 50%); in the case of the University course, it will depend on the teacher‟s

teaching methodology (this specialization training has not still been implemented).


The subject areas included in the training are the following ones: organizational

governance, human rights, labour practices, environment, fair operating practices,

consumer issues and community involvement and development, at least, at a global

level. Awareness and CSR models are included as well. However, in one of the cases

environmental and consumer issues and fair operating practices are not considered in the

training. Students, companies and unemployed people are the target groups addressed

by theses courses. None of them are courses addressed specifically to SMEs.

The main didactic resources used are based on text and guides, through classroom

training. As well as this, videos and presentations are used, including case studies and

best practices examples. These resources are basically self-made materials. As for the

main advantages of these resources, training providers consider that texts include all

necessary information within the same document; however, a standardization of

materials is demanded in some cases. On the other hand, they think that innovating in

didactic materials is essential, making contents more attractive, visual and easy to

understand and remember. In this sense, a complementary virtual training platform is

considered as a recommended resource, as it would help students to do more practises

and analyze new concepts out of the classroom training.

3.2.2. Needs of competences on CSR

In general, consulted trainers think that there is a real demand for CSR from SMEs, or at

least, that it is growing day by day. As 31% of the respondents consider, SMEs do not

have enough knowledge about existing CSR training resources; as well as this, a 26%

think that SMEs would be interested in attending CSR oriented training, it training

resources were adapted to them.

On the other hand, lack of awareness is one concept that has been repeated often; SMEs

are not aware of the real value of CSR, as they do not see the economical value or profit

of the investment in CSR. In this sense, short term wins against long term profit.


How do you assess social responsibility demand from SMEs?

AUSTRIA

It is assessed by all institutions, that there is a demand on SR by SMEs. Two of the three

interviewed institutions think that SMEs would be interested in SR training if training

resources would be adapted to them, and on the other hand that SMEs do not have

enough knowledge about existing training resources. One institution also sees a lack of

top management commitment in SMEs about social responsibility.

Regarding the development of SR training materials, one public institution recommends

the provision of intergenerational, interdisciplinary and intercultural learning settings to

meet SMEs needs.

BULGARIA

In the survey videos, guides and manuals are recommended as useful in teaching CSR.

Figure 5 shows the demand for CSR training as identified by the three VET institutions.

No real necessity20%

No nowledge about training

resources31%

Lack of top management commitment

23%

Interested in social

responsibility if adapted training

resources26%


Figure 5. Assessment of the social responsibility demand from SMEs

DENMARK

Cases, real-life examples and knowledge sharing between peers are very important.

Only a few VET´s claims that the SME´s are not aware of the different CSR training

resources and one said that SME´s do not fancy participating in a CSR training course at

a “smart business school”. CSR is not on the agenda at SME´s unless they experience an

increased demand from stakeholders and half of the interviewees don‟t think an adaption

of CSR-tools to SME´s will make any difference in their approach to CSR. Those SME´s

who´s beginning to think about integrating CSR into their business often starts with a

systematic approach to Health and Safety and/or Environment.

Recommendations:

There is a demand for guidance on how to mix the right kind of didactic resources

when teaching and how to integrate the different technologies.

Better knowledge on how to use video, computer, social media and other more

motivating didactic resources in CSR-classes

Use of cases should be emphasized and the quality of cases should be improved

also including much more relevant dilemmas. Many cases today are of poor

quality and not very interesting.

Use of specific tools to “stakeholder-dialogue, responsible procurement, corruption

in China and so on etc.” Could be useful when conducting training

Training with knowledge sharing between the participants is of great value e.g. at

the auditor courses.

Whether materials are licensed or not, there is often too much text for the

participants to read; make it clear and concise.

The strategic approach should be emphasized to help SME‟s identify the business

relevance

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

no real necessity for CSR

no knowledge about training

resources

lack of top management commitment

interested in CSR if adapted training

resources

Social responsibility demand from SMEs


LITHUANIA

When the respondents were asked about advantages and disadvantages, associated with

their didacted resources, Mr. Pamakstys stated that training material of the seminar

helps to form a clear view about CSR requirements in SA8000 standard in general,

though it seems be too universal and too concise to attain more specific purposes. Ms.

