Dr.rer.pol, Dipl.-Soz. Janina Curbach

• “Global Survey of Business Ethics (GSBE) – Teaching, Research and Training:
  A study on business and corporate ethics in higher education, research and in-company training in the DACH region; Conducted as part of a consortium with TU Dresden, the University of Erfurt and the University of Bergamo as part of the GSBE survey waves 2022–2024 across 36 countries/country groups, led by Prof. George Enderle, University of Notre Dame, USA   
• ‘Women in Midlife – Health and Work during the Menopause’ (Working Women Midlife Transition)
  International qualitative study on women’s experiences of enabling factors and barriers relating to managing menopausal symptoms in the workplace; in collaboration with Prof. Lara Bertola, Prof. Esra Paca, Prof. Julia Roloff and Prof. Akanksha Jalan, Rennes School of Business, France
• “Job market analyses on business ethics, CSR and sustainability”
  A mixed-methods study analysing job profiles advertised online (current situation and trends over time), in collaboration with TU Dresden (Prof. Aßländer, Max Drake MA, Miriam Fink MA) and Simone Wittmann MA, Dr Kendra Pöhlmann, OTH Regensburg

• “Business and corporate ethics from a corporate perspective: GSBE survey results from the DACH region (Germany, Switzerland)”
  Abstract accepted for the European Business Ethics Network (EBEN) Annual Conference 2025, “Artificial Intelligence, Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility – Challenges and Opportunities for Business and Society”, Munich, May 2025.
• ‘Business Ethics in Europe: What can we learn from each other?’
  Invited speaker on the international panel on the Global Survey of Business Ethics (GSBE) at the Society of Business Ethics (SBE) Annual Conference, Copenhagen, July 2025.
• ‘Business Ethics in Europe: What can we learn from each other?’
  Invited speaker on the international panel on the Global Survey of Business Ethics (GSBE) at the Academy of Management (AOM) 85th Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, July 2025.
• “What do future managers learn? Empirical findings from the GSBE on business and corporate ethics in higher education”
  Invited keynote address at the “Responsible Management Education” workshop organised by the UN PRME Chapter DACH (Prof. Dr Lisa Fröhlich) as part of the Responsible Management Summit 2025 hosted by the German Network for Business Ethics (DNWE) on “New Challenges and Opportunities for Global Corporate Responsibility”, Berlin, July 2025.

• „Digitally Enhanced Practical Education DEPE“
  Erasmus+ Action Type KA220-HED - Cooperation partnerships in higher education (KA220-HED), Call 2025, in Kooperation mit Prof. Thomas Liebetruth (submitted 3/2025)

The United Nations’ third Sustainable Development Goal is “Good Health and Well-being” (SDG 3). Health is also an essential part of corporate social responsibility and sustainability – directly in terms of protecting and maintaining the health of employees, and indirectly through aspects such as product use, etc., for customers as well – and, at the latest since the Supply Chain Protection Act came into force in 2023, for employees of supplier companies too. The challenges involved in creating healthy working conditions in Germany have changed in recent years in that, alongside physical workloads (e.g. musculoskeletal health), psychosocial illnesses in particular have become increasingly relevant. Furthermore, aspects of wellbeing and work-life balance are increasingly coming into focus, and digitalisation – with mobile working and working from home, as well as new forms of work intensification and the blurring of work and private life boundaries (keyword: ‘New Work’) – is presenting occupational health management and promotion (BGM/BGF) with new challenges. Research in the field of ‘Work and Health’ generates knowledge for the development and application of innovative solutions for prevention and health management that are tailored to specific target groups, gender-sensitive and adapted to demographic change.

