Methodology and Contents

Methodology

The methodology and programming are adapted, on the one hand, to the need to acquire knowledge, skills and abilities and, on the other, to the demand for learning opportunities at any time of life by practicing professionals. The formats included in this course of specialization contain, among others:

  • Regular sessions
    Consist on sessions lectured by a visiting professor with expert knowledge in the field of sustainability and social innovation. Duration: 1.5 or 3 hours.
  • Workshops
    Practical and participatory sessions, in which, based on a brief theoretical context, teamwork, the generation of innovative ideas, and their application to real situations in the field of sustainability and social innovation are encouraged. Duration: 3 or 5 hours.
  • Clinical sessions
    Sessions given by alumni of the Chair on their professional experience and expert knowledge in the field of sustainability and social innovation. Duration: 1.5 or 3 hours.
  • Visits to organizations
  • Conferences
  • Service-Learning Projects
  • Tutorials
  • Research seminars
  • Non-face to face work of the students, both individually and as a team, preparatory to practical cases, case studies and other mandatory and recommended readings, in addition to the development of the service-learning project.

Contents

  • Societal governance and good organizational governance. Regulatory environment for sustainability and social responsibility

Introduction to sustainability, social innovation, and social responsibility: basic concepts and evolution. ESG dimensions (environmental, social and governance). Principles and international frameworks and standards. Mapping and management of stakeholders. Good corporate governance as a basis for sustainable business models. The role of compliance.

  • Social sustainability and social innovation

Social taxonomy. Human rights in the value chain. Diversity and inclusion in organizations. Cross-sector partnerships and ecosystems for sustainability and social innovation. Community investment.

  • Environmental sustainability and circularity

Environmental taxonomy. Innovative responses to decarbonization, climate change, loss of biodiversity, one-use plastics, and other environmental challenges. The role of consumers. Circular economy at the core for the new sustainable development paradigm: sectoral applications and practical implementation. Environmental sustainability plan.

  • Economic sustainability and ESG finance

Financial and non-financial performance of organizations. Materiality analysis. Sustainable value chains and business models. ESG finance and its impact. Fiscal responsibility in the digital age.

  • Impact evaluation and transparency and accountability

Measuring social and environmental impact of organizations. Sustainability reporting. Integrating financial and non-financial information. The perspectives of investors and other stakeholders. Practical challenges to transparency and accountability.

  • Service learning project

Analysis of the partner organization (business, nonprofit, public administration, etc.) and its competitive environment, including its main characteristics and value-creation model, identification and mapping of stakeholders, double materiality analysis, and analysis of competitors and concurrent organizations by means of benchmarking. Elaboration of an action plan tailored to the organization, including specific actions that are budgeted for human and monetary resources needed, scheduled considering their estimated completion time, and linked to suitable specific objectives, material issues, SDGs and key performance indicators (KPIs). Recommendations for appropriate communication and dissemination of the sustainability and/or social innovation plan to stakeholders.