Course: Sustainability and socially responsible business

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Course title Sustainability and socially responsible business
Course code VPK/UPOD
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 5
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction eLearning
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Melotíková Petra, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction to sustainability in business 2. Legal tools for achieving sustainability in business practice 3. Corporate climate plan 4. The concept of corporate due diligence in sustainability 5. Supply chains and their regulation in EU law (I) 6. Supply chains and their regulation in EU law (II) 7. The role of contractual assurances in supply chain management 8. Disclosure of sustainability information (I) 9. Disclosure of sustainability information (II) 10. Case study 11. Judicial and extrajudicial remedies for human rights violations by companies and climate litigation 12. ESG and climate washing in law and business practice

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
Learning outcomes
This course will provide students with a theoretical foundation for understanding the concept of corporate sustainability, which has evolved from the narrative of corporate social responsibility and responsible business conduct. It will equip students with the theoretical and practical skills to understand sustainability in the context of business activities and to take environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into account in business practices and corporate strategies. It will also shed light on how businesses can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a focus on the goal of combating climate change.
After completing the course, students will be able to: 1. Identify relevant legal requirements relating to sustainability in corporate legal practice, contributing to the fulfillment of SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth) and SDG 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts). 2. Develop competencies for addressing complex legal situations of commercial companies related to sustainability, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Access to Justice). 3. Link the principles of responsible business conduct with sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and SDG 13 (Climate action). 4. Prepare or critically evaluate corporate strategies and processes in the area of climate change and human rights that support sustainability goals, contributing to SDG 8 (Promote sustainable economic growth), SDG 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production), and SDG 13 (Climate action).
Prerequisites
The completion of this course is not conditioned upon completion of any other courses

Assessment methods and criteria
Student performance, Seminar Work, Written exam

Continuous assignments (30 points), mini-project and its presentation (40 points), final test of knowledge and skills (30 points). The course is graded as follows based on the number of points earned: excellent (1) - 100-87 points, very good (2) - 86-73 points, good (3) - 72-60 points, failed (4) - 59 points and below.
Recommended literature
  • Binder, J. H., Hopt, K., & Kuntz, T. (Eds.). (2024). Corporate purpose, CSR, and ESG. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198912576.001.0001.
  • Bueno, N., Bernaz, N., & Holly, G. (2024). The EU directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (CSDDD): The final political compromise. Business and Human Rights Journal, 9(2), 294?300. https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2024.10.
  • Feigerlová, M. (2022). Klimatická odpovědnost korporací. In H. Müllerová (Ed.), Klimatické právo (s. 619?640). ). Praha.
  • Feigerlová, M. (2024). Moving from pledges to commitments: Analysing climate transition plans in the EU proposal for a corporate sustainability due diligence directive. Carbon & Climate Law Review, 18(1), 17?30. https://doi.org/10.21552/cclr/2024/1/5.
  • Feigerlová, M. (2025). Udržitelnost v dodavatelských řetězcích v právu EU. AUC Iuridica, 71(2), 47-67.
  • Hurychová, K. (2025). Dopad balíčku Omnibus na odpovědnost společností za porušení náležité péče dle CSDDD.. Acta Universitatis Carolinae Iuridica.
  • Josková, L. (2024). Může být účelem obchodní společnosti (pouze) dosahování zisku? Obchodněprávní revue, 16(4), 229?236..
  • Josková, L. (2025). Sustainable corporate governance - nový trend v obchodním právu. Acta Universitatis Carolinae Iuridica, 71(2), 11?28. https://doi.org/10.14712/23366478.2025.388.
  • McCorquodale, R., Smit, L., Neely, S., & Moon, J. (2017). Human rights due diligence in law and practice: Good practices and challenges for business enterprises. Business and Human Rights Journal, 2(2), 195?224. https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2017.20.
  • Pakšiová, R., & Klouda, J. (2024). Corporate governance reporting and climate strategies: Insights from Slovakia and Czechia. Carbon & Climate Law Review, 18(3), 164?175. https://doi.org/10.21552/cclr/2024/3/6.
  • Principale, S. (2023). Fostering sustainability in corporate governance: Analysis of the EU sustainable corporate governance and due diligence directives. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30354-8.
  • Villiers, C. (2022). New directions in the European Union?s regulatory framework for corporate reporting, due diligence and accountability: The challenge of complexity. European Journal of Risk Regulation, 13(4), 548?566. https://doi.org/10.1017/err.2022.45.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Summer