Introducing the Concepts of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility to Accounting Students

Abstract

Business majors are future business leaders. As faculty, we have a responsibility to educate these students on important topics such as accounting, marketing, finance, shareholder value, corporate governance, etc. However, I also believe that we have a responsibility to educate our students in areas such as ethics, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability. Many top business programs around the country are making these topics part of the curriculum. Sustainability is an issue that is relevant to every person and is vital to the continued existence of the planet. This paper documents the effects of an in-class presentation and exercise designed to introduce accounting students to the concepts of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Keywords: Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, Accounting Education

JEL Classification: M40, Q56