On February 29, 2024 Director of the CSR Center at GSOM SPbU Yury Blagov took part in two panel sessions of the business program of the “Headliners of ESG Principles” National Award, and also acted as a jury member.

During the panel session “Competencies for sustainable development as a challenge for business education,” Yury Blagov noted the importance of systemic integration of the sustainable development principles into educational competencies at all levels.

Association of relevant knowledge, skills and abilities only with professional competencies developed within individual educational disciplines or highly specialized programs objectively leads to academic and managerial isolation of sustainable development issues. In turn, the development of cross-cutting competencies in the field of sustainable development makes it possible to form managers who adequately perceive changes in the modern business environment.

In his speech at the panel discussion “Systemic charity - a tool for the development of business and society,” Yury Blagov noted the importance of the transition from a strategy of corporate charity to “strategic” corporate charity.

If the first involves the formalization of processes and procedures in accordance with clearly formulated charitable goals and allocated resources, then the second implies duality of goal setting and the receipt of various benefits by the company. Among them are increasing reputation in the eyes of stakeholders, development of human capital of employees and “relational” assets, socio-economic development of the territories of presence as a factor of corporate sustainability. Only “strategic” corporate philanthropy makes it truly systemic.

The “Headliners of ESG Principles” National Award was established by ESG Media and the business magazine National Business North-West. During the II annual ceremony of the “Headliners of ESG Principles” National Award, winners were announced in 12 nominations. Among the winners are representatives of business and non-profit organizations from more than ten cities of the Russian Federation.

GALLERY