Sustainable Reporting & Transformation

Overview

Enterprise Ireland now funds Griffith College’s Certificate in Sustainable Reporting and Transformation, a Level 9 programme helping Irish businesses navigate upcoming ESG regulations.



The Certificate in Sustainable Reporting and Transformation is an accredited training solution on reporting, monitoring and supplier training relating to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as well as the Voluntary Small and Medium Enterprises (VSME). Fully covered under the Climate Action Voucher, it equips companies with essential skills for sustainability and compliance.



Why Study Sustainable Reporting and Transformation at Griffith?

Organisations need advice and practical ways to address ESG risks. They need to be able to comply with ESG directives while delivering their ESG targets through smart transition plans. This programme provides the insight, knowledge, and tools to do so.



This a 10-credit postgraduate Certificate, comprising of two 5-credit modules, both assessed through continuous assessment/project work. The first module, 'Fostering Sustainable Practices', will provide training on the key aspects of the CSRD and the required disclosures that companies that fall in the scope of CSRD will have to embrace by 2027. The second module, 'Building Resilience and Compliance', is a bespoke module for small and medium-sized companies but also for the buying community dealing with SME suppliers.



Course Highlights

- Leading sustainability consultants delivering the programme.



- Course assessment will be aligned/closely aligned with your current workplace.



- Many SME's are in support of the design of this programme, given the urgency for many to Educate themselves in this area.

Module 1:

Fostering Sustainable Practices:

In January 2023, the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into force, and its application from the fiscal year 2024 becomes mandatory for all large European companies with over 500 employees, as well as for medium and small companies, except for micro-enterprises, whose securities are listed for trading on a regulated market in the European Union.



The directive also covers non-European trading companies that generate more than EUR 150 million in net income per year in the Union. The directive adapts the deadlines, areas and standards of application of the new sustainability reporting rules to the capacities and resources of individual categories of companies. Businesses covered by the directive will have to submit publicly available and detailed non-financial reports on a number of aspects of sustainability in their operations, as well as on the impact of external sustainability factors on current operations and the extended value chain.



The directive represents a strengthening of the existing European rules for the creation and publication of sustainability reports for the realisation of the goals of the European Green Plan and the successful transition of the EU to a sustainable economy and society.



In today’s global economy a sustainable supply chain is one of the key factors for the success of the organisation in order to secure its long-term future. This module provides conceptual understanding and places the concepts and tools within the complexities of the EU Green Deal, the CSRD, CSDDD and other related EU directives.



This module relates to the supply chain impact on communities and society, on environmental aspects, and on ethical trading and business conduct from a sustainable procurement perspective. The module looks at the alignment of sustainable goals, targets, and metrics of any organisation with their supply chain to create and maintain a resilient, compliant, and sustainable supply chain.



Module 2:

Sustainable SMEs: Building Resilience and Compliance:

This module introduces and develops the concepts, perspectives, and tools associated with the European (EU) Voluntary Small, Medium, Enterprise (VSME) standard recommended. It provides conceptual understanding and places the concepts and tools within the complexities of the EU Green Deal, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and other related EU directives that are or can be applicable to SMEs.



As well as providing the learner with a core body of knowledge of sustainable supply chain compliance requirements, the module aims to go beyond the prescriptive “legislative text” approach to present the learner a practical toolbox with appreciation of the complexities, subtleties and behavioural factors that fundamentally shape what the EU asks responsible businesses to do and why.



This central aim of the module is to ensure learners possess the understanding and tools to critically assess, embed and promote the variety of sustainable purpose, policies, actions, targets and metrics to build resilience and compliance across all links in the supply and value chain.



We will enable participants to identify and critically evaluate the different sustainability considerations of impact, risks and opportunities and the appropriate control that needs to be put in place across the people, process, and performance dimensions to create a resilient and compliant sustainable supply chain. This module relates to the supply chain impact on communities and society, on environmental aspects, and on ethical trading and business conduct. The module looks at the alignment of sustainable goals, targets and metrics of any organisation with their supply chain to create and maintain a resilient, compliant, and sustainable supply chain.

The programme is aimed at mature learners who wish to pursue/advance a career in reporting, monitoring and supplier training relating to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as well as the Voluntary Small and Medium Enterprises (VSME).



This programme is also aimed at learners who currently hold NFQ Level 8 cognate qualification(s) and wish to achieve a Certificate at Level 9 on the NFQ.



Applicants over the age of 23 may apply based on previous learning and/ or work experience and a demonstration of commitment to further education.

How to Apply

Applicants should apply directly to the College (see "Application Weblink" above). Applicants will be required to provide evidence of meeting the programmes minimum entry requirements, and will also be asked for a copy of their ID (passport or Driver's license) when applying.

1 semester (12 weeks). 1 evening per week online, 1 Saturday per module in person.

Intake Dates

Dublin - Part-Time - February 2025.