Understanding Community Needs for Better Corporate Social Responsibility in Pulau Pinang and its Educational Implications

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the positivity Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) brings to the corporate table, scant attention has been paid to understanding its impact on the communities. CSR practice is relatively immature as most companies fail to understand the community needs and the method to satiate these needs effectively. It is also believed that the social work profession shares common values that CSR attempts to address. The present study is a pioneer attempt to understand the gap in CSR delivery through the lens of its recipients by investigating current practices and perceptions on CSR function and the potential involvement of social workers in this field. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight CSR recipient communities in Pulau Pinang. The finding provides fresh evidence that has broadened the understanding of how efficient CSR specialists can optimize their roles, providing a basis for establishing an appropriate curriculum. Keywords: Community needs, Corporate social responsibility (CSR), Malaysia, Educational implications, Curriculum