Corporate Social Responsibility / Sustainable Business / ESG
Students at FPM once again had the opportunity this semester to take a successful course focused on corporate social responsibility, sustainable business, ESG management and financing, and currently primarily on the implementation of the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), led by Assoc. Prof. Ing. Mgr. Gabriela Dubcová, Ph.D., and co-taught by Ing. Jana Kissová, Ph.D.
The course was conducted in collaboration with BLF member companies (EUBA is an associate member) and other responsible and sustainable companies in Slovakia that practice ethical business based on ESG principles.
Above all, we focused on the core themes of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including an overview of ethical standards, compliance programs, and ethics programs, as well as ethical dilemmas and challenges within stakeholder groups. This year, attention was also focused on ESG management and controlling, inclusive diversity of disadvantaged groups, community investments, and, primarily, on CSR, ESG, and SDG reporting systems in formats compliant with the NFRD (Non-Financial Reporting Directive), CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), and SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation). The courses, offered in both languages (Slovak and English), focused on applying the real-life case study method, authentically presented by managers responsible for ESG/CSR/SDGs—essentially, this involves resolving ethical dilemmas and problems directly with experts from the field (in a manner moderated by the instructor), with the opportunity for open, constructive discussion.
After several successful years of applying real-world case studies, we see a clear positive effect in the form of excellent knowledge and an exceptional ability to apply it very quickly (on exams, when writing theses, navigating practical business conduct during professional discussions, and also in supplementary educational and outreach activities—e.g., participation in the Sustainability Festival, Our City, and others). Case studies in the summer semester of the 2024/2025 academic year were provided by managers responsible for CSR and ESG:
Slovenská alternatíva | Anglická alternatíva |
| 10.02. Anton Molnár, SLOVNAFT (https://slovnaft.sk/sk/) | Ivana Raslavska, Eset |
| 17.02. Jaroslav Grygar, Beko (https://www.bekoeurope.com/) | Jaroslav Grygar, Beko (https://www.bekoeurope.com/) |
| 24.02. Ladislav Jelen, Coca-Cola (https://www.coca-cola.com/sk/sk) | Branislav Bošák, YIT (https://www.yit.fi/en) |
| 03.03. Erika Vitálošová, PwC (https://www.pwc.com/sk/) | Eva Mikulášová, FCC (https://www.fcc-group.eu/) |
| 10.03. Zuzana Szalaiová, Swiss Re (https://www.swissre.com/) | Zuzana Szalaiová, Swiss Re (https://www.swissre.com/) |
| 17.03. Lenka Michalik Holešová, Volkswagen (https://www.volkswagen.sk/) | Michaela Lehoská, Tesco (https://www.tesco.com/) |
| 24.03. Karin Hrnčiarová, EY (https://www.ey.com/sk_sk) | Karin Hrnčiarová, EY (https://www.ey.com/) |
| 31.03. Nikoleta Lörincová, Kaufland (https://www.kaufland.sk/) | Karin Nosková, Volkswagen (https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en) |
| 07.04. Michaela Lehoská, Tesco (https://www.tesco.sk/) | Natalia Remayová, Kaufland (https://www.kaufland.com/) |
| 14.04.Dana Moravcová, dm drogerie markt (https://www.mojadm.sk/) | Tomáš Kvašňovský, Tatra Banka (https://www.tatrabanka.sk/en) |
This course is offered as part of the VEGA 1/0120/25 project titled “Research on Paradigms and Determinants of Management and Implementation Processes in the Field of ESG in the Context of Required Corporate Financial Results and Changes Resulting from the CSRD” and the VEGA 1/0462/23 project titled “The Circular Economy in the Context of Social Requirements and Market Constraints.” On behalf of our students, we would like to express (also in this form) our sincere gratitude to all stakeholders for their inspiring dedication, friendly and professional cooperation, as well as for their exceptionally engaging, motivating, methodical, and sustainable contribution to shaping moral and social awareness in support of ethical behavior in the field of ESG among young, promising future managers and economists.
