Social Responsibility in the Global Apparel Industry



The University of Delaware, Cornell University, and Colorado State University have teamed together to develop a set of graduate level courses that address labor and environmental issues in the global supply chains for the apparel, textile, and footwear industries.

The courses provide a foundation of knowledge needed to manage international production and sourcing of apparel, textiles, and footwear in ways that are socially responsible and sustainable. The competencies and skills that are expected outcomes of the courses were developed based on research and interviews with industry leaders and professionals who lead nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups with a stake in the global apparel business.

The ten, one-credit courses, each lasting five weeks, are offered through the Internet. The course format and delivery through the Internet was selected so that students can mix and match the courses depending on their interests and participate from any location in the world. For example, students who are preparing to work in sourcing in the apparel industry might want to consider taking all the courses while those interested in retail management might take a narrower range of courses on the supply chain, consumers, and initiatives in labor compliance. Although the courses are initially offered only to graduate students at the University of Delaware, Cornell University, and Colorado State University, they will eventually be opened to graduate students from higher education institutions around the world and to industry professionals.

Creation of the courses and learning materials was supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2006-01405. Project Director: Marsha Dickson, University of Delaware.