Dementjeva noted that the virtual didactic resources (e.g. reportages from Internet) help

to show fair operating practices of the companies more visibly, whereas the analysis of

scientical articles promote students‟ critical thinking. However, she remarked that there

are not enough training resources suitable to show practical examples on CSR.

Every respondent acknowledges the demand for other didactic resources, especially for

CD, training guides and computer/virtual training materials.

The answers to the question “How do you assess social responsibility demand from

SMEs” showed very different results, so it seems all these clauses on the survey are

correct. Dr. Varzinskas assured that SMEs do not have knowledge about the existing

social responsibility training resources in general. Ms. Dementjeva thought that SMEs do

not have real necessity of social responsibility and have a lack of social responsibility

awareness. Dr. prof. Simanskiene highlighted that SMEs would be interested in social

responsibility if training resources would be adapted to them. Mr. Pamakstys accepted

the all above-mentioned thoughts and enclosed with the statement that the costs for CSR

certification are often large enough for SMEs. Also, he indicated useful recommendation

for the development of training materials on CSR. According to Mr. Pamakstys, training

materials on CSR must be specially adapted not only for the top management of a

company, but primarily for the employees, on purpose to raise their consciousness.

POLAND

There is no complete information available in one place concerning needs and

competences of units organising training for SMEs. These needs are meet by means of

units, people improving their skills during various projects, post graduate studies,

courses, and professionals/experienced persons.

SLOVENIA

The social responsibility demand from the SMEs was assessed as following. 2 of 3 think

that there is a lack of top management commitment in SMEs about SR. Furthermore 2 of

3 think that SMEs would be interested in SR if training resources would be adapted to

them and 1 of 3 thinks that in general SMEs do not have knowledge about the existing

social responsibility training resources. There are some ambitious SMEs, striving for

awards in the field of CSR. Suggestions regarding the training material are the following:

more interdisciplinary, interesting topics in the e-learning form, supported with the open

continuous theoretical development as well as practical cases.


SPAIN

All respondents claimed that although it seems that the interest of SMEs towards CSR is

increasing in the last years, it is still minimum the number of SMEs that are interested or

priories CSR initiatives in their company. The main reason that justifies this answer is the

lack of awareness, as SMEs employers do not consider this area as a necessity or as

something essential for the good run of the company. Customers do not demand this

CSR policy, so SMEs do not implement it.

Therefore, there is a clear lack of awareness or understanding of the CSR.

On the other hand, although some company managers have some idea of CSR, they

consider this concept as occasional initiatives, not as a continuous process for the

company. In this sense, they can have some theoretical knowledge, but not practical

knowledge.

Training providers consider that some special effort should be made to make CSR closer

to small and medium enterprises, through the elaboration of new didactic resources, easy

to understand, adapted to each persons‟ circumstances (as for time and place); in this

sense, a virtual platform would be very welcomed. As well as this, it is considered raising

SME‟s awareness on CSR issues is essential; showing the benefits of implementing CSR

policies, not just as for benefits for other agents (customers, employers...) but also for

the company‟s economic results.


4. Summary: Gap analysis on CSR training offer and

identified needs on SMEs

After having analyzed the existing training offer on CSR issues in each country, along

with SME‟s and VET institutions and universities‟ point of view and perspectives, some

gaps have been identified regarding current training offer and identified needs:

Lack of a strategic vision:

Most activities are based on an ad hoc approach and thus not systematic and

organized. When systematic, the effort is mostly related to environmental and

health & safety issues, not to a broader CSR agenda.

The efforts and results are not measured and monitored – neither is it

communicated to the public or to the stakeholders.

The significant stakeholders are not identified and involved.

As for existing training offer:

In countries like Slovenia, Bulgaria, Lithuania or Poland, a huge educational gap

exists. There is a lack of wide range of education and training offer including

studies/faculties concerning management from the point of view corporate social

responsibility. The disciplines, related to CSR, are often not mandatory subject of

study area or they are treated just as a currently fashionable subject or included

only formally. As well as this, curricula includes only partial CSR aspects such as

ethics in business; no complex solutions are available (just postgraduates studies

or trainings for top management). In the case of Lithuanian, it can be drawn how

there is a lack of suitably qualified personnel working in CSR in Colleges.

