Viktoriia Tkachenko

This study examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility and the effectiveness of internal control, while simultaneously examining board gender diversity to check whether female directors contribute to corporate transparency or not. The sample of the study comprises 15,231 firm-year observations of companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2013 to 2018. The raw data for variable calculation come from authoritative and reputable sources, such as China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR), DIB Internal Control database, and RKS CSR score. The empirical study shows that socially high-performing firms possess a more effective internal control mechanism. However, the paper failed to find a positive association of gender diversity on the board with internal control effectiveness, and failed to attest reinforcing effect of female directors on internal control in socially responsible firms. This study suggests that in China’s institutional environment, female directors are unlikely to contribute to increased corporate transparency. This study is useful for both regulators and company management to establish a master plan and tactics for board composition to improve corporate transparency, taking into account the effect of the investigated phenomena within the jurisdiction under study.

Acknowledgment
This paper is co-funded by the European Union through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) within the project “EMBRACING EU CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF BUSINESS-SOCIETY BONDS TRANSFORMATION IN UKRAINE” 101094100 — EECORE — ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH-UA-IBA / ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCHRSCH https://eecore.snau.edu.ua/

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate relationship between corporate governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure (CSRD) within the framework of China’s institutional landscape. By analyzing an extensive dataset comprising 35,435 firm-year observations from 3,889 A-share listed companies spanning the years 2006 to 2019, the research scrutinizes various governance mechanisms, including board size, independence, CEO duality, and ownership concentration.
The investigation affirms that larger boards and a higher proportion of independent directors exert a positive influence on CSRD. In contrast, a substantial shareholding ratio held by the largest shareholder proves to be a hindrance to the transparent disclosure of CSR initiatives. While the impact of CEO duality on CSRD is noted, the statistical significance of this relationship remains inconclusive.
These findings underscore the nuanced dynamics of governance and ownership structures in shaping CSR initiatives. The findings highlight the nuanced impact of governance and ownership structures on CSR initiatives, offering valuable insights for managers and policymakers navigating CSR strategies in China’s business landscape. The insights garnered from this study hold valuable implications for both corporate managers and policymakers navigating the landscape of CSR strategies within the unique contours of China’s business environment.

Acknowledgment
This paper is co-funded by the European Union through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) within the project “Embracing EU corporate social responsibility: challenges and opportunities of business-society bonds transformation in Ukraine” – 101094100 – EECORE – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH-UA-IBA / ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCHRSCH https://eecore.snau.edu.ua/
Oleh PASKO expresses sincere gratitude for the support received from the Kirkland Research Program, generously provided by the Leaders of Change Foundation established by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.

This study investigates how board-level corporate governance affects corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance in European firms. A panel dataset of 5,760 firm-year observations from the STOXX Europe 600 index, covering 21 countries between 2010 and 2022, was analyzed using multivariate regression models. The data, sourced from Refinitiv Eikon, include firms across 22 industries, with capital goods and materials among the largest sectors, and represent major economies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
The analysis focused on board composition, CEO characteristics, and the presence of governance, audit, and CSR committees. It was found that independent and diverse boards with high attendance are associated with stronger CSR performance. Companies with active CSR committees demonstrate particularly enhanced ESG outcomes. Interestingly, CEO duality is linked to weaker CSR performance, while the presence of a former CEO as chairman improves sustainability efforts.
The study provides quantitative evidence on how governance structures shape corporate sustainability and offers practical insights for corporate leaders, policymakers, and investors seeking to improve CSR strategies across diverse European contexts.

Acknowledgment
This paper is co-funded by the European Union through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) within the project “Embracing EU corporate social responsibility: challenges and opportunities of business-society bonds transformation in Ukraine” – 101094100 – EECORE – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH-UA-IBA / ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCHRSCH https://eecore.snau.edu.ua/
Oleh PASKO expresses sincere gratitude for the support from the Kirkland Research Program, generously provided by the Leaders of Change Foundation established by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The transition toward climate neutrality is reshaping economic systems and increasing the importance of human capital in green modernization. However, a significant gap persists between technological advances and the strategic management of the workforce. This study aims to systematize and conceptually map the contemporary scholarly landscape of human capital management research within the renewable energy transition. Using the PRISMA 2020 protocol, the study analyzed 2,258 Scopus-indexed documents published between 1994 and 2026 through bibliometric and science mapping methods. The methodology combined descriptive statistics, keyword frequency analysis, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), and network co-occurrence cluster analysis using the Bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer. The results show a rapid increase in publication activity, with an annual growth rate of 18.01%, with China, the United States, and India leading global output and the international collaboration rate reaches 28.6%. Science mapping showed that the term “human capital” entered this field more actively only after 2020 (297 occurrences), still lagging behind technological topics. MCA indicated a clear conceptual separation between knowledge domains: the relative distance between the educational and workforce clusters suggests that these themes are still weakly integrated in the literature. Network analysis identified five thematic clusters: the technological and educational foundation, macroeconomic environment and resources, strategic management and innovative transformation, the socio-labor dimension and labor market, and eco-technological regulation. These results point to the need for a more integrated approach to adaptive human capital development that connects technological change, professional mobility, and institutional learning and strengthens the role of human capital in supporting green transformation.

Acknowledgment
This paper was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine as part of the research project Adaptive Human Capital Management in the Renewable Energy Sector: Synergy of Innovation and Social Sustainability” (Grant/Project No. 0126U000453).