University of Cambridge
Business Sustainability Management
Create a plan of action to address the sustainability challenges related to social, economic, and environmental aspects within your organisation.
Start date
05 February 2025
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Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
8–12 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The amount of plastic that floods into the ocean each year.
National Geographic (Jan, 2019).
The amount consumers spent on sustainable fast-moving consumer goods in 2018.
Food Business News (Oct, 2019).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
As concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, pollution, and inequality continue to grow, businesses and governments face increasing pressure to be accountable for their contributions to social and environmental sustainability. Failing to do so can damage an organisation's reputation and market position.
To address these challenges, the Business Sustainability Management online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) provides learners with the necessary knowledge to promote sustainable development and secure their market position. Students will develop and execute a plan for sustainable business practices, implementing corporate sustainability in their organisations.
This course covers both public and private sectors' challenges and empowers students to develop skills to overcome them and leverage the opportunities that come with creating a sustainable business. With shifting landscapes and growing global concerns, students will play a vital role in leading positive change and addressing social and environmental sustainability challenges.
Is this course for you?
The Business Sustainability Management online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is designed for experienced professionals who wish to remain competitive in a rapidly changing business environment. The course equips students with the knowledge and skills to strengthen their corporate social responsibility efforts, implement sustainable business practices, and secure a sustainable future for their organisation. The course also benefits entrepreneurs seeking to identify sustainable social, economic, and environmental opportunities and expand their understanding of sustainability's role and significance in their business.
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 100 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon you. CISL and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
As concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, pollution, and inequality continue to grow, businesses and governments face increasing pressure to be accountable for their contributions to social and environmental sustainability. Failing to do so can damage an organisation's reputation and market position.
To address these challenges, the Business Sustainability Management online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) provides learners with the necessary knowledge to promote sustainable development and secure their market position. Students will develop and execute a plan for sustainable business practices, implementing corporate sustainability in their organisations.
This course covers both public and private sectors' challenges and empowers students to develop skills to overcome them and leverage the opportunities that come with creating a sustainable business. With shifting landscapes and growing global concerns, students will play a vital role in leading positive change and addressing social and environmental sustainability challenges.
Is this course for you?
The Business Sustainability Management online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is designed for experienced professionals who wish to remain competitive in a rapidly changing business environment. The course equips students with the knowledge and skills to strengthen their corporate social responsibility efforts, implement sustainable business practices, and secure a sustainable future for their organisation. The course also benefits entrepreneurs seeking to identify sustainable social, economic, and environmental opportunities and expand their understanding of sustainability's role and significance in their business.
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 100 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon you. CISL and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
What will set you apart
A practical sustainability action plan to overcome the barriers and aid in seizing the opportunities associated with creating a sustainable business.
Insight into the potential of disruptive innovative design and technology to enable business sustainability and support sustainable development.
An understanding of the international regulations surrounding environmental best practices, the importance of sustainability in production and consumption, and how this will affect your organisation.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation Module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Sustainability challenges and opportunities
Module 2
The business case and leadership for action
Module 3
Regulatory environment and international policy
Module 4
Production and consumption
Module 5
Design, technology, and planning for sustainability
Module 6
Communication and marketing
Module 7
Collaboration and partnerships
Module 8
Rewiring your business approach
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What past students
think
Lu-Ann Ong
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Independent Consultants 1920 LLP
The best part of this course is it teaches participants how to build sustainability in their business. There is practical wisdom embedded alongside theories, and value from participants’ discussions. The combination of these three together makes up for the lack of face to face lecture interactions as it yields tremendous insights. With the credentials of CISL, this could well be the most successfully designed programme in the world that delivers sustainability to business management in a nutshell.
Course Convenor
Martin Roberts
Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Enrol in the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management online short course and obtain an official certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
