In business schools we learn every aspect of business: strategy, economics, finance, marketing, and even soft skills like negotiation. All these aim to achieve the goal of business development. Without much argument the most obvious reason of doing just that would be profit making.Is Profit the Solo Focus?
In 1970, Nobel Prize winner Professor Milton Friedman published his then well-known article titled “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits” in the New York Times Magazine. Milton’s view on the objectives of enterprises essentially dominated in the following decades. His view was commonly shared by the leaders of the western world who regarded social responsibilities as binding constraints against enterprise development and those constraints would eventually do harm to competitiveness.
Four decades passed and a lot has changed. Although far from a universal consent, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is nowadays an increasingly wide-spread credence suggesting that enterprises need to do much more than Milton suggested. The influence of corporate behavior to the society and to the environment has proven to be too substantial to ignore (think the financial crisis in 2008 and the Gulf oil spill in 2010). As the public gets more aware of the tremendous power of corporations upon people’s lives, higher pressure and expectation were put upon corporations. Worldwide the business community finds its business decisions confronted by stakeholders of the society, and it is a much larger group than shareholders.
In CUMBA we believe partnership works better than confrontation. Enterprises can operate in a more social-friendly way which strengthens their stakeholder engagement and delivers sustainable returns. While some may argue those efforts mean no more than window dressing, more and more businesses are taking steps further than charity donations and are actually integrating CSR elements into their business decision process.
“Would that hurt their books?”, you may ask. The classic MBA answer applies here: It depends! It truly depends on how you practice CSR to realize the synergies with your core business. But one thing is for certain: the paradigm shift of social responsibilities fulfillment is real. After all it is about how your business interacts with the society. I cannot see how profit can buy a way-out for the two to go separate ways in a long run.
CUMBA CSR Conference 2011
Since 2007, CUHK MBA students have been organizing an annual conference looking into the topic of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Marching to its fifth year, the Conference has become a premier platform of exchange between the business community, the academia, and the CSR experts in Hong Kong.
The 2011 Conference, themed "Global Partnership for a Sustainability Future", was held successfully on 11 May. More than 250 delegates from over 50 organizations of various business domains participated in the conference to share their experience and aspirations of fulfilling social responsibility through responsible business practices. You can find the Conference presentation materials at its official website: http://cumbacsr.baf.cuhk.edu.hk.
Extended Readings
"The Big Idea: Creating Shared Value" at HBR by Prof. Michael Porter and Prof. Mark Kramer is a good place to start.
And of course, the other side of the coin. Here comes a hard one:
"The Hot Air of CSR", by Stefan Stern, columnist of the Financial Times.
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
