Biologists claim were living through the sixth mass extinction of species, while climate scientists suggest theres little more than a decade to cut the risk of extreme heat, drought, floods and extreme poverty. Sustainability is the most pressing concern of the 21st century. Companies across the globe are being forced to consider their impact on people and the planet to achieve the outcomes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Climate Agreement.

The UK was the first major nation to formally back a pledge to cut carbon emissions to practically zero by 2050, followed soon after by the EU. Having spent decades internationalising operations and supply chains, organisations now have to reduce their carbon footprint, minimise climate and environmental risk, enhance resiliency and integrate sustainability into their operations, but few know how to do this.

Our exciting MSc responds directly to the urgent demand for a new type of professional – those who not only possess core business management skills, but also understand corporate sustainability, want to make a difference and, more importantly, have the skills, creativity and innovation to lead positive (and profitable) change.

Corporate sustainability management is critical to the long-term viability of businesses, many of whom are under increasing scrutiny from a concerned society and mounting pressure from expanding regulations. They need people who appreciate the wider context of their operations and stakeholder relationships – people capable of spotting and solving problems, coming up with practical and feasible solutions, then pushing through change.

Tackling all this and more, our MSc is structured around three themes: analysis of sustainability issues (both social and environmental), the development of possible innovative solutions (collaborative, innovative business models, projects and products), and implementation and change management.

From the outset, your learning will be practice based. Youll engage with a range of partner organisations on ‘live projects and research, and see first-hand how sustainability is managed in a particular socio-economic space. Companies we are in talks with include those involved in upcycling and recycling, as well as champions in this burgeoning professional area. You can also undertake an optional internship as part of your dissertation.

Our course was designed with input from a range of industry professionals and businesses currently operating in the sustainability space or championing the profession.

Professional recognition

The Carbon Trust, an expert partner for businesses to reduce their CO2 emissions to zero, participated in the creation of this MSc.

Careers

Sustainability is one of today's fastest-growing industries and the demand for multi-skilled business managers with the specialist knowledge to tackle sustainability is enormous. Organisations all over the world need people with an understanding of sustainability, personal integrity, good people skills, strong networking skills, and the ability to drive change.

You might find yourself working in-house or as a consultant, helping businesses to develop environmental management strategies, analysing the impact of products and processes on the environment. You could specialise in project management of sustainability activities and strategies or reporting and compliance obligations. Alternatively, if you consider yourself highly creative, you might wish to focus on the development of more sustainable products and providing input into product renovation and recycling.