City University of Hong Kong

Course Syllabus

offered Department of of Asian and International Studies

with effect from Semester A 2017/18

Part I Course Overview

Course Title: Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia

Course Code: AIS 3054

Course Duration: One semester

Credit Units: 3

Level: B3
Arts and Humanities
Study of Societies, Social and Business Organisations
Proposed Area:
(for GE courses only) Science and Technology

Medium of
Instruction: English

Medium of
Assessment: English

Prerequisites: Nil
(Course Code and Title)

Precursors: Nil
(Course Code and Title)

Equivalent Courses: AIS3321

(Course Code and Title) Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia

Exclusive Courses: Nil

(Course Code and Title)

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
 Part II Course Details

1. Abstract
This course will provide students with the skills to analyse business, social and environmental issues
that are relevant to the development of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable business
practices in Hong Kong and other countries in Asia. Students will learn to master CSR theory and
assess corporate behaviour and the CSR practices of MNCs in Asia. Students will hold interactive
discussions in class and with guest speakers from NGOs and industries to examine issues and
dilemmas for responsible business practices. They will also do research on cases and write position
papers that bring solutions to the challenges and problems faced by organizations and corporations.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

(CILOs state what the student is expected to be able to do at the end of the course according to a given standard of
performance.)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No. CILOs# Weighting* Discovery-enriched

(if curriculum related
applicable) learning outcomes
(please tick where
appropriate)
A1 A2 A3
1. Show familiarity with economic, social and 10%
√
environmental policy frameworks in which CSR
takes place
√2. Demonstrate mastery of CSR theory and practice in 30% √ √
Asia
3. Explain and analyse CSR in Asia; case studies of 30% √ √ √
company behaviour in Asia such as ethical sourcing,
human rights, environment and pollution,
development, education, etc
4 Interpret best responsible business practices of foreign 20% √ √ √
MNCs in Asia on the basis of issues raised in #1
5 Demonstrate familiarity with Stakeholder expectations 10% √ √
of companies in East and Southeast Asia versus
expectations in North America and Europe versus
stakeholder expectations in Asia
* If weighting is assigned to CILOs, they should add up to 100%. 100%
#
Please specify the alignment of CILOs to the Gateway Education Programme Intended Learning outcomes
(PILOs) in Section A of Annex.

A1: Attitude
Develop an attitude of discovery/innovation/creativity, as demonstrated by students possessing a strong
sense of curiosity, asking questions actively, challenging assumptions or engaging in inquiry together
with teachers.
A2: Ability
Develop the ability/skill needed to discover/innovate/create, as demonstrated by students possessing
critical thinking skills to assess ideas, acquiring research skills, synthesizing knowledge across disciplines
or applying academic knowledge to self-life problems.
A3: Accomplishments
Demonstrate accomplishment of discovery/innovation/creativity through producing /constructing
creative works/new artefacts, effective solutions to real-life problems or new processes.

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
 3. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)
(TLAs designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs.)

TLA Brief Description CILO No. Hours/week

1 2 3 4 (if applicable)
Lecture the instructor will present √
concepts, theories and case
studies on CSR
Lectures Guest speakers from industry √
and nongovernmental
organizations will present case
studies on real-life
experiences
Oral students will work in groups √
presentations to lead class discussions and
structured question and
answer sessions on relevant
topics
Research students use relevant materials √
to write position papers that
facilitate problem-solving and
decision-making for
organizations and
corporations.
Group work students will work together to √
develop mini-case studies to
develop research,
collaborative and creative
thinking skills

4. Assessment Tasks/Activities (ATs)

(ATs are designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs.)

Assessment Tasks/Activities CILO No. Weighting* Remarks

1 2 3 4 5
Continuous Assessment: ____%
Attendance and Discussion √ √ 20%
Class Presentations and √ √ √ 30%
Group Work
Position Paper √ √ √ √ 25%
Quiz √ √ √ 25%
Examination: ____% (duration: , if applicable)
* The weightings should add up to 100%. 100%

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
5. Assessment Rubrics
(Grading of student achievements is based on student performance in assessment tasks/activities with the following rubrics.)

