Course goals
This course addresses finance and sustainability as an integrated subject, beginning with an introduction of financial and investment principles, and moving towards financial analysis, risk management and valuation. The course covers diverse aspects of sustainable investments, and offers tools for effective financial valuation and risk assessment. By bringing sustainability to the core of financial decisions, we emphasize the strategic nature of sustainable finance, both in terms of capital structure and asset allocation, leading to incremental outcomes for all stakeholders. Long-term prosperity, competitive advantage, growth, and at times even organizational survival are core drivers of sustainable finance.
Sustainability is in essence a triple bottom-line that requires balancing out economic, social and environmental (ESG) factors into financial choices. Sustainable finance incorporates additional elements into that scope, including financial metrics and notation, risk management, ethical dilemmas, social responsibility, shared value creation and corporate governance.
Sustainable finance and investing based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria remain a fairly novel concept, yet shaping a paradigm shift in financial management. We support capacity-building in the rapidly changing financial and corporate sectors, for organizations to ‘walk the talk’ and deliver blended economic and social progress, as well as ‘talk the walk’, making sure ESG practices are properly disclosed, through intelligible, materiality-driven reporting, as required by the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and related global frameworks.
This practitioner-oriented course on sustainable finance is designed with the student at the center of the learning process, combining case studies with project-based techniques, so as to bridge theory and practice, equipping participants with a market-ready set of skills.
Course results
- To review diverse case studies within different industries to understand the implications of sustainability in priority areas of economy and the way they are reshaping global markets.
- To understand better how markets react to the new standards of sustainable finance and investment.
- To be able to develop a model of sustainable financial analysis to value a financial project.
- To understand financing and investment principles by applying financial concepts and techniques to analyze sustainability activities and transactions.
- To learn make better-informed sustainability related decision, all while distinguishing between positive analyses and normative judgements.
- To sharpen critical analysis and communication abilities, especially in the context of sustainable financing and investment issues, and apply systems thinking to real-world business problems.
- To expand general understanding of the complex decisions faced by managers in business, government, and non-profit organizations.
- To be challenged to clarify your own values and opinions on issues related to sustainability.
- To develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
