Published 05-04-04
Submitted by New Academy of Business
This joint effort has developed a briefing pack of information about leading practices and initiatives, which will be available at the Council's offices in 110 countries around the world. This pack engages the Council's own teams in conversations about how business practices affect the processes of governance in society. The Council teams will then seek to develop connections with interested educational institutes, at local and regional levels, to implement teaching and training activities.
To support the British Council, the New Academy has also designed a short-course programme for educators and trainers. This course helps management educators examine methods for integrating sustainability, human rights and accountability issues in their teaching and training. Along with information on these issues, the course strengthens the skills of participants and encourages them to act as change agents who can influence their institutions to support the CSR agenda. The programme consists of a short on-line module, two-and-a-half day workshop and a tutor supported follow-up project.
Programme Initiated in New Delhi
David Murphy and Sally Briton of the New Academy delivered the new curriculum for the first time in New Delhi, India in March 2004. Management educators from four Indian institutes participated including the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) in Ghaziabad, Aravali Institute of Management in Jodhpur and the Sri Sringeri Sharada Institute of Management and the Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (IILM) both in New Delhi. One participant noted that as a result of the course, "I will incorporate CSR elements in my upcoming classes on organisational behaviour and human resources...I will slowly work as a 'tempered radical' to sensitise the student community to the issues."
Later in March David Murphy returned to India to deliver a series of follow-up seminars in Chandigarh, Ghaziabad, Jodhpur and New Delhi for students and faculty of management institutes and local business leaders.
The New Academy has also been responding to interest in China, from the Guangdong Human Resource Management Association, the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, Zhongshan University and other potential local partners, and in Argentina, from Instituto de Estudios para la Sustenabilidad Corporativa for similar capacity building work.
About the British Council
The British Council connects people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. We are the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations and are represented in 110 countries worldwide.
About the New Academy of Business
The New Academy of Business is committed to transforming business and management practice through education and research. We create innovative learning events, materials and processes to explore social, ethical and environmental questions, helping entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, workers and students respond to sustainability and organisational responsibility.
We work with our partners to develop insights into these complex issues through people-centred learning approaches. Based upon continuous cycles of reflective observation and practical application, we seek to create new understandings and support personal and organisational change.
Currently, the demand for our work is linked to sustainable development and business responsibility, through: