CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CSR

Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (PGDCSR) is an innovative programme offered through ODL mode utilising multiple media such as SLM, information and communication technologies and personal contact sessions. The PGDCSR programme is located in and launched by the School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS) in IGNOU. The programme aims at promoting professional development and capacity building in the area of CSR. The CSR is a multidisciplinary subject which is rapidly growing and evolving field of study. The philanthropy in the form of charity has been prevalent in India since ancient times. CSR in India has come a long way from voluntary practices to a regulatory mechanism. The Companies in India are governed by Clause 135 of the Companies Act 2013 to perform their CSR activities. The CSR rules have been applicable from the fiscal year 2014-15 onwards and require companies to set up a CSR Committee consisting of their board members. Large Indian companies are now transitioning from philanthropy to a rapidly evolving strategic engagement in development issues. The process of establishing and responding to the CSR agenda within an organization will require specialists in this field. This programme was developed to train the professionals in this area. Offer and Coverage  The PGDCSR programme is offered in both January and July sessions of every year. It is offered through the established network of IGNOU Regional Centres. Objectives  To impart knowledge and understanding about CSR through Open and Distance Learning.  To expand the capacity of learners on various theoretical and practical aspects of CSR. 8-To develop professional knowledge in formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CSR projects and programmes. Eligibility-Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University / Institute. Medium-English. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) emerged in the early nineties as a new buzz in the business world and since then has developed into a field with substantial and diverse career opportunities. With the passing of Companies Act, 2013 and the New CSR Rules 2014, India has become the first country to bring legislation on CSR. Several Indian companies will now be required to undertake CSR projects in order to comply with the provisions of the Companies Act. With many companies undertaking these initiatives for the first time, this has opened a 9 whole gambit of job opportunities in public, corporate and non-profit sectors. Further, the criticality of the CSR issues has not been properly understood by the stakeholders due to less emphasis on CSR in the on-campus academic curriculum at the graduation and post-graduation levels. Therefore, the PGDCSR is a very appropriate programme in ODL mode both in terms of content and timing. It provides a unique opportunity for attaining and upgrading the knowledge of the CSR professionals. Keeping all this in view, the PGDCSR programme has been designed in such a way to enhance the holistic understanding of CSR by covering CSR fundamentals, its process, implementation and handling of projects and programmes.  The PGDCSR holders will be equipped to serve various Government and non-government organizations (NGOs) dealing with CSR projects.  Fresh graduates who complete this programme will be the potential candidates suitable for employment at the grassroots, supervisory and other middle level positions in the corporate organizations and NGOs handling CSR projects.  The programme also strengthens the efficiency and effectiveness of in-service personnel working in government and NGOs, private or corporate sectors and handling various CSR projects and programmes.  In-service professionals with PGDCSR qualification will be more potential candidates suitable for higher level positions in the CSR filed. In addition, they can act as more resourceful persons in the field.  The PGDCSR also provides scope for those interested in establishing an NGO as part of their self-employment and greater involvement in CSR activities. 