AIT Extension hosts the 2007 Leadership Program: Business Strategies for Sustainable Development
The AIT Extension recently hosted the 2007 Leadership Program: Business Strategies for Sustainable Development, a collaborative effort between United Nations University (UNU) Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) and Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia (CSR Asia). The course was designed as a response to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and aimed to equip future leaders with the necessary knowledge and tools to develop strategies for sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in their own organizations.
Several hot topics facing business were discussed, including climate change, biodiversity, community engagement, stakeholder dialogue, child protection, governance, health, investment strategies, human resource management, non-discrimination and diversity, supply chain management, product responsibility, human rights, partnerships, intellectual property rights and capacity building – all highly relevant to AIT.
The twenty-five participants came from 12 countries, and work in academia, consulting, NGOs, official development agencies (ODA), and the private sector for a wide range of organizations, including RMIT, Kenan Institute, Plan China, Dhurakij Pundit University, Sustainability Asia, Piaget, Walt Disney and Grameen.
The course was brokered by Professor Mario Tabucanon, who is presently with UNU-IAS, and was at AIT as one of the resource persons, together with Dr. Zinaida Fadeeva of UNU and Dr. Richard Welford of CSR-Asia, among others. On 25 July 2007, AIT President Said Irandoust accompanied the group to Cabbages and Condoms for a dinner and seminar by Dr. Meechai Viravaidya on PDA's work. Dr. Meechai has agreed to visit AIT to discuss further collaboration.