Full course description
Course start September 1, 2025
This course provides the basics of sustainability reporting and prepares participants to deal with today’s sustainability reporting requirements, focusing on relevant regulations and tools. Economics professionals are required to report not only on financial performance but also on social and environmental performance, as the shift from single materiality to double materiality takes place. By focusing on sustainability reporting, CO2 budgeting, and GRI standards, participants will gain actionable skills to measure, manage, and report on climate impact, enabling them to effectively communicate sustainability, monitor progress, and drive change. This aligns with Sweden's ambitions for a fossil-free future by helping companies set science-based targets and create transparent sustainability reports, which foster accountability and innovation within the green transition. As businesses adapt to stricter EU policies, this course empowers professionals to lead organizational change toward a sustainable economy.
Course content
- Introduction to CSR and sustainability regulations - Overview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and EU regulations affecting sustainability reporting.
- Financial Reporting Directive (FRD) - Review of the Directive and its link to sustainability reporting.
- CO2 budgeting and SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) - Practical tools to calculate and communicate your organization’s climate impact.
- GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) - How to use GRI standards to create a transparent and credible sustainability report.
Course design
The course is designed to provide maximum flexibility for working professionals in the field of economics. Teaching materials include pre-recorded video lectures, articles, case studies, regulatory documents, company reports, and links to additional resources. Key resources, such as templates for sustainability reports, CO2 budgeting tools, and guidelines for GRI standards, will be provided to facilitate practical application of the knowledge gained. Guided tutorials will allow participants to engage with the content at their own pace and according to their schedules. Interactive elements are integrated through a ”Discussion” module, where participants will reflect on thought-provoking questions related to each topic by submitting concise written responses. Participants are also encouraged to ask questions either via the study platform or privately through email, ensuring personalized support.
The course takes approxomately 55 hours to complete.
You will learn
Students will gain foundational knowledge of CSR and EU sustainability regulations, learn to apply the Financial Reporting Directive, develop skills in CO2 budgeting and SBTi, GRI standards, conduct double-materiality assessments, and implement sustainability reporting through case studies. This course prepares students to align business strategies with evolving sustainability expectations
Who is the course for?
The course is suitable for professionals seeking to reskill or upskill in sustainability reporting.
The course is aimed at economists, business consultants, sustainability officers, financial analysts, sustainability controllers, ESG specialists, sustainability managers, sustainability reporting specialists.
The course i suitable for persons with a bachelor's or master's degree in economics, business, management, entrepreneurship, or related fields that have a basic understanding of financial and sustainability concepts, university-level proficiency in English, and an interest in working and studying towards meaningful change in their professional lives.