Benchmarking Corporate Responsibility EAUC 12 TH Annual Conference University Exeter 2 nd April 2008  Helps with internal data consolidation

 Corporate Responsibility  Overview of BITC’s approach to benchmarking CR  Why it can work in the HE Sector Benchmarking Corporate Responsibility

Corporate Responsibility- what is it? A organisation’s positive impact on society & the environment through its operations, products or services & through its interaction with key stakeholders - such as employees, investors, customers, communities & suppliers So how do you benchmark this?

You can’t fatten a pig by weighing it!

Our benchmarking tool - Corporate Responsibility Index? Framework MeasuringManagingReporting

CR Index Model Corporate Strategy Integration Performance and Impact Management Community Marketplace Workplace Environment Assurance process 3 Env Impacts 3 Social Impacts

The Questions Corporate Strategy Integration Performance and Impact Management Values CR principles Leadership Advocacy Risk mgmt Policies Integration of principles Business conduct Performance mgmt Remuneration systems Strategic decision-making Training & development Senior training Stakeholder engagement Reporting Key issues Objectives/ targets Allocation of responsibilities Training/ support Internal monitoring and reporting Measuring and reporting Scope of data Quality of data Target setting Performance improvement

 Processes in place for managing risks/opportunities  Allocation of core responsibilities  Effective stakeholder engagement  Transparency and disclosure  Impact and continuous improvement Key themes in the CR Index

Corporate Index - an improving picture

Community Regulation & being seen as a responsible corporate citizen Economic development & employment Access to, and diversity within HEI’s Widening participation & lifelong learning Regional/Local partnerships & collaboration activities The impact of transient student population Encouraging students to participate in community, volunteering activities Corporate Responsibility in the HE Sector Business in the Community at CIPD Conference 2003 Environment Energy use & carbon emissions. Waste & recycling management Travel management Procurement & supply chains Biodiversity Water management The built environment/construction, maintenance & refurbishment Knowledge production & transfer Source: CR Index

Corporate Responsibility in the HE Sector Business in the Community at CIPD Conference 2003 Workplace Recruitment & retention of high quality staff Equality & Diversity Staff performance, development & reward management Staff wellbeing & welfare Health & Safety Marketplace Quality in teaching/research/knowledge transfer Widening participation in lifelong learning Compliance with regulating bodies Reputation & the advancement of HE Managing course supply & demand Graduate employability Relations with student unions Procurement & delivering value for money Source: CR Index

Why benchmarking can work in the HE Sector  Provides management information and gap-analysis  Reinforces good practice & helps drive continuous improvement  Challenges how systematic & integrated CR is  Helps with data consolidation  Provides a communication tool with internal & external stakeholders  Provides a focus on the “extra-financial” – the issues that help differentiate institutions and make some Universities “World Class”

What makes a ‘University that Counts’ = leadership and commitment at the highest level = policies to ensure responsible behaviours across the business = CR issues integrated into strategic decision making, = objectives and targets set to drive continuous improvement = clear responsibilities defined at all levels = effective communication to share learning and knowledge = training for relevant staff to ensure delivery of objectives = process for stakeholder consultation and engagement = monitoring systems to assess and report progress = public reporting of key issues, targets and performance = willingness to disclose information and share best practice

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