Responsible Business Conduct

Program Overview

The dynamic legal landscape and the increasing public awareness surrounding Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) have led to increasing expectations on both states and companies to take measures towards sustainable business practices that include environmental conservation and respecting human rights.

The Centre for Human Rights of the University of Zurich (UZHR) has witnessed a growing demand for clarifying companies’ responsibilities regarding human rights and environmental standards. This demand is currently being amplified by the tendency towards binding due diligence legislation in the European Union and national legislation.

Businesses, public institutions, and agencies are seeking to acquire precise and specialized knowledge to navigate the intricate web of emerging legal requirements and political expectations at the national, regional, and international level.

A new generation of business professionals with expertise on Responsible Business Conduct is therefore required in both the private and public sector. These professionals need the ability to anticipate and assess the impacts of business activities on people and planet, while prioritizing measures that prevent, mitigate, and remedy such impacts. Furthermore, they need to have a solid and comprehensive understanding of the interdisciplinary field of Responsible Business Conduct and the skills to apply this knowledge effectively in their respective domains.

Our CAS in RBC addresses this demand by providing a tailored course for these professionals and practitioners. The program is based on key international concepts of RBC as outlined in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (the Guidelines) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). Central to this course is the implementation of corporate due diligence, which allows participants to identify and assess current challenges and risks as well as to develop management strategies within their specific areas of work.

Objectives

Aligned with global frameworks and regulations on Responsible Business Conduct, the primary objective of the CAS in RBC is to enhance participants’ awareness and enable them to recognize the implications of business activities on society, the environment, and human rights. Moreover, CAS participants will be equipped with the necessary tools and skills to effectively address the challenges associated with Responsible Business Conduct in their day-to-day professional endeavors.

Format

The CAS is conducted entirely online, allowing participants from around the globe to engage in the program. This virtual format, combined with the customized content of the Certificate in RBC, takes into consideration the diverse professional needs of individuals such as company managers, lawyers, compliance officers, government officials, public institution representatives, and professionals from nonprofit organizations who encounter RBC issues in their daily work.

The CAS in RBC offers a comprehensive virtual program that strikes a balance between real-time sessions and a significant self-study component of offline activities. Online attendance and active participation are mandatory, with each session taking place on 21 days over six months between February and July and lasting three hours. The complete list of real-time sessions, divided into Modules, is posted on the Content page. 

Participants are expected to devote approximately 60 hours to attending live online lectures and engaging in interactive sessions. This will be supplemented by approximately 240 hours of eLearning and self-study, as detailed in the pie chart below. The self-study segment includes preparing for online sessions, completing online quizzes, analyzing case studies, and delivering two short presentations – one as part of a group and one individually. Furthermore, participants are required to submit an individual case study on a topic of their choice to successfully complete the CAS in RBC.

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Number of Participants

The CAS will be conducted with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30 participants. Additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

Academic Title

Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive the Certificate of Advanced Studies UZH in Responsible Business Conduct (CAS UZH) and are awarded  10 ECTS.