Undergraduate CSR pathway goes from strength to strength

A new impact report on the work students undertake on the Corporate Social Responsibility pathway as part of Strathclyde Business School's (SBS) compulsory undergraduate Management Development Programme has been published.

For the last ten years, undergraduate students at SBS have been able to choose the Corporate Social Responsibility pathway as part of the Management Development Programme, a core part of the business school's undergraduate curriculum, designed to develop business and commercial awareness alongside graduate employability skills.

The CSR route began as a result of SBS’ Executive Dean Professor David Hillier's desire to engage students proactively in addressing disadvantage in the local community as a more formal part of their courses in the Business School.

An impact report put together to showcase the work done in society by the students and the way this initiative has benefited both the students, the organisations they have worked with and the individuals they have helped has revealed the extent of that business school impact, both internally and externally.

Professor Hillier has welcomed its publication and is delighted to see the huge impact the pathway has had over the past decade.

He explains, "More than a decade ago, a simple idea took root: could we make social responsibility a lived, credit-bearing part of our Management Development Programme in the Business School rather than an optional extra? We believed at the time that it would shape character as well as competence and would create leaders who see service as a key part of their role. What has grown from that seed has exceeded every expectation.

"Over 1,500 students have given more than 110,000 hours of service, working with 41 partner organisations and 69 schools, and have raised over £100,000 for good causes. This is an unmistakable testament to the power of learning put to work. I’m delighted that the pathway now reaches across widening access, community health and wellbeing, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, turning good intentions into practical outcomes.

"Students tell us they have grown in confidence, purpose and employability, and they carry those habits of service into their careers. Colleagues across the University and partners across the city have opened doors, coached, mentored, and trusted our students to lead. The University of Strathclyde is ‘the place of useful learning’. The Social Responsibility Pathway shows what that motto looks like in action: head and heart, theory and practice, campus and community moving together."

Iain Mitchell is Widening Access Manager at Strathclyde with responsibility for the Social Responsibility Pathway which is part of the business school’s Management Development programme (MDP). He said, "We want to help students develop important employability skills - key amongst these are team-working, leadership and communication. We emphasise the benefits of effective communication to students and have seen the incredibly positive effects on their confidence from developing their ability to communicate with a range of different stakeholders.

“Beyond the development of practical skills, the pathway allows students to give something back. Students on the pathway develop their knowledge and understanding of issues that they might not have been aware of previously. This, in turn, drives their motivation to make a difference. Many students have continued to volunteer with organisations that they have been working with once the pathway is complete.”

There are three strands to the pathway: Widening Access, Educational Initiatives and Third Sector Organisations.

Whichever route chosen, students have contributed to society in many ways including:

• 70 young people with learning disabilities on the award-winning Breaking Barriers programme mentored by 42 CSR Pathway students since 2017
• 191 pupils tutored by 89 CSR Pathway students since 2015
• £20,000 raised for Annette St Primary School
• 41 external organisations and charities supported since 2014-15
• Over 13,500 gifts donated to the Strathclyde Toy Appeal since 2016/17
• 3,000 hours contributed to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity by 35 students through marketing and fundraising

Breaking Barriers is a ground-breaking partnership between Enable, Strathclyde Business School and external business partners, and it enables young people who have learning disabilities to attend University, achieve an accredited Business qualification and gain real work experience with a large employer in Scotland. Students undertaking the CSR pathway can mentor young people on the programme.

Lewis Robertson co-ordinates Breaking Barriers for Enable. He commented, "I feel so lucky to work with the mentors each year as they provide invaluable support. The programme wouldn’t be nearly as successful without them. They give the mentees confidence to believe in themselves and also provide comfort to mentees knowing support is there when they need it. They also provide support for lecturers and make it easier when dealing with a large class size."

One of the organisations students can work with is MCR Pathways, a Scottish charity that supports care-experienced and disadvantaged young people through a school-based mentoring programme.

Dr Iain MacRitchie, MCR Founder, commented, "The Strathclyde University and MCR Pathways partnership has been pioneering and inspired for over 10 years. Time and again Strathclyde have been true to their DNA in blending world class innovation with social impact. The partnership has given students real life exposure to strategic and operational challenges in charities and social enterprises and critically the opportunity to drive changes and critical developments. We really look forward to the next 10 years and creating many more life changing opportunities."

To read the full impact report, click here

Published: 16 October 2025