Student-led conference promotes the adoption of corporate social responsibility in Asia-based businesses
In the past decade, Asian economies have been among the fastest growing in the world. Asia-based business has expanded overseas and huge investment has flowed out of and into the region.As the economy booms, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), once unheard of on Asia’s shores, is becoming increasingly ingrained in the fabric of its multinational corporations.
On Friday May 20th, the leading lights of CSR in Asia will come together at the 10th annual CUHK MBA CSR Conference, hosted by a committee of bright young MBA students from Hong Kong’s CUHK Business School. The aim: to encourage Asian companies to push for sustainable development and positive societal change by integrating CSR at the center of their business models.
“For Asian companies, CSR is a must,” says Henry Qin, a current MBA student at CUHK and president of the CSR conference organizing committee.
“Every company should bear the responsibility of conducting sustainable business, and, in order to become future business leaders, MBA students should have this idea in mind,” he says.
Henry has had a personal connection with CSR from an early age. Born into a middle class family in inner China, opportunities to go overseas were limited. Yet after his undergraduate studies he moved to work as a volunteer teacher in India, and the experience opened his eyes.
“CSR gave me the opportunity to sail the world,” he says. “When I was at college, I didn’t know CSR at all, but when I started working, I noticed how many Chinese companies are using CSR in order to grow their overseas business.”
Asian companies still lag behind the West in terms of their adoption of CSR. Yet while working as a consultant in Kenya, Henry (pictured right) witnessed first-hand how some Chinese companies are beginning to incorporate CSR into their business strategies; providing technical training for young Kenyans on the ground as well as scholarships to study in China.
While CSR is often seen as a brand-building, PR tool, a successful CSR project can lay the groundwork for years of future sustainable development. Brian Ho, a conference speaker, CUHK alumnus and sustainability leader at accounting giant Ernst & Young (EY), is more attuned than most to the need for the promotion of CSR in Asia.
“The environmental, social, economic landscape is changing very quickly and climate change is putting our economy at risk,” he says. “It’s necessary to have a paradigm shift in how our economy operates; how we produce and how we consume.”
With this in mind, he helped to form EY’s Helping Hands, a Hong Kong-based volunteer corps who collaborate with NGOs to generate environmental and social impact in local communities.
“We make an effort to beautify our environment, minimize the negative effects of our carbon footprint, and we are committed to educate our people to be environmentally friendly and socially responsible,” he says.
EY is something of a leader in CSR. “Building a better working world,” is both the historic British firm’s tagline and its purpose. Yet while significant strides have been taken in the past decade, Brian (pictured left) admits that pushing for CSR to be incorporated into business models in Asia is still a challenge.
“Compared to the western world, where the discussion on CSR has become a common practice, there is still an awareness gap in Asia,” he says.
The CUHK MBA CSR Conference goes a long way to filling that gap. Panel discussions, speeches from CSR experts and entrepreneurs are all intended to highlight the increasing need and want for CSR in businesses in Asia.
“It's a very good platform to learn from others and to meet future business partners,” Henry explains.
“Steve Jobs said that life is about collecting thoughts,” he continues. “That’s what this conference does.”
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.
