Meet Dr Anjana Basnet, a Lecturer in International Business and Strategy here at Salford Business School. Anjana took the leap into academia after realising her original career path, accountancy, wasn’t where her true interests lay. She soon discovered her passion for corporate social responsibility (CSR), focusing on the reporting methods of sustainability practises in developing countries, completing both her MSc and PhD on the topic.
We recently caught up with Anjana to delve deeper into her career highlights and her journey into academia.
How did you get into academia as a career path?
After finishing my undergraduate degree, I thought I wanted to be an Accountant and even completed a professional accounting qualification. But I wasn’t happy with this path, so I moved into academia and did my postgraduate degree in Corporate Social Responsibility – a completely different field from accounting. This eventually led me to achieving my PhD and, along the way, I got the chance to start teaching, which I soon realised was my true calling. Looking back, I would say academia just kind of happened to me.
Why did you choose to work at the University of Salford?
I chose the University of Salford because of its strong focus on real-world learning, innovation and industry connections. I admire the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as this fosters a welcoming environment for staff and students from all backgrounds. There is a large focus on providing the students with hands-on experiences that supplement the academic elements of their modules to enhance their employability.
What’s the best thing about being an academic at Salford?
The best thing about being an academic at Salford is being part of such a diverse community of students and colleagues. As the University has a particular focus on giving every single student an equitable experience, we as academics can access necessary tools to provide each student with the support they need. It is really rewarding to watch our students grow throughout their course – it feels great knowing you’ve made a difference. Plus, the supportive and collaborative colleagues make it a great place to work and have really helped me feel like I belong at the school.
Can you tell us about any of your career highlights to-date?
One of my proudest moments at the University has been completing the first SIP 2.0 (sharing in progress) PRME (principles for responsible management) report for Salford. To receive the United Nations PRME accreditation, the University had to show how we address the seven PRME principles including, purpose, values, teach, research, partner, practice and share, which the school continues to prioritise with sustainability front of mind.
This accreditation reinforces the importance of ensuring that today’s students are fully equipped with the understanding and ability to deliver a sustainable change tomorrow.
It took a lot of work to gather data and collaborate with different stakeholders, but we successfully submitted over 900 pages of evidence. It was a big achievement and I am really proud of it. The full report can be accessed here.
What’s your current research focused on?
My main interests lie within CSR and sustainability, specifically regarding emerging or developing economies. My research focuses on understanding what drives companies to adopt sustainable practices.
One key finding from my PhD was that the culture-cognitive pillar can create coercive pressure for Nepali companies to engage in CSR— this was a particularly interesting finding since coercive pressure is usually linked to regulations. This entailed me exploring the existing beliefs and social knowledge of individuals within organisations and the impact this has on engaging with CSR initiatives.
I am also interested in CSR communication, particularly sustainability reporting in relation to the rules and norms that encourage companies to share their sustainability efforts.
Do you have any published papers we can read?
My PhD thesis is available to read here. Last year, I also presented a paper at a conference alongside my colleague, Dr Divya Patel, on embedding carbon literacy in management education. Our abstract for the conference proceeding can be found here.
And finally, the all-important question, where in Manchester or Salford is best to grab a coffee?
Richmond Tea Rooms – it’s a great spot for a cosy afternoon with lovely décor and delicious scones!