At the macro level, this concerns socio-historical changes and the institutionalisation of sustainability standards within the economic system, which is reflected, for example, in changes to regulations (e.g. the CSRD) and standards (e.g. ISO standards), terminology (e.g. from CSR to ESG), companies’ own statements on sustainability, in job descriptions and professional development programmes, as well as in educational content on sustainability, CSR, business and corporate ethics in management programmes at universities. At the organisational level and within companies, the transition towards ‘greater’ sustainability presents a challenge for change management, as appropriate strategies, processes and measures must be implemented to align objectives with sustainability – ranging from supply chain management and production to communication and sustainability reporting. The challenges relating to sustainability are specific to sectors, individual companies, product supply chains and changing social contexts – from local to global levels – which is why new forms of cooperation are also necessary (e.g. sharing of good practices; multi-stakeholder initiatives). Research in this area contributes to the analysis of current trends, long-term institutionalisation and change processes, and international comparisons.  

In order to tackle climate change or the threat of social division caused by inequality, to establish sustainable consumption and to safeguard health and well-being for all, every individual would need to change their decision-making behaviour – both in their personal lives and in the workplace. Of particular interest here are current research approaches from climate psychology and health research into the barriers to and success factors for behavioural change, as well as effective interventions and measures to raise awareness, motivate and encourage behavioural change (e.g. social marketing, nudging, changes to workplace conditions).

The healthcare sector faces major challenges, both environmental and social: globally, the healthcare sector emits more CO₂ than the global aviation industry; at the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic, if nothing else, has shown that working conditions in the healthcare professions do not live up to the sector’s enormous social responsibility. At the same time, companies operating in the healthcare products market (including the pharmaceutical industry) and within the increasingly privately organised healthcare sector are under normative (e.g. One Health; Health with No Harm) and regulatory pressure (e.g. CSRD) to systematically implement environmental and social sustainability in their organisation, processes and business relationships. Particular research interest lies in a) strategic approaches and good practices, and b) organisational tensions between profession-led administrative structures and modern management requirements, as well as economic and medical-ethical rationales.

In terms of methodology, the research primarily involves survey-based and intervention-based research/evaluation, utilising empirical qualitative methods, mixed methods and participatory research methods.

Curbach, J: Die Corporate-Social-Responsibility-Bewegung, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag, 2009

Curbach, J: Global Governance und NGOs. Transnationale Zivilgesellschaft in internationalen Politiknetzwerken, Opladen: Leske und Budrich Verlag, 2003

Bertola, L.; Curbach, J., Jalan, A., Paca, A., Roloff, J. (2025): Facilitators and Barriers in the Menopausal Journey of Working Women: Evidence from France, Germany, and Turkey, Sociological Review (submitted)

Aßländer, M. S.; Burkatzki, E.; Curbach, J.; Löhr, A.; Talaulicar, T.; Ureta Vaquero, I. (2025): Business Ethics Teaching, Research and Training in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: Core Insights from Multiple Data Sources, in: Business and Professional Ethics Journal (forthcoming)

Talaulicar, T.; Aßländer, M. S.; Curbach, J. (2025): Forschung zur Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik im deutschsprachigen Raum: Einschätzungen auf Basis von Publikations- und Befragungsdaten, in: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik, Jg. 26/H. 1, 34-58. DOI: 10.5771/1439-880X-2025-1-34

Aßländer, M. S.;Curbach, J.; Ureta Vaquero, I. (2025): Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik in der Hochschullehre in der DACH-Region: Ergebnisse der empirischen Untersuchung im Rahmen des GSBE („Business and Corporate Ethics in University Teaching in the DACH Region: Results of an Empirical Study within the Framework of the Global Survey of Business Ethics (GSBE)“), in: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik, Jg. 26/H. 1, 59-91. DOI: 10.5771/1439-880X-2025-1-59

Curbach, J.; Talaulicar, T.; Ureta Vaquero, I.; Wittmann, S. (2025): Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik aus Unternehmenssicht. Ergebnisse einer Befragung in Deutschland und der Schweiz („Business and Corporate Ethics from a Corporate Perspective: Survey Results from Germany and Switzerland“). In: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik, Jg. 26/H. 1, 92-123. DOI: 10.5771/1439-880X-2025-1-92

Talaulicar, T.; Curbach, J.; Aßländer, M. S. (2025): Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik in Hochschullehre, Forschung und Unternehmen der DACH-Region. Bestandsaufnahme und Thesen. In: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik, Jg. 26/H. 1, 124-148. DOI: 10.5771/1439-880X-2025-1-124

