Hidden curriculum in student organizations: Learning, practice, socialization and responsible management in a business school

For many students, education does not simply mean obtaining a university degree and, consequently, a good job; rather, there is also a need to attain personal satisfaction and a sense of responsibility for the community in which one lives. In the business school that we studied, we observed that learning not only occurs in the formal education program but also is complemented by operations in the nine existing student organizations, which constitute much of the school's hidden curriculum. This research entailed a survey with a qualitative approach. Analyzing the keyword answers of the students, 91% affirmed that they dealt with ethical concerns, corporate social responsibility and sustainability in student organizations. Based on the content of the other answers of the questionnaire, it can be concluded that students are creating their own learning content in student organizations in varied subjects to meet demands unmet by the formal curriculum. The student organizations are a fertile field for reflecting on and practicing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and learning the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). The students of the surveyed student organizations demonstrated a predisposition to social impact actions, thus ensuring their responsibility, ethics, interest in sustainability and awareness of society. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.