University of Cambridge
Business Sustainability Management
Leverage the latest insights to create a plan of action to address the sustainability challenges related to social, economic and environmental aspects within your organisation.
Start date
07 May 2025
.jpg)
.jpg)
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
8–12 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The amount of plastic that floods into the ocean each year.
National Geographic (Sep, 2024).
The global green technology and sustainability market size in 2024.
Fortune Business Insights (Nov, 2024).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
As concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, pollution and inequality become an unavoidable part of the business landscape, organisations of all kinds are being held increasingly responsible for their role in both addressing and contributing to sustainability issues. While until recently sustainability was an optional part of an organisation’s market strategy, increased regulation has resulted in integrated sustainability practices becoming an essential component of a company’s license to operate in many markets.
That’s why the recently updated University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management online short course has been created – to help organisations like yours secure their futures in a global market facing unprecedented shifts in sustainability needs.
Learn how to develop a practical action plan to drive change and deliver sustainable outcomes in your organisation or sphere of influence, guided by experts at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), an impact-led institute that activates leadership globally to transform economies for people, nature and climate.1
By equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability into core business strategy, you’ll be prepared to meet the rising expectations of regulators, investors, and consumers. Empower yourself to translate sustainability principles into practical, measurable outcomes – ensuring your organisation is not only resilient but positioned for long-term success in an increasingly complex world.
1CISL (Feb, 2025)
Is the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management course for you?
This course is geared towards experienced professionals from all areas of business who want to drive impactful change in their organisations. By strengthening their corporate sustainability efforts, and developing a more holistic view of and approach to market necessities, these professionals will be equipped to innovate, remain competitive, and secure a sustainable future for their businesses.
The course is also ideal for entrepreneurs, operating in both the public and private sectors, who want to identify and rise to the task of the urgent and complex social, environment, and financial challenges presented by growing sustainability needs.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at CISL’s bundles. Sustainable Business and Finance is a two-course bundle that will teach you how to embrace sustainable finance as a catalyst for long-term viability and amplify your business's impact on society and the environment. Sustainable Business Operations is a two-course bundle that will help you create an action plan to enhance sustainability along your supply chains. Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy is a three-course bundle that will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate a sustainable action plan in marketing and communication to drive positive change across the business ecosystem and society.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
As concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, pollution and inequality become an unavoidable part of the business landscape, organisations of all kinds are being held increasingly responsible for their role in both addressing and contributing to sustainability issues. While until recently sustainability was an optional part of an organisation’s market strategy, increased regulation has resulted in integrated sustainability practices becoming an essential component of a company’s license to operate in many markets.
That’s why the recently updated University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management online short course has been created – to help organisations like yours secure their futures in a global market facing unprecedented shifts in sustainability needs.
Learn how to develop a practical action plan to drive change and deliver sustainable outcomes in your organisation or sphere of influence, guided by experts at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), an impact-led institute that activates leadership globally to transform economies for people, nature and climate.1
By equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability into core business strategy, you’ll be prepared to meet the rising expectations of regulators, investors, and consumers. Empower yourself to translate sustainability principles into practical, measurable outcomes – ensuring your organisation is not only resilient but positioned for long-term success in an increasingly complex world.
1CISL (Feb, 2025)
Is the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management course for you?
This course is geared towards experienced professionals from all areas of business who want to drive impactful change in their organisations. By strengthening their corporate sustainability efforts, and developing a more holistic view of and approach to market necessities, these professionals will be equipped to innovate, remain competitive, and secure a sustainable future for their businesses.
The course is also ideal for entrepreneurs, operating in both the public and private sectors, who want to identify and rise to the task of the urgent and complex social, environment, and financial challenges presented by growing sustainability needs.
If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at CISL’s bundles. Sustainable Business and Finance is a two-course bundle that will teach you how to embrace sustainable finance as a catalyst for long-term viability and amplify your business's impact on society and the environment. Sustainable Business Operations is a two-course bundle that will help you create an action plan to enhance sustainability along your supply chains. Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy is a three-course bundle that will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate a sustainable action plan in marketing and communication to drive positive change across the business ecosystem and society.
What will set you apart
An understanding of the potential for design, technology and innovation to accelerate sustainable outcomes.
The ability to engage, communicate and collaborate with your key stakeholders to create long-term value.
The principles, practices and strategies you can use to lead change at various levels within an organisation.
A practical action plan to deliver a sustainable outcome in your organisation, sector or sphere of influence.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation Module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
System forces and sustainability challenges shaping business today
Module 2
Business, purpose and leadership for a sustainable future
Module 3
Navigating the regulatory and policy environment
Module 4
Rethinking production and consumption
Module 5
Reimagining business through design, technology and innovation
Module 6
Stakeholder engagement and communication
Module 7
Individual and collective leadership for change
Module 8
Planning for personal impact
What past students
think
Lu-Ann O.
Co-founder and Managing Partner, Independent Consultants 1920 LLP
The best part of this course is it teaches participants how to build sustainability in their business. There is practical wisdom embedded alongside theories, and value from participants’ discussions. The combination of these three together makes up for the lack of face to face lecture interactions as it yields tremendous insights. With the credentials of CISL, this could well be the most successfully designed programme in the world that delivers sustainability to business management in a nutshell.
Course Convenor
Bruce Haase
Senior Associate of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Enrol in the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management online short course and obtain a certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Get more information
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg){kind=logo}
.svg){kind=logo}
Want to buy this course for your team? Chat with us to get started.
Get Started
