The Role of Business Schools,
as Responsible Institutions,
in Making the World a Better Place
Ahmed Hassanein
Assistant Professor
School of Management & School of Sciences & Engineering
USEK, Junieh, Lebanon
April 15, 2014
Our Context
• Private University
• Post-revolution Egypt (wanna know what that’s like?
Ask me later!)
• Economy
–
–
–
–
Unstable – “hit-&-run”
70%+ informal
90%+ SME's
Dominated by family-owned businesses
• Our graduates end up either:
– In their family-owned business;
– In MNA’s; or
– Not here no more
Our “Dilemma”
• Surely telling them to be good & do good
won’t cut it…. Or will it?
• Patting yourself on the back doesn’t work well
if you have stakeholders to answer to
• Do well by doing good… think globally, act
locally
• M/SME’s vs MNA’s
• We realize we are but a piece of the puzzle
So the real question is:
How do we maximize our role &
make this puzzle not only easy, but
also worthwhile to solve, while
maximizing our impact?
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3088/kryptt.jpg
We are, After all, a University
• Specialization is efficient
• Silos
• Schools – Departments – units Specializations
• Jack of all trades, master of none
• Is that how the world functions?
Our Mission
The School of Business strives to create an
environment that fosters the development of
principled & innovative business leaders &
entrepreneurs who can make a difference
Our Mission
The School of Business strives to create an
environment that fosters the development of
principled & innovative business leaders &
entrepreneurs who can make a difference
Is that enough?
Can vs. want to
Can vs. see the need to
Can vs. see the value in
Our Mission
The School of Business strives to create an
environment that fosters the development of
principled & innovative business leaders &
entrepreneurs who can make a difference
Reminiscent of
government’s role?
Food for Thought
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A specialized course on business ethics
A specialized course on women’s rights
A specialized course on minorities’ right
A specialized course on transparency
A specialized course on integrity
A specialized course on anti-corruption
A specialized course on sustainability
Promoting Tri-partite Solutions
• Public sector, private sector & civil Society
– Is Civil Society civil?
– Is Private Sector private?
– Is public Sector public?
ERS in School Activities
1. Strategic dir. & plans
2. Formal commitment & championship of
globally recognized initiatives through
international memberships & activities
3. Teaching, research & service
4. Institutional, faculty & student impact on the
community; &
5. Integration & collaboration with AUC & the
broader community
6. BoP investment
Questions We Ask XOurselves
1. Is there room for improvement?
2. Are “ethics” universal?
3. Is there an ultimate Right & Wrong, or is it
location/culture dependent?
4. Where does one draw the line?
5. How can one teach ethics & CSR in the lack
of rule of law & ethics?
6. Legal vs. ethical?
7. Internationalization?
8. Sustainability in a “dynamic” economy?
Can you promote what
you don’t practice?
School’s Pillars
•
•
•
•
Entrepreneurship
Innovation
Leadership
Responsible Business
PRME
• Signatory in 2011
• 1st PRME Regional Forum - “Entrepreneurship –
Sustainability – Transparency: Promoting
Responsible Management in a Changing Region”
• Supporting 2nd PRME Regional Forum - "Doing
Business Responsibly: When Corporations Become
Citizens” (2012), USEK
• Nominated to become PRME champions
• UN Global Compact LEAD member
Show Me the Money!
• SAB
• Student inclusion in CSB standing academic
governance & policy committee
• KCC – case studies showcasing sustainability
& responsibility
• EIP
• WEL
• Corporate Governance Club
Show Me More Money!
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•
•
•
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Executive Education
Real Estate Academy
Management Centre
Collaboration with other Schools & Centres
Collaboration with other edu. institutions
What we teach, how we teach it & why
Building bridges (recruitment & faculty
development)
Really, the Best We Can
Do Is
Lead by example
& let stakeholders see
the light
Thank you for your time
God Bless you all
P.S. Send your kids to AUC!
ahassanein@aucegypt.edu