The Role of Business Schools, as Responsible Institutions,

in Making the World a Better Place

Ahmed HassaneinAssistant Professor

School of Management & School of Sciences & Engineering

USEK, Junieh, LebanonApril 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 puzzleOne piece in a 5,000-piece Jigsaw puzzle

Picture of blue sky, sea & beautiful mountains

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 MissionThe School of Business strives to create an environment that fosters the development of principled & innovative business leaders & entrepreneurs who can make a difference

Our MissionThe 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 toCan vs. see the value in

Our MissionThe 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 sustainabilityDoes this make sense to you?

Promoting Tri-partite Solutions• Public sector, private sector & civil Society– Is Civil Society civil?– Is Private Sector private?– Is public Sector public?

It’s a matter of trust!

How does one instill that?

ERS in School Activities1. Strategic dir. & plans2. Formal commitment & championship of

globally recognized initiatives through international memberships & activities

3. Teaching, research & service4. Institutional, faculty & student impact on the

community; &5. Integration & collaboration with AUC & the

broader community6. BoP investment

Questions We Ask Ourselves1. 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?

conti

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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!• 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