Curbach, J. (2025): Nachhaltigkeit im Gesundheitswesen: Ökologische Transformation im Unternehmen Krankenhaus, in: Heese, Carl; Schütz, Sandra; Obergrießer, Stefanie: Die Nachhaltigkeitsziele der UN im Spiegel der Wissenschaft. Beispiele aus der Sozial- und Gesundheitsforschung, Springer Verlag, 317-336. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-43334-5_20

Curbach, J. (2025): Nachhaltigkeit im Reallabor Hochschule: Eine Social Marketing-Kampagne zur Mitarbeitersensibilisierung an der OTH Regensburg, in: Heese, Carl; Schütz, Sandra; Obergrießer, Stefanie: Die Nachhaltigkeitsziele der UN im Spiegel der Wissenschaft. Beispiele aus der Sozial- und Gesundheitsforschung, Springer Verlag, 355-372. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-43334-5_20

Aßländer, M. S.; Burkatzki, E.; Curbach, J.; Löhr, A.; Talaulicar, T.; Ureta Vaquero, I. (2024): Country Report on Germany, Austria and Switzerland, in: Robinson, B./Enderle G. (Herausg.): The Global Survey of Business Ethics 2022-2024 (GSBE). Teaching, Research and Training, Vol. 3: Europe, Geneva: Globethics, 65-86.

Von Sommoggy, J; Grepmeier, E-M; Apfelbacher, C; Brandstetter, S and Curbach, J: Pediatricians’ experiences of managing outpatient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Germany. Front. Pediatr. 11(2023); DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1127238

Grepmeier, E.-M.; Pawellek, M.; Curbach, J.; von Sommoggy, J.; Drewitz K. P.; Hasenpusch, C.; Bitzer, E.M.; Apfelbacher, C.; Matterne, U.: Health Literacy in Health Professionals Two Years into the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Scoping Review, JMIR Med Educ 2022 Oct 17;8(4):e39023. DOI: 10.2196/39023

von Sommoggy, J; Grepmeier, EM; Curbach, J. Gesundheitskompetenz-orientierte Versorgung durch Gesundheitsfachkräfte. In: Rathmann K., Dadaczynski K., Okan O., Messer M. (eds) Gesundheitskompetenz. Springer Reference Pflege – Therapie – Gesundheit. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. (2022) DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-62800-3_143-1

Curbach, Janina, von Sommoggy, Julia and Grepmeier, Eva-Maria: Nachhaltige Gesundheitsversorgung – Gesundheitskompetenz stärken durch Gesundheitsfachkräfte, Public Health Forum 2022; 30(2): 105-107. DOI: 10.1515/pubhef-2022-0013

von Sommoggy, J; Grepmeier, E; Curbach, J. Health Literacy-Sensitive Counselling on Early Childhood Allergy Prevention: Results of a Qualitative Study on German Midwives’ Perspectives. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(7):4182.DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074182

Lander J, Curbach J, von Sommoggy J, Bitzer EM, Dierks M. Awareness, Information-Seeking Behavior, and Information Preferences About Early Childhood Allergy Prevention Among Different Parent Groups: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study: JMIR Res Protoc 2021;10(1):e25474.
DOI: 10.2196/25474

Curbach Janina, Lander Jonas, Dierks Marie-Luise, Grepmeier Eva-Maria, von Sommoggy Julia. How do health professionals translate evidence on early childhood allergy prevention into health literacy-responsive practice? A protocol for a mixed-method study on the views of German health professionals. BMJ Open 2021;0:e047733. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2020-047733

von Sommoggy Julia, Rueter Jana, Curbach Janina, Helten Jessica, Tittlbach Susanne, Loss Julika. How Does the Campus Environment Influence Everyday Physical Activity? A Photovoice Study Among Students of Two German Universities. Front. Public Health. 2020; 8:561175. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.561175

