Seminar “CSR in the IT Sector” – successful University Cooperation in Germany

The last winter semester offered more than 20 students from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt the unique opportunity to take part in a practice-oriented seminar showcasing the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Intel Corporation. The seminar of Prof. Dr. Andre Habisch “CSR in the IT Sector” was conducted as cooperation between the University, the Center for Corporate Citizenship in Ingolstadt and Intel Corp., represented by Thomas Osburg, Director Corporate Affairs Europe and Albena Todorova, PhD Student at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and currently Intern to CAG Europe.

The study course focused on CSR, possibilities for its application in the IT-sector and its outcomes as seen in real-life examples. To demonstrate the practical significance of the topic area, students were prompted to explore different aspects of the CSR model and activities of Intel. An introduction how Intel perceives its social responsibility and the measures adopted in the business practice in this context was given in November 2008 by Thomas Osburg. In the following weeks the students formed teams to explore the presented concepts and their realization through the education, environment and volunteer initiatives of Intel. By linking concrete practices to theoretical frameworks, comparing features of CSR activities of Intel with such of other companies within and outside the IT sectors, as well as analysing distinct cases of CSR policy and implementation, students aimed at proposing possible improvements.

Students’ group work and the results from it were presented at the final session of the seminar on January 8th, which took place at the Intel site in Feldkirchen/Munich. Many interesting questions and reflections from their work were brought up, for instance how Intel Corp. answers the question why it takes responsibility for social matters, who are the stakeholders influencing CSR, or what problems can be expected when implementing an established CSR project in another country.

Students outlined as major advantages of Intel Education its sustainability, its alignment with the company core competencies and its broader scope through not only providing learning opportunities for students but rather focusing on professional development of teachers as main agents of change in the educational system. Suggestions for improvement highlighted the role of communicating more effectively the goals, actions and outcomes of the CSR projects to the public and the stakeholders, and addressed current shortfalls in this respect.

The seminar “CSR in the IT Sector” was not only a valuable experience for the students of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, but also unveiled areas for improvement and further exploration for the CSR team in Intel Corp. Along with the acquired knowledge and insights, completing the seminar will bring the students a certificate for participation from the Center for Corporate Citizenship

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com.

Contact Information:
Intel GmbH
Thomas Osburg
Director Europe - Corporate Affairs
Dornacher Str. 1
D-85622 Feldkirchen
Tel. +49 / 89 / 99143-0
www.intel.com

This release was published on openPR.