Humboldt-Academy

ESG Management | Certificate Course

Respond confidently to new requirements with solid expertise

Description

ESG is now an integral part of corporate strategy. Customers, investors, banks and business partners expect reliable data on environmental, social and governance matters. With the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the carbon footprint of your products and the quality of your emissions data are coming under scrutiny. The “ESG Management” course offered by the Humboldt-Innovation Academy combines a solid theoretical foundation with a strong practical focus.

Course language: Russian

Participation: in person or online

Two course levels:

• ESG Management: Basic (8 modules) – the foundation course for anyone who is new to ESG or wants to systematise their knowledge of the key concepts, approaches and tools.
• ESG Management: Professional (10 modules) – the advanced programme for specialists and managers who already have a basic knowledge of ESG and want to apply sustainable management tools in their professional practice.

Target group

The course is aimed at business owners, executives and members of management teams, as well as specialists in sustainability and ESG, finance, procurement, production, logistics, human resources, occupational health and safety, environmental management, compliance, internal control, audit and risk management. The programme is also relevant for consultants, representatives of financial institutions, and companies that work with European clients or are part of international supply chains.

Learning outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• systematically identify the environmental, social and governance aspects of an organisation’s activities and assess their significance for resilience, competitiveness and reputation,
• determine material ESG topics according to the principle of double materiality and assess impacts, risks and opportunities,
• measure greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of products, taking into account the requirements of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for emissions data,
• identify ESG risks in supply chains and shape cooperation with suppliers and business partners in a targeted way,
• apply the requirements of European ESG reporting (CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, VSME) to their organisation,
• integrate ESG approaches into corporate strategy, corporate governance, human resources, reporting and cooperation with investors and financing partners in practice.

Our ESG courses at a glance

Choose between the Basic and Professional course, in person or online, starting at any time of the year.

Early booking discount: a 10% discount applies to bookings made at least one month in advance.

Teaching methods

Expert lectures, analysis of practical case studies, group work, working with ESG data and application-oriented exercises

Curriculum ESG Management: Basic

Module 1: Fundamentals of ESG and sustainable development

The concept and significance of ESG and its connection to the resilience of the business model, competitiveness and corporate reputation. Global and European developments. Participants determine which ESG topics are particularly relevant to their organisation.

Module 2: ESG strategy and material topics

Stakeholders, assessment of impacts, risks and opportunities, the principle of double materiality, prioritisation and goal setting. Practical outcome: a preliminary overview of the company’s material ESG topics.

Module 3: Environment (E)

Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint, energy consumption, water resources, pollution, waste, circular economy and biodiversity. Participants compile an overview of the key environmental indicators for an organisation.

Module 4: Social (S)

Working conditions, occupational health and safety, human rights, equal opportunities, non-discrimination, staff development and engagement with local communities. Practical outcome: identification of key social risks and possible countermeasures.

Module 5: Governance (G) and business ethics

Responsibilities of senior management, business ethics, corruption prevention, conflicts of interest, internal control, risk management and grievance procedures. Participants identify the essential elements of responsible corporate governance.

Module 6: ESG in supply chains

Mapping the value chain, assessing ESG risks among suppliers, criteria for sustainable procurement, verifying the origin of raw materials, data collection and cooperation with business partners. The module also covers emissions in the supply chain and the importance of reliable information in connection with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for the goods concerned.

Module 7: European ESG reporting and compliance

Overview of the CSRD, ESRS, the EU Taxonomy and the voluntary VSME standard for small and medium-sized enterprises; assessing the applicability of the requirements, organising data collection and verification, assigning responsibilities and documenting procedures.

Module 8: Sustainable finance and ESG implementation plan

Expectations of investors and financial institutions, ESG ratings, and green and sustainability-linked financing instruments. Final practical assignment: drawing up a concise roadmap for introducing ESG in an organisation.

Curriculum ESG Management: Professional

Module 1: Integrating ESG into strategy and corporate governance

ESG governance models, allocation of responsibilities, accountability of senior management, and integration of ESG objectives into corporate strategy and management decisions.

Module 2: Double materiality and ESG risk management

Analysis of impacts, risks and opportunities, stakeholder mapping, prioritisation of material topics, scenario analysis and creation of an ESG risk register.

Module 3: Climate and environmental aspects of business operations

Measuring Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, product carbon footprint, climate risks, transition plans, energy efficiency and environmental indicators. The module covers emissions data relevant under CBAM for the goods it applies to.

Module 4: Social responsibility and human rights

Assessment of working conditions and social impacts, occupational health and safety, equal opportunities, grievance mechanisms, and the identification and prevention of human rights violations within the organisation and in the supply chain.

Module 5: ESG management in supply chains and due diligence

Risk-based supplier segmentation, ESG screening of business partners, assessment of their labour and environmental practices, traceability and data requirements, contractual provisions, remediation measures and supplier capacity building. Practical assignment: creating an ESG risk map for the supply chain and a plan for cooperation with business partners.

Module 6: European standards and preparing ESG reporting

Application of the CSRD and ESRS in light of the current legal and implementation status; materiality assessment, disclosure structure, links to the EU Taxonomy, application of the VSME standard, and organisation of internal processes for preparing and reviewing reports.

Module 7: ESG compliance system and internal control

Development of ESG policies, procedures and control measures; assignment of responsibilities; screening of business partners; handling incidents and complaints; staff training; documentation and prevention of misleading sustainability claims, including greenwashing.

Module 8: ESG investment and the company’s financing readiness

Assessing financing needs, building a portfolio of ESG projects, preparing information for investors and banks, applying EU Taxonomy criteria, green bonds, sustainable lending and financing transformation measures. Outcome: a draft investment case with ESG indicators.

Module 9: ESG data, indicators and performance measurement

ESG data architecture, data sources and data owners, methods for calculating indicators, data quality checks, key performance indicators (KPIs), monitoring target achievement, dealing with ESG ratings, and preparing for an external assessment or audit of reporting.

Module 10: Final project: ESG plan for an organisation

Development of a practice-oriented company project covering material topics, a risk map, prioritised measures, indicators, a timeline, responsibilities, resource requirements and a plan for cooperation with suppliers and financing partners. The project is presented at the end of the course.

Certification requirements

You will receive the certificate upon attending at least 80% of the course and successfully passing a final test (Basic) or completing and presenting a practical project on integrating ESG approaches into a company’s business operations (Professional).

The certificate confirms demonstrated competence in systematically assessing ESG requirements and embedding environmental, social and governance aspects into a company’s strategy, supply chains and reporting in a practical way.

Issuing institution

Humboldt-Innovation GmbH – A company of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin