R. Şeminur Topal and Hande Gürdağ
Globalization has affected science inevitably with a motto of ‘Knowledge conquers the mind’. However, global efforts and harmonization are needed and are established through…
Abstract
Globalization has affected science inevitably with a motto of ‘Knowledge conquers the mind’. However, global efforts and harmonization are needed and are established through international rules, laws, norms and standards. The potentially positive and negative results of globalization have altered the production relations and complicated the demographic scale.
At the beginning of the new millennium, looking through national / international perspectives and analysing different projections and conclusions, investigation of future…
Abstract
At the beginning of the new millennium, looking through national / international perspectives and analysing different projections and conclusions, investigation of future, interrogation of systems and ourselves will be useful. It is necessary to talk about the past and the future in a global perspective when the world population is more than 6 billion and expected to increase around another 2 billion in the next 25 years. Natural resources are limited instead of increased population in the world around. However the growth of technology and communication level, there are so many hazard factors in the life for many developing countries. Simply maintaining current levels of food availability will require rapid production increases without destroying natural resources. Having a good nutritional status for all human societies, everybody must have to think “us” as instead of “myself”. The world has expanded beyond the global village to include the global market where there is ever‐increasing mobility of capital, labour and goods, in the recent years. Globalisation is not only a question of size, but also of kind: it is inextricably linked to privatisation. It stimulated major economic restructuring in both developed and developing countries, and has greatly changed the balance of public and private sectors. Mostly agricultural production for export is seen as one of the driving forces of development. Harmonisation through the setting of international regulations and standards still needs considerable efforts. So that potential benefits and defects, the outcomes of globalisations are mixed and also demographic and production relationship correlations are changed dramatically. In the world natural food and water sources have been reduced, when population increased speedily and environments pollution has become dramatic. In spite of urbanisation the majorities are in rural areas. The information revolutions and scientific / technological challenges also created a major difference between developed and developing countries. Genetically modified organisms and foods are the most important question at this time in the world. Again the differences about sharing chance of the sources between rich and poor countries are another important inequity. “Food insecurity” means that “lacking access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food and are therefore not consuming enough for an active and healthy life”. There are so many reasons for the unavailability of food, inadequate purchasing power or inappropriate utilisation at household level. The linkages between demographic motivations, poverty and environmental degradation, their relationships and implications according to the development programs and planning will try to be discussed in this article. Nutritional and energy requirements, some nutritional deficiencies, reflections on the commercial life, food security programs, and better information systems on “Food Insecurity and Vulnerability (FIVIMS)”, “National Nutrition Country Profiles (NFC)”, farseeing of UN's, Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) will be summarised. Also it is planned to make small statistical tour on the national and international past, status, and near future on problems and expected reflections, some of the solution offers are improving strategies and increasing consciousness to consumers, developments of health ‐ agriculture — education politics will be summarised. Governmental responsibilities and financial supports will try to be discussed. Finding food, improving life, preparing a better world must be a primer responsibility for all countries, governments, sectors and for everybody in this millennium.
There are a variety of definitions of CSR and no overall agreement. Johnson's (2003) definition is: “CSR is concerned with treating the stakeholders of the firm ethically or in a…
Abstract
There are a variety of definitions of CSR and no overall agreement. Johnson's (2003) definition is: “CSR is concerned with treating the stakeholders of the firm ethically or in a responsible manner”. ‘Ethically or responsible’ means treating stakeholders in a manner deemed acceptable in civilized societies. Social responsibility includes economic responsibility. Stakeholders exist both within a firm and outside. The natural environment is a stakeholder. The wider aim of social responsibility is to create ever higher standards of living, while preserving the profitability of the corporation, for people both within and outside the corporation. CSR therefore means the ethical behaviour of a business towards its constituencies or stakeholders. Nevertheless, there are a wide variety of concepts and definitions associated with the term “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)”, but no general agreement of terms .
To review and understand the importance of a well-known movement among universities in Hispanic America called “university social responsibility” (USR). USR places responsible and…
Abstract
Purpose
To review and understand the importance of a well-known movement among universities in Hispanic America called “university social responsibility” (USR). USR places responsible and sustainable practices in the bottom line of everyday university management processes (e.g., campus operations, teaching, research, and community outreach).
Methodology/approach
Through a selection of relevant literature in USR, the concept, origins, importance, and implementation of USR practices are discussed in three sections (corporate social responsibility, the importance of USR, and planning, developing, and evaluating USR).
Findings
Results indicate the relevance of the practice of USR in Hispanic America because it points out specific impacts and core areas that other definitions (e.g., CSR) have not considered. Practical cases from different Hispanic universities are shown as examples of the practice of USR.
Research limitations
This chapter does not present a complete list of all authors that have studied USR. However, it fulfills to introduce, review, and grasp the practice of USR.
Practical implications
It serves as a guide to all members of the university community (e.g., administrators, professors, students, researchers, and local communities) to understand the role of universities in achieving sustainable development.
Originality/value of chapter
USR is an emergent approach that promotes responsible everyday management. This chapter is a starting point for new reflections, theories, and discussions regarding USR around the world. It also engages in further studies regarding USR in other developing regions like Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe.
Details
Keywords
Fulya Akyildiz is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, Usak University, Turkey.