Business increasingly needs to encompass sustainability in its operations and strategy in order to tackle the issues society is facing just now in terms of climate, energy and achieving net zero.
Strathclyde Business School is well aware of these key business issues and is home to the Centre for Sustainable Development, a University-wide resource which operates across all faculties and operational activities to bring a coherence and focus to the University’s work within a single strategic approach. Teaching, research and innovation are looked at within the parameters of the centre, with Strathclyde working with partners in academia and the public and private sectors to create real world impact and tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In terms of teaching, Strathclyde Business School (SBS) has a range of programmes which incorporate sustainability thinking including the flagship MBA programme, but there are several programmes with a more specific sustainability focus: the MSc in Sustainable Finance, the MBA with a Specialisation in Sustainable Energy Futures, and the MSc in Economics & Policy of Energy & Climate Change (EPECC).
The energy sector is approaching a decisive moment for international efforts to tackle the climate crisis – often seen as one of the great challenges of our times. Leadership decisions in the energy sector require a profound understanding of the sector’s technical, economic, legal, financial and entrepreneurial peculiarities. The industry requires skilled individuals who are experts in the field to drive forward the sector. The MBA in Sustainable Energy Futures supports ambitious individuals and future leaders to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to work across the sector to tackle these problems.
The MBA with a specialisation in Sustainable Energy Futures was jointly developed by SBS and industry partners from the energy sector. The programme builds on the renowned Strathclyde MBA and sees leading academics working with industry partners on key issues facing the industry, exploring future trends and developments.
The programme helps decision-makers to develop a system-thinking perspective for their organisations and participants have the opportunity to work alongside other leaders in their industry, across sectors, to develop policies and ideas that can create policy change, social impact and social innovation.
It also allows learning to be implemented straight away – delivery is through four weeks of online material, such as webinars, lectures and discussions, followed by two days of intensive in-person seminars every two to three months – and each module is designed to suit the needs of both the learner and the employer.
Aligning finance with sustainability is a necessary condition for tackling the environmental and societal challenges we face. The incorporation of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) factors in almost every dimension of investment and financing strategies is becoming pivotal for the survival and sustainability of business and investment communities and MSc in Sustainable Finance looks to train finance professionals with a vision of social and environmental responsibility and a clear understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and applications of sustainable finance.
In this programme, students get all the benefits of a Strathclyde Finance education – such as practical experience with the Amplify Trading Bootcamp and learning about key finance concepts – but students will enhance their skills and knowledge regarding the role of technology, big data and innovation for sustainable finance, as well as gaining skills in problem solving and understanding the nuances of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks with multiple case studies and guest lectures from industry leaders.
Another Strathclyde Business School programme with a firm focus on sustainability and climate change is the MSc in Economics & Policy of Energy & Climate Change (EPECC) which aims to produce future leaders in the sectors of energy and climate change.
The course addresses the complex and increasingly more extreme challenges and uncertainties that industries, economies, governments and societies face. The programme aims to equip students with the ability to understand these issues and have the knowledge to adapt to this changing context.
The course addresses the rapid changes within the global energy system and how this is impacted by climate change and by the efforts to mitigate its impacts. The full time, 12 month MSc offers excellent opportunities to network with energy and climate change specialists from a broad range of organisations and the course has been put structured to maximise the opportunities for industry engagement.
Core classes are designed around the latest academic research on the issues facing energy and climate change economists and policy experts today but students also have the opportunity to pursue their own interests through a variety of elective classes.
Strathclyde is also introducing a new programme – the cross-faculty MSc Sustainability has launched and students will be able to join this programme next year as of September 2024. The course offers a unique opportunity to work in interdisciplinary groups, meet people from all over the world and focus on a particular specialism which helps the individual focus and capitalise on their learning experience.
MSc Sustainabiilty offers a programme of presentations by sustainability experts including activists, entrepreneurs and policymakers and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) competencies will be situated centrally across the curriculum. New pedagogical frameworks are adhered to throughout the curriculum, ensuring that sustainability competencies like systems, future thinking and core values that support responsible and global citizenship are embedded throughout the programme.
There are multiple opportunities for students to engage with sustainability and build their skillset for the world of work while at Strathclyde. Sustainable Strathclyde offers activities that can boost skills further either within Strathclyde’s campus, including engagement with the Climate Neutral Glasgow City Innovation District projects, and students will have the chance to work on challenges and projects that demonstrate how environmental, social and economic issues can be tackled in collaboration with community partners.
Dr Eirini Gallou, teaching fellow and MSc Sustainability course director, said, “Sustainability requires a balance between responsible use of natural resources and consideration of the environment while dealing with societal and economic needs and this programme holds this at its core. Green jobs require new ways of thinking to respond to the urgent and dramatic challenges the planet faces. This provides emerging opportunities for shaping a green economy as well as responsible citizens that can operate effectively within planetary boundaries. The skills this programme offers will be crucial for shaping the changemakers of the future.
“This programme is so timely and will enable graduates to tackle the complex environmental, social and economic challenges the world faces, opening a wide range of career opportunities where they can apply this knowledge in the future.”
For further information on any of these programmes, please email
sbs.admissions@strath.ac.uk