In the case of Austria, Spain or Denmark, although there exist several training

materials related to CSR, and there have been several initiatives for the strategic

implementation of CSR in SMEs, there still exist gaps in planning CSR

strategically. There is a lack of a strategic platform for the CSR effort linking it to

the company‟s business.

Therefore, it is clear in all analyzed countries that there is a lack of training

adapted to SMEs; thus, there is a lack between the demand from SMEs which are

aware of the CSR concept and the training which is provided by VET institutions.

In this sense, trainings from universities are rather useful for project or CSR

managers from large sized enterprises or NGOs and consultants.

In general, training materials are not adapted to SMEs targets; a need for further

education exists, especially within SMEs, not only to the manager level, but also

to other workers. Training materials on CSR must be specially adapted not only

for the top management of the company, but primarily for the employees, on

purpose to raise their consciousness.

Lack of practical knowledge on CSR, from the SME‟s side.


As for training materials:

Current didactic resources are mainly based on conventional materials. Training

materials mostly consists of textbooks; lectures are based on a frontal method

(lecturer centred), where students are passive listeners. It seems that the

traditional learning environment is established a prevailing type of the educational

process within the higher education and VET area.

According to some trainers, there is a lack of standardization of written materials

on CSR. For example, there is a lack of one, single, complete document (platform)

including all CSR best practices implemented in SMEs.

Training resources often are too universal and too concise to attain more specific

purposes and there are not enough materials suitable to show practical examples

on CSR. However, there is a growth in demand for other types of didactic

resources, especially for CD, training guides and computer/virtual training

materials. New innovative and complementary materials are demanded in order to

facilitate the learning. Specifically, SMEs claimed that the most useful for them

would be virtual/e-learning, as it presents an alternative for learners and helps

them find a balance between private life, career, and further education. Therefore,

as claiming by the professors, companies and based on these analysis‟ results, an

important gap exists, especially in the field of virtual/e-learning. However, the

inclusion of personal support should be considered as well as a complement to

this platform (workshops, personal contact...).

All these training materials must be easy accessed and simple to understand and

to apply and must offer such kind of training that could ensure deep knowledge on

CSR.

As for topics covered:

Many programs, courses cover only environmental oriented topics. For example,

in the case of Slovenia, there are only few covering societal and economic topics.

There have not been perceived any integrated courses, covering all the SR topics.

On the other hand, in Bulgaria; it becomes clear that the needs of the SMEs for

training in human rights, environment, and consumer issues are not covered at

all. As for Lithuania, there is noticed there a growing need in training offers in

such CSR areas as technology development and access as well as the

organizational governance issues, prevention of pollution, consumer service,

support and dispute resolution.

On the issues level, there are gaps when comparing the existing toolboxes and

knowledge base with the issues in ISO 26000; very few training resources

consider issues included within ISO 26000.

As for current SMEs competences on CSR and CSR courses attended by them:

In the case of training on social responsibility, the majority of SMEs do not count

on specific knowledge and skills to integrate CSR in their activities. Similarly, few

companies use any training materials or tools for CSR implementation.


As well as this, there is a lack of information on SME‟s training needs concerning.

But regarding the involvement of employees in these trainings, in very limited

cases, it is aimed to all employees. Therefore, there is a clearly need on trainings

and know-how transfer concerning CSR to all members within an enterprise.

However, an interesting aspect is, that almost all SMEs in the sample that had

conducted a CSR training would recommend this also to other companies.

Lack of information and lack of awareness:

In many cases, CSR is a new concept for SMEs. SMEs often lack awareness or

understanding of the CSR. In this sense, there is a strong barrier between SMEs

and CSR policies implementation, as a continuous process; this is due to the lack

of the understanding on the beneficial or economic output of the investment on

CSR implementation, as there is an important lack of information about social

responsibility„s profit for company and employees:

o Unclearness regarding the cost-benefit ratio, i.e. a lack of understanding

on the beneficial outcome of the investment to be made for the CSR

activity.

o The prejudice that CSR activities are expensive and therefore not bearable

for SMEs with little resources.

