ESG Implementation, Auditing, and Reporting for Sustainable Business

ogólnouniwersyteckie

This course explores Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and their application in modern business. Students will develop skills in implementing ESG strategies, conducting audits, and creating effective reports. Through theoretical foundations and hands-on exercises, participants will gain insights into ESG fundamentals and global frameworks, strategy development and integration into business operations, risk management, value creation, performance auditing and assessment, reporting, and stakeholder communication. The course covers ESG in supply chain management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and investor relations. Industry-specific challenges and best practices are examined. Emphasizing real-world applications, the course uses case studies, interactive workshops, and a final project.

The subject will cover the following subjects but please notice that it is not the exact schedule of the course.

1. Introduction to ESG Principles and Frameworks

- Importance of ESG in modern business

- Overview of Environmental, Social, and Governance factors

- Global ESG frameworks and standards

- Exercise: Analyzing real-world examples of ESG initiatives

2. ESG Strategy Development and Implementation

- Identifying ESG risks and opportunities

- Setting ESG goals and objectives

- Integrating ESG into business strategy

- Establishing ESG policies and procedures

- Exercise: Developing an ESG strategy for a case study organization

3. ESG Risk Management and Value Creation

- Identifying and assessing ESG risks

- Integrating ESG risk management into business processes

- The role of ESG in value creation

- Measuring ESG impact on business performance

- Exercise: Conducting an ESG risk assessment and analyzing value creation

4. ESG Auditing and Performance Assessment

- Principles of ESG auditing

- ESG audit tools and methodologies

- Conducting an ESG audit

- Monitoring and measuring ESG performance

- Exercise: Performing an ESG audit for a case study organization

5. ESG Reporting and Stakeholder Communication

- ESG reporting frameworks and standards

- Developing an ESG report

- Communicating ESG performance to stakeholders

- ESG and investor relations

- Exercise: Creating an ESG report outline and investor presentation

6. ESG in Supply Chain Management

- Incorporating ESG principles into supply chain management

- Evaluating supplier ESG performance

- Developing sustainable procurement strategies

- Exercise: Assessing ESG performance in a case study supply chain

7. ESG and Corporate Governance

- The role of corporate governance in ESG performance

- Integrating ESG into board oversight and decision-making

- ESG and executive compensation

- Exercise: Evaluating corporate governance structures in relation to ESG

8. ESG Regulatory Compliance and Legal Considerations

- ESG-related laws and regulations

- Compliance with ESG standards and best practices

- ESG and corporate disclosure requirements

- Exercise: Identifying ESG compliance requirements for a case study organization

9. ESG and Stakeholder Engagement

- Identifying key stakeholders in ESG performance

- Engaging stakeholders in ESG initiatives

- Addressing stakeholder concerns and expectations

- Exercise: Developing a stakeholder engagement plan for ESG initiatives

10. Industry-Specific ESG Challenges and Best Practices

- ESG challenges and opportunities in various industries

- Industry-specific ESG initiatives and best practices

- Exercise: Analyzing ESG performance in different industries

11. ESG, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Development Goals

- Relationship between ESG, CSR, and SDGs

- Integrating ESG into CSR programs

- Aligning business strategies with SDGs

- Exercise: Designing a CSR program that addresses ESG goals and SDGs

12. The Future of ESG and Course Review

- Emerging trends in ESG

- ESG and the transition to a value-based economy

- Review of key course concepts

13. Final Project: Developing a comprehensive ESG implementation, auditing, and reporting plan for a case study organization.

A unique feature is the focus on real-life projects. Students collaborate with mentors from leading Polish and global organizations across private, public, and non-profit sectors. These partnerships, governed by general and confidentiality agreements, provide invaluable hands-on experience.

The curriculum balances theory with practical application, preparing graduates to lead in solutions. Join us to enhance your professional capabilities and drive technological innovation.

- Serafeim, G. (2020). ESG Integration in Investment Management: Myths and Realities. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 32(2), 51-61.

- Eccles, R. G., & Serafeim, G. (2013). The Performance Frontier: Innovating for a Sustainable Strategy. Harvard Business Review, 91(5), 50-60.

- Kotsantonis, S., Pinney, C., & Serafeim, G. (2016). ESG Integration in Practice: A Practical Guide to ESG Integration for Equity Investing. PRI & MSCI.

Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students will be able to:

- Understand the importance of ESG principles in modern business

- Develop and implement ESG strategies in various business contexts

- Perform ESG audits and assessments

- Create effective ESG reports and communicate ESG performance to stakeholders

- Recognize the role of ESG in risk management and value creation

- Class Participation (30%): Active participation in class discussions and practical exercises.

- Assignments (20%): Regular assignments will be given based on each module. These will involve applying the concepts learned to the course project.

- Final Project (40%): Students will be assessed on their final project.