Values Endorsed by Top Responsible Large Czech Companies – Existent and Inconsistent?

How UNYP scholarship advances responsible business research — and strengthens the student academic experience

At the University of New York in Prague (UNYP), faculty research is an integral part of academic life. It informs classroom discussion, enriches curriculum design, and connects students to real-world economic and governance challenges.

A recent peer-reviewed study authored by Professor Radka MacGregor Pelikánová and Dr. Veronika Zavřelová examines a critical question in modern corporate governance:

Do leading Czech companies consistently uphold the sustainability values they publicly endorse?

Their research contributes to ongoing European discussions surrounding ESG compliance, corporate governance integrity, and the practical implementation of sustainability principles.

About the Authors

Professor Radka MacGregor Pelikánová

Professor MacGregor Pelikánová specializes in business law, corporate governance, and sustainability regulation within the European context. Her research frequently examines the intersection of EU law, corporate responsibility, and value-based governance systems. She has published extensively on ESG regulation, stakeholder governance, and sustainable business models.

Dr. Veronika Zavřelová

Dr. Zavřelová focuses on corporate responsibility, transparency in governance, and implementation strategies for sustainability. Her research analyzes how companies translate declared ethical commitments into operational practice and measurable impact.

Together, their collaboration reflects UNYP’s commitment to rigorous, policy-relevant scholarship grounded in European business realities.

Research Focus: Sustainability Values and Corporate Consistency

The study, titled:

“Values Endorsed by Top Responsible Large Czech Companies – Existent and Inconsistent?”

investigates whether Czech companies identified as sustainability leaders genuinely integrate the values they promote.

Research Context

Under EU regulatory developments and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), businesses are increasingly expected to:

• Move beyond traditional CSR models
• Adopt measurable ESG frameworks
• Integrate sustainability into governance structures
• Create shared value (CSV) for stakeholders

The research analyzed leading Czech large enterprises recognized for sustainability engagement, assessing:

• Publicly declared corporate values
• Governance documentation
• Sustainability reporting
• Evidence of consistent implementation

Key Findings: Declared Commitment vs. Structural Consistency

The study confirms that these companies actively promote sustainability values. However, it also identifies inconsistencies between:

• Public communication and operational systems
• Stated commitments and measurable enforcement mechanisms
• Sustainability rhetoric and governance integration

Such discrepancies can weaken the overall credibility and efficiency of sustainability frameworks.

By documenting these gaps, the research contributes empirical evidence to broader debates about ESG accountability and regulatory effectiveness in Central Europe.

Impact on the UNYP Student Experience

UNYP’s academic model emphasizes the integration of faculty research into teaching. This study directly enhances classroom engagement by providing:

Applied Case Studies

Students analyze real Czech corporate sustainability strategies rather than hypothetical models.

Regulatory Contextualization

Courses incorporate EU sustainability legislation and governance requirements informed by faculty expertise.

Research-Led Teaching

Students benefit from exposure to current, peer-reviewed scholarship produced by their own professors.

This integration reinforces UNYP’s position as a student-centric American university in Europe that combines theoretical rigor with practical relevance.

Strengthening UNYP’s Academic Profile

By publishing research on corporate sustainability and governance integrity, UNYP faculty:

• Contribute to international academic discourse
• Inform European business policy discussions
• Provide regionally grounded expertise
• Enhance the intellectual capital available to students

Faculty scholarship like this reflects UNYP’s broader mission: to cultivate critical thinking, ethical leadership, and global awareness within a dynamic European context.