Among Students of Two German Universities. Front. Public Health. 2020; 8:561175. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.561175

Loss Julika, Müller Daniel, Weigl Johannes, Helbig Horst, Brandl Caroline, Heid Iris M, Finger Robert P, Weber Bernhard HF, Curbach Janina. Views of ophthalmologists on the genetics of age-related macular degeneration: results of a qualitative study. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(12):e0209328. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0209328

Curbach Janina, Warrelmann Berit, Brandstetter Susanne, Lindacher Verena, Rueter Jana, Loss Julika. Empowering senior citizens for healthy nutrition in Germany: a pilot study. Health Soc Care Community 2018 Apr;26:675-684. doi:10.1111/hsc.12580

Lindacher Verena, Curbach Janina, Warrelmann Berit, Brandstetter Susanne, Loss Julika. Evaluation of Empowerment in Health Promotion Interventions: A Systematic Review. Eval Health Prof. 2018;41(3). doi:10.1177/0163278716688065

Loss, Julika, Johannes Weigl, Antonio Ernstberger, Michael Nerlich, Michael Koller, Janina Curbach: Social capital in a regional inter-hospital network among trauma centers (trauma network): results of a qualitative study in Germany. BMC Health Services Research 2018, doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-2918-z

Curbach, Janina, Christian Apfelbacher, Angelina Knoll, Sandra Herrmann, Bertram Szagun, Julika Loss: Physicians’ perspectives on implementing the prevention scheme “Physical Activity on Prescription”– Results of a survey in Bavaria. The Journal of Evidence and Quality in Health Care (Zeitschrift für Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen) 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.zefq.2018.02.001

Brandstetter, Susanne*, Curbach, Janina*, Lindacher V, Rüter J, Warrelmann B, Loss J.: Empowerment for healthy nutrition in German communities: a study framework. Health Promotion International, 2017, Jun 1;32(3):500-510. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dav092. (*shared 1st authorship)

Aßländer, Michael S., Curbach, J: Wirtschaftsethik ohne Ethik? – Der „Unternehmensbürger“ zwischen ethischem Anspruch und ökonomischer Wirklichkeit, in: Matthias Maring (Hrsg.) 2016: Zur Zukunft der Bereichsethiken – Herausforderungen durch die Ökonomisierung der Welt. KIT Scientific Publishing, Karlsruhe, S. 125-144

Aßländer M S., Curbach, J: Corporate or Governmental Duties? Corporate Citizenship from a Governmental Perspective. Business and Society 2015 May 56(4): 617-645. doi: 10.1177/0007650315585974

Brandstetter, Susanne*, Curbach, Janina*, McCool Megan, Loss Julika, Apfelbacher Christian: Patient-centredness in health services research/Patientenorientierung in der Versorgungsforschung. Das Gesundheitswesen 2015 Mar;77(3): 200-5. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1387742 (*shared 1st authorship)

Aßländer M S., Curbach, J: The Corporation as Citoyen? Towards a New Understanding of Corporate Citizenship. Journal of Business Ethics 2014 120(4): 541-554. doi: 10.1007/s10551-013-2004-8Aa

Curbach, J, Loss, J: Public Private Partnerships - Chance und Risiken multisektoraler Zusammenarbeit in der Gemeindenahen Gesundheitsförderung, in: Impu!se, (76) 2012, LVGAfS Niedersachsen e.V., S. 13-15, 2012

Curbach, J: Corporate Citizenship – Bürgerstatus für Unternehmen?, in: Forum Wirtschaftsethik 2010 18(4): 7-17

Curbach, J: Zwischen Boykott und CSR - Eine Beziehungsanalyse zu Unternehmen und NGOs. Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik / Journal of Business, Economics and Ethics 2008 9(3): 368-391

Curbach, J: Unternehmen als kollektive Weltbürger, in: Baringhorst, S./Kneip, V./, März, A. (Hrsg.) 2007: Politik mit dem Einkaufswagen. Konsumenten und Unternehmen als Bürger in der globalen Mediengesellschaft, Transcript, Bielefeld, S. 181-206