University of Cambridge
Business and Social Justice: A Force for Social Change
Develop an action plan to maximise your organisation’s social impact and drive sustainability and social justice.
Start date
12 March 2025
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
6–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The number of employees who say racial justice and equality issues should be on corporate agendas.
Forbes (Jun, 2021).
The speculated amount that Nike is allocating to support social justice and education initiatives over the next four years.
Brand Finance (Jan, 2021).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
For businesses to take the initiative in addressing social injustice, leaders need to acknowledge that their role in responding to these challenges is not only critical, but urgent.
The Business and Social Justice: A Force for Social Change online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) unpacks the huge potential of businesses to be powerful agents for social justice and positive social change. Over eight weeks, you’ll learn how to leverage your leadership position to drive positive transformation through your organisation. You’ll also explore new business approaches to social justice and intentional social impact interventions and create a Personal Action Plan that goes beyond diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Viewing your role through the lens of social justice, you’ll reimagine ways for your organisation to become a catalyst for positive social impact.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
Is this course for you?
This online short course is designed for professionals looking to champion social justice within their business and drive positive social change. Business owners, managers and leaders focused on sustainability, diversity, inclusion and culture will learn how to pursue projects, drive strategic cultural improvements and better the ways in which their organisation perceives and approaches issues around social justice. Both experienced and young leaders who want to create an impact and proactively respond to social justice challenges will benefit from the course material. Those from marginalised groups, such as women and people of colour, will find particular value in exploring themes that go beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 65 hours of learning.
Note: Should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
For businesses to take the initiative in addressing social injustice, leaders need to acknowledge that their role in responding to these challenges is not only critical, but urgent.
The Business and Social Justice: A Force for Social Change online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) unpacks the huge potential of businesses to be powerful agents for social justice and positive social change. Over eight weeks, you’ll learn how to leverage your leadership position to drive positive transformation through your organisation. You’ll also explore new business approaches to social justice and intentional social impact interventions and create a Personal Action Plan that goes beyond diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Viewing your role through the lens of social justice, you’ll reimagine ways for your organisation to become a catalyst for positive social impact.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
Is this course for you?
This online short course is designed for professionals looking to champion social justice within their business and drive positive social change. Business owners, managers and leaders focused on sustainability, diversity, inclusion and culture will learn how to pursue projects, drive strategic cultural improvements and better the ways in which their organisation perceives and approaches issues around social justice. Both experienced and young leaders who want to create an impact and proactively respond to social justice challenges will benefit from the course material. Those from marginalised groups, such as women and people of colour, will find particular value in exploring themes that go beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 65 hours of learning.
Note: Should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
What will set you apart
An informed understanding of the role business plays in addressing social justice challenges and how business can be a force for positive social change.
The leadership skills, knowledge and capabilities to drive positive transformation and make your business more sustainable in the long term.
A strategic Personal Action Plan for your business to address social injustice and maximise positive social impact.
An enhanced ability to make an extraordinary impact by engaging with your fellow students in a collaborative and self-reflective forum.
Unlimited access to 2U’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Why social justice is critical for business
Module 2
Recognition and inclusive decision-making
Module 3
Just distribution of costs and benefits
Module 4
Social justice across time and space
Module 5
New business approach to social justice
Module 6
Networking and leadership for positive social impact
Module 7
Personal Action Plan for transformational social change
Module 8
Optimising your influence and impact
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What past students
think
Alejandra Rincon
IT Sr. Product Group Manager Legal, Risk and Compliance, Nestlé
This course has been eye-mind-heart-opening. I've appreciated being confronted with the complexity of social justice and all the dimensions and elements to consider and address. Contents shared were precious insights to be leveraged in practice within the business. Connecting with peers made me reflect on our common barriers and challenges, as well as share our passion, motivation and engagement. Last but not least, tutors and guests were inspiring and examined social justice through multiple lenses. I'm grateful for this experience.
Course Convenors
Elspeth Donovan
Course Co-Convenor, CISL Fellow, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Dr Priya Rajasekar
Course Co-Convenor, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Discover your role in addressing social justice challenges and earn an official digital certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
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