1.5 PROGRAMME FRAMEWORK AND CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 32 credits PGDCSR programme consists of the following courses: Course Code Title of the Course Credits MEDS-051 Fundamentals of CSR 6 MEDS-052 CSR Process 6 MEDS-053 CSR Implementation 6 10 MEDS-054 CSR Projects and Programmes 6 MEDSE-046 Development: Issues and Perspectives* 8 MEDSP-051 Project Work in CSR* 8 Total 32 *Electives. One of the two has to be selected. The block and unit wise structure of the courses is given below: MEDS-051: Fundamentals of CSR Block /Unit Title BLOCK 1 EVOLUTION AND CONCEPT OF CSR Unit 1 CSR: An Overview Unit 2 Perspective in Global Context Unit 3 Perspective in Indian Context BLOCK 2 CSR LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES: GLOBAL AND INDIA Unit 1 CSR Legislation in Other Countries Unit 2 Companies Act, 2013 Unit 3 Other CSR Policy Guidelines Unit 4 Other Related Rules and Guidelines BLOCK 3 KEY THEMATIC AREAS IN CSR - I Unit 1 Poverty Alleviation Unit 2 Quality of Life Improvement Unit 3 Employment Generation and Livelihood Unit 4 Women Empowerment BLOCK 4 KEY THEMATIC AREAS IN CSR - II Unit 1 Microfinance Unit 2 Environment Protection and Bio-diversity Conservation Unit 3 Education and Skill Development Unit 4 Awareness Creation BLOCK 5 KEY OUTCOMES OF CSR 11 Unit 1 Democratizing Development Unit 2 Community Ownership Unit 3 Connecting the Last Mile MEDS-052: CSR Process Block /Unit Title BLOCK 1 OPERATIONALIZING CSR Unit 1 Structural and Functional Setup Unit 2 Business Strategy in CSR Unit 3 Governance and Corporate Ethics BLOCK 2 CSR CULTURE AND DIVERSITY Unit 1 Employer Perspective Unit 2 Employee Engagement Unit 3 Entrepreneurship and Welfare Unit 4 Rehabilitation and Resettlement BLOCK 3 STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT Unit 1 Stakeholders Unit 2 NGOs and Cooperatives Unit 3 CSR and Government Programmes Unit 4 Corporate Foundations Unit 5 Local Bodies BLOCK 4 CSR FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Unit 1 UN SDGs Unit 2 Selection of Goals and Indicators Unit 3 Implementation Plan and Focus Area Alignment Unit 4 Collective Action and Collaboration 12 MEDS-053: CSR Implementation Block /Unit Title BLOCK 1 CSR DEPARTMENT Unit 1 Roles and Responsibilities Unit 2 Prioritization of CSR Projects Unit 3 Choosing the Implementation Agency BLOCK 2 IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERSHIP Unit 1 Components of Implementing Agency Unit 2 Inter-Agency Relationship Unit 3 Role of CBOs and NGOs in Driving CSR Initiatives Unit 4 Actioning the Theory BLOCK 3 ALTERNATIVE TRAJECTORIES IN CSR Unit 1 Implementation Challenges Unit 2 Market Mechanisms for CSR Unit 3 Social Ventures Unit 4 Social Venture Capital Unit 5 Policy Advocacy through CSR BLOCK 2 CSR REPORTING Unit 1 CSR Reporting Process Unit 2 Frameworks for Corporate Sustainability Reporting Unit 3 Standards of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Unit 4 Ratings and Indices of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Unit 5 Thematic Benchmarks MEDS – 054: CSR Projects and Programmes Block /Unit Title BLOCK 1 CSR PROGRAMME PLANNING Unit 1 How to Plan CSR Programmes 13 Unit 2 CSR Needs Assessment Unit 3 Stakeholders Engagement and Participation Unit 4 Participatory Methods BLOCK 2 MANAGEMENT OF CSR PROGRAMMES Unit 1 Project Assessment Unit 2 Monitoring of CSR Programmes Unit 3 Evaluation of CSR Programmes Unit 4 SWOT Analysis and Bar Charts Unit 5 Networks BLOCK 3 USE OF BASIC STATISTICS Unit 1 Sampling Unit 2 Quantitative Data Collection Methods and Devices Unit 3 Qualitative Data Collection Methods and Devices Unit 4 Overview of Statistical Tools Unit 5 Data Processing and Analysis BLOCK 4 CSR ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT Unit 1 CSR Accounting Unit 2 CSR Audit Unit 3 Social Audit Unit 4 SROI MEDSE-046: Development: Issues and Perspectives Block /Unit Title BLOCK 1 DEVELOPMENT – AN OVERVIEW Unit 1 Development – Introduction and Paradigm Unit 2 Economic Development Unit 3 Human Development Unit 4 Political Development 14 BLOCK 2 BASIC ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT -I Unit 1 Population Unit 2 Poverty Unit 3 Inequality Unit 4 Unemployement BLOCK 3 BASIC ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT -II Unit 1 Social and Cultural Dimensions of Development Unit 2 Development and Disparities Unit 3 Inclusive Development Unit 4 Marginalization BLOCK 4 SECTORAL ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT Unit 1 Agriculture Unit 2 Industry Unit 3 Infrastructure Unit 4 Services BLOCK 5 CORE ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT Unit 1 Education Unit 2 Health Unit 3 Gender