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Please see below for more information about each of the modules on offer, including the group project).

Participants must complete a minimum of any 4 modules, up to maximum of all 7, plus the group project to complete the course.


Module: Thriving: Business Strategies to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy


Antwerp Management School

This module shows how business innovation can regenerate nature, society, through:

  • The science of thriving - understanding the science of living systems, including the principles of complexity, circularity, creativity, coherence, convergence and continuity
  • The great transitions - moving from degradation to restoration of ecosystems in an ecoservices economy; from depletion to renewal of resources in a circular economy; from social disparity to responsibility in an access economy; from disease to revitalisation in a wellbeing economy; from disconnection to rewiring of technology in a digital economy; and from disruption to resilience of infrastructure and institutions in a risk economy.
  • The integration of thriving - working with the steps of rethinking patterns through systems mapping, re-aligning partners through stakeholder assessment, renewing principles through values dialogue, redefining purpose through strategic goals, re-assessing performance through reporting, and redesigning portfolios through innovation.
  • Leadership for thriving - examining the characteristics needed, including being caring, courageous, inclusive, innovative, strategic and systemic

Module: Transpersonal Leadership for Sustainable Transformation

LeaderShape Global

This module shows how leaders need to develop themselves to transform organisations sustainably.

  • Overview of the leadership required to implement Globally Responsible Sustainable Transformation, and how to develop it. 
  • Understand and develop self-awareness of personal behaviours that enable improved emotional intelligence and ability to flex leadership styles.  This increases engagement and inspires organisations to embrace new ways of working and being, to integrate sustainable principles.
  • Understand the 5 decision-making processes (only one of which we are usually aware of), bringing our personal conscience values and self determination into greater consciousness to balance the needs of all stakeholders, including the community and the planet.
  • Create an individual transpersonal touchstone to enable decisions to be made in full consciousness with awareness that promotes long term benefits to the organisation and all its stakeholders.

Module: Sustainability Accounting and Reporting

University of Limerick 

This module will cover sustainability accounting and disclosure in a pragmatic way, with a focus on the development of practical pathways to engagement, and integration into organizational strategy and governance. Extensive use is made of short cases and examples of good and emerging practice. Core topics to be covered are:

  • The key underlying principles of accountability and engagement in the context of internal and external disclosure, including the role of qualitative and quantitative approaches and social media;
  • Exploring the tension between reporting standards and goals, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, and the shifting standards and evolving regulation in responsibility and sustainability;
  • Core standards and resources for reporting and measurement of impact, with a focus on ladders of engagement for sustainability reporting, and strategies for smaller companies and public bodies as well as large corporations;
  • Understanding the role of reporting and disclosure in risk management and the engagement of salient stakeholders.

Module: Cross-sector Partnerships for Impact 

Católica Porto Business School  

This module examines the potential of partnerships in the development and implementation of solutions for challenging social and environmental problems. Non-profit organizations, among them foundations, and the public sector, may bring to partnerships with companies knowledge and resources that complement each other. The particular case of social entrepreneurship will be presented. Learning will be grounded in real cases discussions. 

The module will be organized as follows: 

  • Non-profit organizations , including foundations, as relevant partners;  
  • Social entrepreneurs as brokers of resources and competencies across sectors; 
  • Real case examples of cross-sector partnerships.

Module: Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Colorado State University

This module will go into depth on sustainability challenges and solutions, in global supply chains. Students will explore and discuss how companies work with their supply chain partners to manage social and environmental sustainability. We will dive into why companies prioritize addressing certain sustainability risks in the various tiers of their supply chains. We will assess the common practices of major brands in multiple industries, and for different products types. Learning will be grounded in experiences; including class discussions, guest speakers, and interacting with one another.

Core topics to be covered are:

  • United Nations Sustainable Development (Supply Chain) Goals
  • Responsible Sourcing
  • Environmental & Climate Sustainability
  • Best Practices & Reporting

Module: From Shared Value to Social Innovation

Sasin School of Management 

This module shows how increased competitiveness, business opportunity, and profitability arise from policies and initiatives designed to meet social and environmental needs. Among topics:

  • The philosophy of shared value and its relevance to an organization interested in delivering social and environmental programs linked to core business
  • The concepts of shared value and social innovation as tools to enhance the performance of the corporation and the communities it serves
  • Consideration of ways in which shared value can drive profitable business opportunities responsive to social and environmental needs, building on social innovations and entrepreneurship mindset
  • Case studies of how companies are using shared value to drive long-term success with an emphasis on leveraging innovation in the organization
  • The role of social innovation and purpose in delivering effective shared value initiatives
  • Embedding shared value initiatives within the company versus spinning off shared value initiatives into social enterprises
  • A practical exercise based on identifying possible areas for the development of shared value initiatives

Module: Sustainability and the Entertainment Industry 

Loyola Marymount University

This module will examine current practices and leading initiatives regarding sustainability and the entertainment industry. A complex industry of global reach, the work of sustainability involves a diverse group of stakeholders that range from media leaders, production companies and a broad network of industry collaborations including private, public and non-governmental organizations. This module will feature industry leaders who will describe the industry itself, and current topics and initiatives in the work of sustainability.

Specific topics to be covered:

  • Entertainment and Sustainability – Stakeholders and Collaborations – an overview of the industry and its players in sustainability
  • Sustainable Production - implementing sustainability on set and on location
  • Storytelling and Sustainability – the role of the industry in creating awareness and change
  • Industry Impact Reporting – scope of goal setting and reporting

Group Project

Students will work with other individuals across a sampling of the entities involved in this collaboration on an integrative project. Teams will include 4-5 students and will be formed based on students’ interest in UNGC sectors. Once teams are formed, they will work on a well-known branded company that the teams will select. The team will serve as an advisor to the board and at the end of the project will provide a 15-minute presentation to a group of panelists serving as that organization’s board. The presentation will provide:

  • A discussion of the main sustainability challenges and risks that the company (and their industry) are currently facing.
    • In identifying these challenges/risks, the teams should connect to a subset of modules discussed within the class
  • An overview of the company’s current sustainability performance (i.e., how is the company currently doing in addressing the risks identified)
    • Again, the team should leverage the content from a subset of the various modules involved in this collaborative class.
  • What are the gaps in terms of what the company is currently doing in regards to sustainability?
  • What does the team advise the board to do going forward to address the most important gaps?

Deliverables provided by the team:

  • 15-minute presentation (and 5-minute Q&A session) with panel of judges serving as board
  • Provide the presentation materials utilized by the team in their 15-minute presentation (i.e., provide the Powerpoint slides including slide notes, etc.)
  • 2-page executive summary

SDG Industry Matrix | UN Global Compact


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