Second-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management (ADE) at IQS School of Management recently took part in an academic project focused on analyzing the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of various companies linked to the IQS Business Foundation.
IQS Students Analyze the CSR of Partner Companies of the IQS Business Foundation
The initiative was developed within the framework of the subject Business Ethics and CSR, taught by Dr. Roberto Cantoni, and aimed to bring students closer to business reality through an applied study of the social responsibility policies and practices of organizations from different sectors and sizes.
An Academic Project with Real Impact
The project was structured as a direct collaboration with 11 companies from the IQS Business Foundation, spanning sectors such as energy, tourism, the chemical industry, healthcare, food, manufacturing and services. Specifically: Caixa d’Enginyers, Repsol, Dallant, Catalonia Hotels, Werfen, Roca, ISL Salas Limpias, Inibsa, Lucta, AC Marca and Paniker.
Working in groups of three or four students, participants carried out a structured analysis of the current state of CSR at each company, combining a review of publicly available information with an in-depth interview with the person responsible for CSR or sustainability at each organization.
Identification of Challenges and Improvement Proposals
From an academic and critical perspective, students identified common challenges in environmental, social and governance matters, as well as opportunities to evolve towards more sustainable, integrated and measurable models. The analysis focused broadly on issues such as sustainability governance, impact management, the integration of ESG criteria into business strategy, relationships with communities and the social contribution of the companies.
Based on this diagnosis, each group developed improvement proposals aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and coherence of CSR policies, always from a constructive approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Applied Learning and a Commitment to Sustainability
The main purpose of this activity was to allow students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in a real context, developing key competencies such as critical analysis, business ethics, professional communication and the ability to formulate value proposals.
At the same time, the project allowed participating companies to receive an external, academic perspective on their CSR practices, strengthening the dialogue between university and business and contributing to the development of a more responsible and sustainable corporate culture.