Assessment Criterion Excellent Good Fair Marginal Failure

Task (A+, A, A-) (B+, B, B-) (C+, C, C-) (D) (F)
1. Attendance Regular Regular attendance, Regular attendance, Irregular Irregular Irregular
and Discussion attendance and consistently consistently good attendance, attendance, limited attendance, little to
contributions to excellent contributions to in- adequate contributions to in- no contribution to
in-class contributions to in- class discussions. contributions to in- class discussions. in-class discussions.
discussions class discussions. class discussions.
(both quality and
quantity).
2. Class Work in groups Preparation/delivery Preparation/delivery Preparation/delivery Preparation/delivery Preparation/delivery
Presentations to of excellent of good of adequate of marginal of unsatisfactory
and Group prepare/deliver presentations on presentations on presentations on presentations on presentations on
Work presentations on relevant topics. relevant topics. relevant topics. relevant topics. relevant topics.
relevant topics
3. Position Papers are Excellent capacity Good capacity to Adequate capacity Limited capacity to Little or no capacity
Paper assessed for their to identify, analyse, identify, analyse, to identify, analyse, identify, analyse, to identify, analyse,
capacity to and resolve and resolve and resolve and resolve and resolve
identify, analyse, problems. problems. problems. problems. problems.
and resolve
problems.
4. Quiz Demonstrate Excellent Good understanding Adequate/satisfactory Limited Little or no
understanding of understanding of of concepts, theories understanding of understanding of understanding of
concepts, concepts, theories and case studies concepts, theories concepts, theories concepts, theories
theories and case and case studies covered in the and case studies and case studies and case studies
studies covered covered in the course. covered in the covered in the covered in the
in the course. course. course. course. course.

Course Syllabus
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Jun 2017
Part III Other Information (more details can be provided separately in the teaching plan)

1. Keyword Syllabus
(An indication of the key topics of the course.)
CSR, Economic, social and environmental policy frameworks in Asia, CSR theory and practice in Asia,
corporate codes of conduct, CSR standards, best responsible business practices in foreign MNCs in
Asia, ethical sourcing, supply chains, human rights, environment and pollution, development,
education, etc, stakeholder expectations.

Course Text:
Michael, B. & Murray, A., 2008. Corporate Responsibility: a critical introduction. Hong Kong:
Oxford UP.

2. Reading List
2.1 Compulsory Readings
(Compulsory readings can include books, book chapters, or journal/magazine articles. There are also collections of
e-books, e-journals available from the CityU Library.)

1.
2.
3.
…

2.2 Additional Readings

(Additional references for students to learn to expand their knowledge about the subject.)

1. Achda, B. T., 2007. The sociological context of corporate social responsibility development
and implementation in Indonesia. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental
Management, 13(5), pp. 300-305.
2. Frost, S., et. al., eds., 2007. CSR Asia Weekly Digest, 2006. Hong Kong: CSR Asia.
3. Frost, S. & Ho, M., 2005. Cadmium poisoning: a case study of Gold Peak Batteries in China.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 12(4), pp. 220-226.
4. Ho, M. & Welford, R., 2006. Case study: power, protests and the police: the shootings at
Shanwei. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 13(4), pp. 233-
237.
5. Pearson, R., et. al., eds., 2002. Corporate Responsibility and Labour Rights: Codes of Conduct
in the Global Economy. London: Earthscan.
6. Sethi, S. P., 2003. Setting Global Standards: Guidelines for Creating Codes of Conduct in
Multinational Corporations. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
7. Welford, R. & Frost, S., 2006. Corporate social responsibility in Asian supply chains.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 13(3), pp. 166-176.

Course Syllabus 5
Jun 2017