A persistent prejudice and therefore a strong barrier for SMEs is, that CSR is

rather something for large companies. A lot of subjects and issues of CSR, as

asked within the questionnaire, are regarded relevant only for large enterprises.

Therefore, this embarrasses the necessary anchoring of CSR in the core business,

as these subjects are assumed as not so important and legitimate for them.


5. Recommendations

The following recommendations regarding trainings and training resources tries to bridge

the existing gaps identified through the previous analysis. This way, recommendations

from surveyed people (from SMEs and VET institutions) have been included:

CSR as an opportunity:

CSR represents an option for further sustainable growth. SMEs need to be taught

about CSR and its positive influence in the future.

Promotion of the CSR concept among SMEs‟ entrepreneurs using the reputation of

the International Standard Organisation; the small and medium enterprises from

the industry and services sectors should be aware and should be convinced that

the investments in measures related to CSR are long-term, well-paying back

investments. It is an investment in sustainability and competitiveness.

Awareness raising about the benefits and crucial role of the Corporate Social

Responsibility in improving competitiveness and raising the social standards in the

economy: major factor in encouraging the employers to implement CSR in their

everyday business operation is the pressure from the informed and caring

consumer. The assistance to encouraging socially responsible consumption might

be a strong stimulus to enterprise to pay the necessary attention to improving the

social and environmental standards in their everyday management.

The trainings should be designed not only for the top managers, but also for other

employees. Provision of know-how that is valuable for all members of an

organization: employers have to be stronger involved into CSR discussions as

they are relevant agents between a company and its environment. They can also

be seen as multipliers for issues from the organization into the public and on the

other hand for public issues into the organization.

The availability of a special Guidance on social responsibility in the form of an ISO

standard would assist in the promotion and implementation of such education and

training.

Topics to be included in a CSR training tool:

CSR topics should be represented to the SMEs in a way that suits those best

(flexible learning, as e-learning).

Flexibility regarding the prioritization of contents.

Different entrance levels could be considered.

Strong focus on the “business case” and also provision of know-how regarding the

measurability of CSR; practical cases should be included, showing clear benefits

for SMEs. These cases should include contents related to benefit measurements.

Analyzing and selecting case studies from surveyed SMEs is recommended for the

selection of contents.

Formulate real-life examples of strategic CSR platforms to help SME‟s identify the

business relevance. A tool/training material that explicitly tells the business case


for SME´s when working in a structured way with CSR and when incorporating

CSR into the business strategy.

CSR contents linked to a business model within the SMEs and development of

plans for encompassing all the aspects and utilization of all the instruments of

CSR; the owners and the managers should be assisted in their plans to turn to

socially responsible management and socially responsible investments. The

research institutes, the universities and the NGOs should be prepared to teach

them to develop strategies, plans for implementations and reporting instruments

according to the principles of accountability, transparency, ethical behavior,

respect for stakeholders, respect for rule of law, respect for international norms of

behavior, respect for human rights when the entrepreneurs will be ready and

asking for them.

Organization of the effort, that is develop training on how to integrate CSR into

the existing structures and processes.

Monitor and measure CSR performance. Develop a reporting system for SME´s

based on GRI but adjusted to the core themes and issues of ISO26000.

Support a life cycle approach to create a common platform of understanding

among the partners in the product chain. Develop examples on how the life cycle

approach can improve performance and business.

Focus on communicating with the consumers/customers. Develop a tool or text

about: “Six principles to keep in mind when communicating on CSR/ your work

with ISO26000 as a SME”. Give the SME´s concrete examples on how to

communicate and how not to.

Include guidance on how to conduct a stakeholder analysis and how to use

stakeholder inputs and concerns when working with the framework of ISO26000.

Use of cases when developing the teaching platform should be emphasized and

the quality of cases should be improved also including much more relevant

dilemmas. Many cases today are of poor quality and not very interesting.

