IÉSEG School of Management and the Global Reporting Initiative sign a unique partnership in Europe
02/22/2022
IÉSEG School of Management, one of Europe’s top Business Schools, and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), provider of the most widely used standards for sustainability reporting (the GRI Standards), announce a unique partnership for the students of IÉSEG’s new MSc in Management for Sustainability.
A timely partnership
A new law, passed last year in the European Union, requires large or stock-market listed companies to report on their non-financial performance. Starting next year, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive will apply to over 50,000 companies doing business in Europe, introducing requirements to report against EU standards for environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics.
For 25 years, GRI has defined the standards for how companies report their sustainability impacts. Currently, 73% of the top 250 global companies use the GRI guidelines to communicate their ESG performance to financial markets, shareholders, customers, employees and other stakeholders. More than 10,000 companies around the world use the GRI Standards, which are provided as a free public good. GRI is currently working with the EU to co-construct the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards.
As IÉSEG School of Management launches its Master of Science in Management for Sustainability, designed for students who want to implement solutions that address the world’s toughest sustainability challenges, this partnership with GRI is timely. This collaboration aims to equip students with the qualifications to be part of how companies address, measure, and communicate their ESG achievements.
Caroline Roussel, vice-Dean of IÉSEG School of Management, explains: “I’m very proud that IÉSEG is the first Business School in Europe to sign such a partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative. Our MSc in Management for Sustainability aims at equipping our students with the fundamental science, technology and policy know-how for meeting all sustainability challenges, combined with a very good command of management and strategy insights and tools. The partnership with GRI is ideal. It will give our students the right tools to make an impact”.
Mirjam Groten, GRI Chief Business Development Officer, adds: “We are delighted to enter into this innovative collaboration with IÉSEG School of Management. Integrating the GRI Professional Certification Program with the MSc in Management for Sustainability will help ensure that students develop a comprehensive understanding of the importance of corporate accountability for sustainability impacts. This illustrates IÉSEG’s commitment to addressing the growing needs in Europe for business professionals that have a strong understanding of sustainability reporting, as supported by GRI’s world-leading standards”.
A certification fully integrated in the pedagogical thinking of the MSc
To help IÉSEG students in the MSc in Management for Sustainability become fluent and competent in a sustainable business workplace, they will qualify for the GRI Professional Certification Program. Successfully completing this program results in a recognized qualification for sustainability professionals: the GRI Certified Sustainability Professional. Such certification has great value in the job market and is a key differentiator among job applicants. IÉSEG students will thus gain a competitive edge by showing their expertise and by earning a trusted recognition in sustainability reporting through this professional certification.
The GRI Professional Certification Program will be integrated into the program of the MSc in Management for Sustainability and will enable students to work on all relevant facets of sustainability reporting. All students in this Master’s program will have the opportunity to acquire this sought-for qualification.
Frank De Bakker, professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at IÉSEG School of Management and Academic Director of the MSc in Management for Sustainability, concludes: “From an academic point of view, this new program offers a much-needed combination of sustainability insights and business knowledge and skills. Our innovative collaboration with the GRI Professional Certification Program allows our students to become recognized professionals and aligns well with IESEG’s ambition to empower changemakers for a better society”.