BUS311 Environmental Management and Sustainability Reporting

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Ståle Navrud

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:125 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in the Spring parallell.

About this course

Companies can gain a competitive advantage by managing environmental, social and governance issues in a systematic and well-documented manner: it allows them to adapt proactively to demands of key stakeholders (regulators, customers, investors, society as a whole), manage operational risks, and develop business strategies that are more sustainable in the long run. The course will introduce participants to modern environmental management instruments and sustainable reporting standards. The course will consist of four parts:

· Conceptual foundations (sustainable development, ecological and eco-efficiency, life cycle assessment, corporate social responsibility (CSR), triple bottom line),

· Sustainability reporting (environmental accounting and reporting, CSR reporting, environmental/social/governance (ESG) disclosure),

· Corporate environmental management systems (ISO14001, EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), Eco-Lighthouse Scheme, the certification process, costs and benefits),

· Sustainable finance (sustainable investment approaches such as exclusions, best-in-class, ESG integration, impact investing, and their performance).

Hands-on work on real and current cases is a key part of the course. Participants will work in teams on a semester-long project assignment in which they analyse the environmental management strategy of a private or public company and develop suggestions for improvement and future development.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of reporting methods for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) sustainability

• has in-depth knowledge of environmental management systems

• can apply knowledge in evaluating environmental management and sustainability reporting routines which takes into account demands from customers, environmental authorities and investors.

• can analyse the sustainability reporting of companies and organisations

Skills

The student

• can analyse and be critical of sustainability reporting of firms and organisations

• can analyse and compile ESG information for potential investors

• can use relevant data to develop indicator systems and routines for sustainability reporting in a company

• can conduct analyses of how companies can improve their environmental management and sustainability reporting

General competence

The student

• can analyse relevant sustainability challenges for companies

• can apply her/his knowledge and skills to develop sustainability reports

• can communicate about environmental management and sustainability reporting

• can contribute to make project teams work inter-disciplinary and cross-functional

  • Learning activities
    Lectures and extensive supervision of participant groups during their work on the semester-long project assignments. Participants will present their projects in class and receive feedback from their fellow participants and the lecturers. In addition, there will be an exercise in the evaluation of environmental accounts from selected firms, with presentation and feedback in class. Lectures on campus without streaming.
  • Teaching support
    Extensive supervision of participant groups during their work on the semester-long project assignment.
  • Assessment method
    Semester-long project assignment (conducted in groups of 4-5 participants). The semester assignment counts 100 % of the grade, A-F. The assignment can be written in Norwegian or English. No continuation exam will be arranged (If the assignment is failed the course has to be taken again).

    Term paper Karakterregel: Letter grades Hjelpemiddel: A1 No calculator, no other aids
  • Examiner scheme
    External examiner will control the quality of syllabus, questions for the final examination, and principles for the assessment of the examination answers.
  • Notes
    The course is in English. Incoming students can contact student advisors at the School of Economics and Business (studieveileder-hh@nmbu.no) for admission to the course. Bachelor-students can also take the course.
  • Teaching hours
    26 hours plus supervision of the group assignment
  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse, GSK)