Develop guidance to the trainers on how to mix didactic resource to a specific

target-group.

Develop a pixie book that makes it more attractive for SME´s to read ISO26000

(it is comprehensive…)

A special focus should be given to CSR training contents addressed to people

already involved in the human resource development, to assist the integration of

a new concept in the everyday operating of the SMEs.

The training should pay special attention to the core subjects of consumer issues

and community involvement and development, due to the fact that the consumer

pressure could be a strong motivator for SMEs to be started within SMEs issues.

Tips for the design of the CSR training tool:

Establishment of platforms (presence or virtual) that allow the exchange of

experiences and mutual learning. A virtual platform would be more recommended

due to its flexibility for SMEs, taking into account their limited time and resources.

However, due to the limitation of an only virtual platform (e-learning), personal

contact and direct support from the trainer should be considered, in order to


complement the training, as a personal dialogue is needed. For instance,

workshops could be included in the training.

Provision of intergenerational, interdisciplinary and intercultural learning settings.

Compact trainings and training resources, particularly in the form of guides;

unified contents, standardized and adapted to SMEs needs.

Provision of personal training, also various forms are possible (presence training

or virtual attendance).

Participants shall be flexible regarding their learning and know-how progress.

Motivating resources; the training should make CSR more friendly and closer to

SMEs.

Provision of further reading, information, links to relevant organizations and web-

sites.

Definition of terms and/or provision of a glossary.

Clear and simple language, pregnant and generally understandable information.

Visual contents, through attractive, accessible and easy to use materials.

To sum up, as indicated through previous recommendation, the new CSR training

platform should make ISO 26000 accessible to SME‟s, in order to allow them and make

easier the integration of CSR strategies within the overall company‟s strategy. As well as

this, the introduction of the CSI tool should be expanded to all the interested

stakeholders, not only SMEs, but also to the universities and VET institutions, in order to

provide them integrated and accessible didactic resources.


References

AUSTRIA:

1. Deuerlein, I., Riedel, S., Pomper, F., Die gesellschaftliche Verantwortung

österreichischer Unternehmen, Initiative CSR Austria, Vienna 2003

2. Fembek, M., CSR. Jahrbuch für unternehmerische Verantwortung 2010 (CSR Annual

2010), KGV Marketing- und VerlagsgesmbH, Vienna 2009

3. Fembek, M., CSR. Jahrbuch für unternehmerische Verantwortung 2011 (CSR Annual

2011), KGV Marketing- und VerlagsgesmbH, Vienna 2010

4. Gluske, H., Schmied, G., Chancen nutzen!, Das Büro Chancen nutzen, Presentation

on http://www.roomycompany.at/downloads/roomycontactbetriebsbefragung.pdf

5. Keck, W., Schubert, M., CSR Trainingshandbuch, FO.FO.s, Vienna 2007

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Glossary of Abbreviations

CSR Corporate Social Responsibility

SME Small and Medium Enterprise

VET Vocational and Educational Training

NGO Non Government Organisation

NACE Nomenclature générale des Activités économiques dans les Communautés

Européennes

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

ISO International Organization for Standardization

OHSAS Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series

SA Social Accountability (Standard)

BSCI Business Social Compliance Initiative


Annexe 1 - Questionnaire for SMEs:

ADDRESSE: Companies - SMEs Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept that receives considerable attention from sustainability specialists in all countries and lately, ISO has launched a new standard – ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility. However, it is a fact that in the case of the SMEs there is a lack of know-how and training materials to support the systematic integration of social responsibility considerations in their management process. Are the SMEs involved in Corporate Social Responsibility issues? Why? Do they know how to develop this area? Are there adequate training materials focused on SMEs? Which competences are required? Which are SME’s training needs? And trainers’ needs? This survey is part of a research project funded by the Education and Culture DG of the European Commission. The aim of answering this survey is to obtain information about SMEs’ involvement in Social Responsibility issues, in order to develop training materials on this area to support SMEs in integrating social responsibility initiatives in their business. The survey is based on multiple choices and you can select more than one, if appropriate. It will not take long to fill in this survey. Thank you in advance for your time and collaboration. Confidentiality Statement: This research project guarantees respondents total confidentiality.

