Service Learning: CSR Strategies for Democratic Education in Companies

In the summer semester of 2025, students from the Master's program in Business Ethics and Responsible Management at IHI Zittau are developing practice-oriented CSR strategies as part of a special service-learning project. The cooperation partner is the Network for Democracy and Courage (NDC) in Saxony. The module "Practical Applications of CSR" is conducted by Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz and Dr. Benedikt D. S. Kapteina from the Chair of Business Administration, in particular Responsible Management.

The NDC is a nationally active initiative that has been committed to promoting democratic culture and opposing inhumane ideologies for over 20 years. The project aims to strategically develop the NDC’s educational offerings in a way that aligns more closely with corporate CSR objectives while safeguarding the organization’s independence as a civil society actor.

The students take on the role of an external consulting team and work together with NDC Saxony to develop concrete strategic recommendations. A site visit to Dresden provided direct insights into the organization’s structure, didactic approaches, and the practical challenges of political education work.

The module combines theoretical knowledge with experiential learning. It places special emphasis on self-organization, responsibility, and a reflective engagement with conflicting goals in the CSR context. The results will be presented to NDC Saxony in July 2025 during a final presentation. An accompanying workshop will deepen the students’ understanding of political education within a corporate environment.

"For our students, exchange with practice is essential. They learn how entrepreneurial thinking encounters social reality. And this is precisely where responsible management begins," emphasizes Dr. Kapteina.

Patritzia Disselhoff, a student at IHI Zittau, puts it succinctly: "At first glance, democracy work may not seem like a classic business topic. That is exactly what made it so exciting: experiencing how companies can take responsibility for our democratic society. For me, it became clear that promoting democracy can be and perhaps must be a central element of CSR."

This teaching project serves as an example of how business education at the master’s level can be effectively combined with social responsibility. Students learn not only to understand CSR and management concepts theoretically but also to apply them in practice. They work in interdisciplinary teams, with real-world partners and under authentic conditions. In doing so, they strengthen their skills in project management, strategic analysis, and communication, while deliberately connecting these with ethical reflection and democratic responsibility.

The format reflects a forward-looking approach to higher education. It is about more than subject knowledge. At its core are critical thinking, practical competence, and the ability to act effectively in socially relevant contexts. Especially in the Saxon region, this creates a tangible contribution to democratic resilience. The module is also innovative in its didactic design. It integrates perspectives from business administration, business ethics, and civic education. It engages with current academic debates such as political CSR, stakeholder communication, and the role of business in society, and translates them into concrete learning experiences for students.

Our sincere thanks go to NDC Saxony for their committed and trusting collaboration. Looking ahead, this cooperation format will be further developed and institutionalized. It provides space for joint learning, social reflection, and corporate responsibility.