Company: Trisakti University - MM-CSR

Company: Trisakti University - MM-CSR

Country: Indonesia

Project Name: The Establishment of a Master Degree Program with specialization in Corporate Social Responsibility (MM-CSR) at Trisakti University, Jakarta, Indonesia

Website:

Objectives:

The program aimed to do the following:

i.provide education on the true philosophy of CSR, using real case studies. To this end, all the subjects leading to a Master’s degree were CSR-related. Case studies produced focused on CSR in Indonesian companies, SMEs, as well as third-sector organizations (NGOs, universities, cooperatives).

ii.help disperse knowledge about CSR through master graduates of MM-CSR who had the ability to design and apply CSR programs in companies, SMEs, and third sector organizations (TSOs) so as to increase national awareness

iii.offer good, international standard CSR education by inviting visiting professors to become part of team teaching from the University of Technology Sydney, the United Arab Emirates University, etc., as well as international sustainability practitioners

iv.share the experiences of CSR practitioners from the private sector, NGOs, and government, two Wednesdays per month during the regular discussion sessions.

v.come up with a minimum of 10 post-graduate faculty members through the capacity building program

vi.come up with a collection of practical literature, modules and syllabi on CSR, as done in Indonesia, for use in MM with specialization in CSR and during training activities for SMEs, TSOs, and the private sector.

vii.produce graduates with the capability to design and implement CSR programs and projects in companies, SMEs, and TSOs

viii.publish outstanding student researches as seen in theses on CSR cases in Indonesia, for use in the teaching-learning process.

Details of the project:

Trisakti University, the oldest and largest (in terms of student population) private university in Indonesia, was aware of the need to help develop the community by putting theories into practice. The feasibility study to create this program and curriculum was done by CECT in early 2006. The research intended to determine how Trisakti University could contribute to building national awareness on reducing the impact of climate change. The research showed that there was a gap in CSR education. Society’s understanding and knowledge of CSR were very limited; and there was no formal schooling on CSR, albeit there were many workshops and seminars on basic CSR.

Further, while there were several CSR case studies on multinational companies, none existed on Indonesian companies, SMEs, and TSOs. Based on the results of the feasibility study, therefore, CECT suggested to USAKTI that a Master’s Degree Program in CSR be established. Thereafter, CECT sought funds to support the plan.

The preparation for this project took one year, with the MM-CSR program launched in 12 March 2008. CECT functioned as the think-tank of the program, for which its main role was to support the teaching process. Among other things, CECT undertook case-study researches about CSR in companies as well as SMEs in Indonesia; provided teachers from the private sector, government, as well as the third sector; and invited visiting professors from distinguished academic institutions outside Indonesia to form part of its network.

The marketing of the program began in early 2008, and by September 2009, the total number of students enrolled was 97. Marketing was done through word of mouth, with satisfied students telling their friends, colleagues, and network about the program.

Information was also available in the website and in advertisements in a prominent national newspaper and a well-known magazine. The CECT leader networked with CSR practitioners in Indonesia through various means, such as becoming a member of the National Consortium of CSR and collaborating with the private sector (e.g., the Astra Group, Indonesia Business Link (IBL), Indonesia Chamber of Commerce) for them to engage in the CSR related programs. To develop good relations with the students, the MM-CSR Students Association was formed. It met formally or informally on a regular basis.

The CECT and MM-CSR team teachers produced 10 case studies on CSR in Indonesia, 15 syllabi and modules. CECT was invited to give in-house trainings on “CSR: Concept, Context, Issues” in IBL, Panasonic, and Astra Daihatsu. The Astra Group was collaborating with CECT on trainings, education, and consultations regarding CSR.

The number of students enrolled was increasing, alongside their diversity: some came from the private sector, others from government, and still others from TSOs. The students were expected to offer suggestions to their workplaces regarding CSR programs eventually.

CECT played a central role in the success of the MM-CSR program.