1. COMPANY PROFILE

1.1. Company name: 1.2. Activity (according to NACE classification): 1.3. Address: 1.4. Contact: 1.5. Website: 1.6. Identification of the interviewee (optional):

Name: Function:

1.7. Number of employees (could be estimated):

< 10 10 < x < 50 50 < x < 250

1.8. Turnover latest financial year (could be estimated):

< 500.000€ 500.000€ < x < 5.000.000€ > 5.000.000€

2. CURRENT PRACTICES FOR INTEGRATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

2.1. Does the company have a Human Resource development policy?

Yes No


2.2. Does the company have an Environment Protection policy?

Yes No

2.3. Does the company have a social responsibility policy?

Yes No

2.4. What do you understand by “Social Responsibility”?

Investing in the human resources Investing in occupational health and safety Observing human rights Taking care of environmental issues Charity (donations) Others, please indicate:

2.5. Is social responsibility a priority area in your company?

Yes No

Please, indicate why: 2.6. Is the company certified or working according to any of the following standards?

ISO 14001 ISO 9001 OHSAS 18001 SA8000 Global Compact Ethical Trade Iniciative BSCI AA1000 Other, please indicate which one:

2.7. Does the company conduct any audits?

Environmental audit in our own company Environmental audit in the supply chain Social audit in our own company Social audit in the supply chain No

2.8. Does the company carry out initiatives for social responsibility?

Within the company In the supply chain In the local community No (go to question 2.12.)


2.9. Are these initiatives integrated in any management planning?

No Yes. Please, indicate the person/department in charge of this planning: There is a specially assigned person for Corporate Social Responsibility. This role is included in the Human Resource Development department. This role is carried out by the responsible person/department for Environmental Protection. Others, please indicate:

2.10. Why does the company carry out these social responsibility initiatives?

Market reasons Clients’ requirements Awareness and ethical consciousness Others, please indicate:

2.11. Which areas of social responsibility are these initiatives related to?

Organizational governance Human rights Labour practices The environment Fair operating practices Consumer issues Community involvement and development Others, please indicate:

2.12. If the answer is “NO”, why does the company not carry out social responsibility initiatives?

Lack of top management commitment Lack of customer demand Lack of know-how Lack of time and human resources Social Responsibility has no economic benefit Social Responsibility is expensive Social Responsibility does not bring competitive advantage Others:

2.13. Has the company considered working on social responsibility issues?

Yes No

2.14. Has the company done any training on social responsibility?

Yes No (go to question 3.1.)

2.15. Who was the training aimed at:

Management Internal experts Selected persons. Please specify their functions: All employees


2.16. Was the training...

Internal, based on own knowledge Internal, with external experts External

2.17. Would you recommend this kind of training to other companies?

Yes No

Please, indicate why:

3. INTEREST AND POTENTIALITY ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

3.1. How relevant do you judge the following principles for your company?

PRINCIPLES How relevant are these principles for the organization? (1-it is not relevant; 4- 100% relevant)

1. Accountability

2. Transparency

3. Ethical behavior

4. Respect for stakeholder interests

5. Respect for the rule of law

6. Respect for international norms of behaviour

7. Respect for human rights

3.2. Has the company pointes out the main stakeholders?

Yes No

3.3. If yes, are the stakeholders...

involved in developing CSR strategies engaged in carrying out the company’s CSR initiatives informed about the company’s CSR efforts

not involved or informed

4. NEEDS OF KNOW-HOW ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

4.1. Does the company count on specific knowledge and skills to integrate social responsibility?

Yes, please specify: No

4.2. Does the company use CSR training materials/tools?

Yes, please specify: No


4.3. Relevance and training needs on subjects and issues The subjects and issues mentioned in the scheme are based on the ISO 26000 standard


Is the core subject and its issues

judged relevant for the organization? (1-low / 4-high)

Training need on this subject/issue

(1-low / 4-high)




