3rd International CSR-Conference "Corporate Responsibility and Governance"

International conference on CSR at Humboldt University Berlin

In 2003 at the Institute of Management the idea was born of organizing a conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at regular intervals. The underlying motivation and intentions were as follows:

• Topicality and the importance of the topic Corporate Social Responsibility itself in science and practice: The numerous scientific publications in recent years, the growing number of sustainability and environmental reports published by corporations as well as the efforts undertaken by various national governments and the European Commission underlined the importance of the topic. 
• Extension and internationalization of the focal points of research at the faculty of economic science: For years, research at the Institute of Management has focussed on Corporate Governance (CG). Since CSR is closely related to the field of CG, the conference was meant to support and extend the projects carried out by the institute so far. Additionally, it was intended to anchor the research at the faculty of economic science in the international scientific landscape. 
• Necessity of “Internationalization of the topic”: The articles published in Germany repeatedly pointed to the sophisticated practice in the USA and other countries. Thus it seemed to be imperative to host a scientific conference with international participation. Conferences had been only national in scope up to that point. 
• Necessity of creating a platform for the multi-stakeholder dialogue: The planned conference was supposed to further this dialogue. To this end, scientists, practitioners, politicians as well as representatives of government and non-government organizations (NGO) should be brought together and given the opportunity for discussion. 
• Integration of CSR in economic teaching: So far, little attention was paid to CSR as a teaching topic at the faculty of economics. Its growing importance, however, requires integration in the different sections of economics. Hence, one aim of the conference is to draw the attention of students and teachers alike to the topic. 
• Reputation of the Humboldt-University Berlin: Humboldt-University’s excellent reputation made it possible to enlist high ranking scientists and practitioners. As early as during the conference preparations it became clear that the interest of the public was immense, a fact that has a very positive impact on the reputation of the university. 

The 1st International CSR conference at Humboldt-University finally took place on October 14 and 15, 2004. With its almost 400 participants from science, corporations, government and non-government organizations, it was the biggest conference on this topic in Europe so far. 66 lectures were given in four parallel sessions. Among the keynote speakers were Professors Albach, Eigen, Fombrun and Jonker.