UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Sustainable Finance

Gain the tools, frameworks, and strategies to implement sustainable finance in your organisation, underpinned by social and environmental values, creating long-term financial benefits.

Duration

8 weeks
Excluding orientation

Effort

8–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online

Learning Format

Weekly modules,
flexible learning

This course is for you if:

  • You want to gain insight into how sustainable finance strategies such as impact investing and sustainability disclosures can minimise organisational risk, create long-term business value, and improve social and environmental impact

  • You are in the private sector and want to integrate sustainability into your financial business model for superior returns

  • You work in an asset management, finance, or investment organisation, and want to play a role in rewiring capital flows and returns to accelerate the low-carbon transition towards a better economy

  • You are in the public sector and are looking to promote sustainable finance initiatives

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 curriculum

Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:

Module 1 The rapidly changing context of finance
Learn about the current financial system.

Module 2 Steering capital for a sustainable future
Investigate the flow of capital in the financial system.

Module 3 Strategies that work for sustainable finance
Explore sustainable finance approaches.

Module 4 Rewiring risk and return
Understand the relationship between risk and return, and the impact on sustainable finance.

Module 5 Sustainable finance solutions
Learn about the key attributes for promoting sustainable finance.

Module 6 The role of the public sector in sustainable finance
Investigate the role of the public sector in sustainable finance.

Module 7 Disruption, innovation and sustainable finance
Explore megatrends and the innovations required to deal with them.

Module 8 Creating impact
Develop an action plan that promotes sustainable finance in your environment.

Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

1

In-depth insight into the strategic implications of environmental and sustainability challenges for financial systems, including capital management in private sector businesses and public sector policy formation.

2

An understanding of how current financial systems are being rewired due to climate change and environmental concerns and the skills to drive capital for a sustainable future.

3

Strategies and frameworks for responding to financial risks posed by social and sustainability issues, including impact investing, new sustainability disclosures, and positive screening.

4

The skills to create sustainable finance strategies and lead integration into traditional financial management practices.

Your Course Convenors

Alice Chapple

Subject Matter Expert

Chapple has worked on sustainable finance for more than 30 years. Her career has focused on finding ways to ensure capital creates positive social and environmental outcomes alongside financial return. Through her company, Impact Value, she works with several funds and companies to help them articulate, measure, and maximise their social and environmental impact. She is also the independent chair of the CDC Plus Committee, a trustee of the Shell Foundation, a member of the advisory board of the Sainsbury’s Foundation, and a chair of Investor Watch. Previously, Chapple was director of sustainable financial markets at Forum for the Future, a sustainable development charity, as well as an investment analyst and portfolio manager at CDC, the UK’s development finance institution. She holds an MA in economics from the University of Cambridge and is a chartered accountant.

Martin Roberts

Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Roberts joined CISL as a programme director in 2008. He is an expert in strategic thinking, sustainability, and business leadership, having helped companies across sectors in Africa, Asia, and Europe develop their own solutions to natural resource challenges. Roberts is responsible for digital learning at CISL, and has a keen interest in using technology to create impactful educational opportunities, democratise learning, and promote change. By heading the design and delivery of CISL’s popular portfolio of online courses, Roberts has equipped thousands of business leaders to reshape their organisations and apply the innovative business models of the future.

“The University of Cambridge Sustainable Finance online short course offered a thorough and enjoyable eight-week experience focussing on an important and commonly misunderstood topic. The online platform was easy to use, learn from and upload assignments through. I will definitely be using the material learned on this course, including the weekly notes, podcasts and peer discussion groups, in my day-to-day work as an investment manager.”
Adam Greaves, Investment Director, Investec Wealth & Investment

Accreditation Logo

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 60 hours of learning.

Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.

An online education that sets you apart

This University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) online short course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:

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Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time

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Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step

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Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones

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