Due diligence

Human rights risk situations

Avoidance of complicity

Resolving grievances

Discrimination and vulnerable groups

Civil and political rights

Economic, social and cultural rights

Fundamental rights at work

3. Labour practices: “all policies and practices relating to work performed within, by or on behalf of the organization”

Employment and employment relationships

Conditions of work and social protection

Social dialogue

Health and safety at work

Human development and training in the workplace

4. The environment

Prevention of pollution

Sustainable resource use

Climate change mitigation and adaptation

Protection and restoration of the natural environment


Anti–corruption

Responsible political involvement

Fair competition

Promoting social responsibility in the sphere of influence

Respect for property rights


6. Consumer Issues

Fair marketing, factual and unbiased information and fair contractual practices

Protecting consumers’ health and safety

Sustainable consumption

Consumer service, support, and dispute resolution

Consumer data protection and privacy

Access to essential services

Education and awareness

7. Community involvement and development: “an organization's proactive outreach to the community”

Community involvement

Education and culture

Employment creation and skills development

Technology development and access

Wealth and income creation

Health

Social investment

4.4. Which method would be useful for you?

Text Audio CD room Video Guides Manuals Computer/virtual Personal trainer Others, please indicate:

4.5. Please, specify other comments or recommendations for the development of training materials on

social responsibility focused on SMEs:

4.6. Would you be interested in participating in testing the developed training materials?

Yes, I would like to know more No, thank you


Annexe 2 - Questionnaire for VETs:

ADDRESSE: VET Institutions Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept that receives considerable attention from sustainability specialists in all countries and lately, ISO has launched a new standard on social responsibility – ISO 26000. However, it is a fact that in the case of the SMEs there is a lack of know-how and training materials to support the systematic integration of social responsibility considerations in their management process. Are the SMEs involved in Corporate Social Responsibility issues? Why? Do they know how to develop this area? Are there adequate training materials focused on SMEs? Which are trainers’ needs? This survey is part of a research project funded by the Education and Culture DG of the European Commission. The aim of answering this survey is to obtain information about existing training offer and materials related to Social Responsibility issues, in order to develop new training materials with public access on this area to be implemented on small and medium companies. It will not take long to fill in this survey. Thank you in advance for your time and collaboration. Confidentiality Statement: This research project guarantees respondents total confidentiality. 1. Institution profile: Name of the organisation: Contact person: web-site: 2. Has the organisation courses or training on specific subjects related to social responsibility?

Yes. Please specify the subjects and link to a website if relevant (continue reading the following

questions): No (go to question 12)

3. Are the subjects stand-alone CSR or included in other courses?

Stand-alone course Integrated in another module. Please, indicate the title of the module:

4. Which is the duration of the social responsibility course or training offer?

< 10 hours 10 < x > 20 hours 20 < x > 40 hours > 40 hours. Please, indicate:

5. How would you define the content of the course/training offer?

100% theoretical More theoretical than practical: 75% < x < 100% of the course is theoretical 50% theoretical and 50% practical More practical than theoretical: 25% < x < 50% of the course is theoretical 100% practical


6. Which are the target groups of the training offer?

Students Companies and other organisations Unemployed Others, please specify:

7. Which subject areas does the training offer include?

Organizational governance Human rights Labour practices The environment Fair operating practices Consumer issues Community involvement and development Others, please indicate:

8. Which are the didactic resources used in the subject/course?

Text Audio CD room Video Guides Manuals Computer/virtual Others, please indicate:

9. Which is the source of the used materials?

Self-made Licensed Free-access Others, please indicate:

10. Which are the advantages and disadvantages of the used didactic resources? 11. Which other documents/tools would be useful for you, besides those already used?

Text Audio CD room Video Guides Manuals Computer/virtual Others, please indicate:


12. How do you assess social responsibility demand from SMEs?

In general, SMEs do not have real necessity of social responsibility; lack of social responsibility

awareness. In general, SMEs do not have knowledge about the existing social responsibility training resources. There is a lack of top management commitment in SMEs about social responsibility. SMEs would be interested in social responsibility if training resources would be adapted to them. Others, please specify:

13. Please, indicate recommendations for the development of training materials on social responsibility:

situation analysis on csr activities on sme's 2011 - prepare network

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