School Education Office,
Monash Debating Society,
Deloitte Director.
The SDG Framework, especially SDG 5 was incorporated under BTW2320 (Current Issues In Corporate Governance) through lectures, active learning, industry participation and a written task which carried 30% marks.
What I hoped to Achieve
As SDG 5 emphasizes Gender Equality, the aim was to encourage students to question and reflect on the current push for more women directors in companies and weigh in on the importance of gender (if at all) in the upper levels of corporate governance.
Why I used the SDG Framework
The SDG Framework is principal based and flexible. It allows space for education to be socially and ethically progressive and inclusive. The 17 SDGs is also consistent with the School of Business’s vision and its PRME (Principles of Responsible Management Education) membership, which is to have meaningful impact in the way business is conducted in Asia.
How I used the SDG Framework
An overview of SDG history and its framework was provided. Narrowing in, under SDG 5, I related the target to ‘Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels’ to the latest reform in the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance which requires the board of Large Companies to comprise at least 30% women directors. To follow through, the written task (30%) required students to critically evaluate the success of women directors in Malaysia, reflect on whether gender differences is relevant at the highest levels within organizations in terms of leadership and performance, assess the effectiveness of Corporate Governance standards. This required students to apply the SDG Framework.
The Steps I took to Implement the SDG Framework
Firstly, I conducted a lecture introducing the SDG Framework to the students. Secondly, I focused on SDG 5 and its significance to the latest reforms on the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance 2017 requirements. Thirdly, I incorporated a debate, as part of active learning, for part of the written assessment (above para) which involved 30 students and assessed at 10% The debate was followed by a keynote address by a woman director serving on the panel of judges,as part of industry participation. She relayed her personal insights as a woman director, the challenges she faces and the importance of gender diversity in the boardroom which was a fantastic way to round-up the exciting, rigorous, rich discussion.
These are some feedback from students on SETU Evaluation and emails:
1. “Assignments and debate helped me to better understand the issues we learned in class.”
2. “Volunteering for the debate helped me gain an edge.”
3. “Especially when it came to relating the topics to one another. The essay also helped improve said skills as extensive research was required, thus it needed more in depth analysis.”
4. “The assessments provided meaningful opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge, application and critical thinking.”
5. “I found the Presentation and debate part of the unit most effective.”
Under SDG 5 on Gender Quality, since this a unit on corporate governance, I related the target to ‘Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels’ to the latest reform in the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance which requires the board of Large Companies to comprise at least 30% women directors. To follow through, the written task (30%) required students to critically evaluate the success of women directors in Malaysia, reflect on whether gender differences is relevant at the highest levels within organizations in terms of leadership and performance, assess the effectiveness of Corporate Governance standards. This required students to apply the SDG Framework.
As achieving the SDGs are not explicitly stated in the Program outcomes or the Monash attributes, I explained its relevance under the attribute to ‘demonstrate ethical values’. Holding a debate had its various challenges but it was impactful, nonetheless. I plan on exploring other ways of incorporating the SDGs where relevant, to my unit.
