University of Cambridge
Sustainable Marketing, Communications and Brand Management
Confidently shift your marketing, media and creative practices to align brand and purpose, empowering a sustainable future.
Start date
30 April 2025
Course duration
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
8–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The majority of global marketers predict that sustainability will be at the top of their agendas in five years’ time.
World Federation of Advertisers (Apr, 2021).
The percentage of global consumers who, within five years, only want to be spending with brands that are practising green and sustainable advertising.
Dentsu (2021).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
The marketing, media, and creative industries have contributed significantly to the sustainability crisis we face today, but they also have the potential to drive sustainable solutions. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) offers an online short course for professionals to gain skills and strategies to drive sustainable practices. The eight-week Sustainable Marketing, Communications and Brand Management course aims to inspire positive change and re-align these industries' purpose towards supporting long-term well-being for people and the planet.
Through the course, participants will gain a heightened awareness of marketing's impact on people and the environment, its influence on human behaviours and identities, and engage in discussions on growth, greenwashing, and consumption. Enrolling in the course allows professionals to connect with a global cohort of industry pioneers committed to driving sustainable practices. With guidance from faculty and industry experts, participants will unlock practical strategies to drive transition and transformation in their sphere of influence.
Upon completing the course, participants will have a practical Strategy for Action, setting them up to challenge the status quo and assume their place at the forefront of sustainable change.
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 75 hours of learning.
Note: Should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on 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.
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.
Is this course for you?
The Sustainable Marketing, Communications and Brand Management course is designed for marketing, media, and creative professionals who wish to spearhead the sustainability revolution. This programme equips marketers at all levels of management, including brand, product, account managers, and salespeople, with a forward-thinking skill set to broaden their influence in this rapidly expanding field. Communications experts, such as PR consultants, and creatives, including artists, designers, directors, and photographers, can learn techniques to integrate sustainability into their work and enhance the credibility of their art. Business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs can better understand how to direct their companies toward social, ecological, and climate objectives and principles while fostering change from within the industry. This course benefits professionals from all sectors who aim to progress their careers and drive constructive change.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
The marketing, media, and creative industries have contributed significantly to the sustainability crisis we face today, but they also have the potential to drive sustainable solutions. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) offers an online short course for professionals to gain skills and strategies to drive sustainable practices. The eight-week Sustainable Marketing, Communications and Brand Management course aims to inspire positive change and re-align these industries' purpose towards supporting long-term well-being for people and the planet.
Through the course, participants will gain a heightened awareness of marketing's impact on people and the environment, its influence on human behaviours and identities, and engage in discussions on growth, greenwashing, and consumption. Enrolling in the course allows professionals to connect with a global cohort of industry pioneers committed to driving sustainable practices. With guidance from faculty and industry experts, participants will unlock practical strategies to drive transition and transformation in their sphere of influence.
Upon completing the course, participants will have a practical Strategy for Action, setting them up to challenge the status quo and assume their place at the forefront of sustainable change.
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 75 hours of learning.
Note: Should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on 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.
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.
Is this course for you?
The Sustainable Marketing, Communications and Brand Management course is designed for marketing, media, and creative professionals who wish to spearhead the sustainability revolution. This programme equips marketers at all levels of management, including brand, product, account managers, and salespeople, with a forward-thinking skill set to broaden their influence in this rapidly expanding field. Communications experts, such as PR consultants, and creatives, including artists, designers, directors, and photographers, can learn techniques to integrate sustainability into their work and enhance the credibility of their art. Business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs can better understand how to direct their companies toward social, ecological, and climate objectives and principles while fostering change from within the industry. This course benefits professionals from all sectors who aim to progress their careers and drive constructive change.
What will set you apart
Enhanced knowledge of your role in challenging and redefining marketing, media and creative’s business-as-usual practices to recreate value and contribute to sustainable development.
Real-world strategies for rewiring marketing’s psychological and sociological impacts and reforming its physical impact on people, nature and climate.
The tools and confidence to innovate and disrupt unsustainable marketing practices through purpose-led marketing and leadership.
An ambitious and practical Strategy for Action to drive transformational change and amplify your impact.
Access to a global cohort of like-minded change agents, as well as the CISL Network comprising over 20,000 professionals and leaders from across industries and society.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Reclaim marketing, media and creative
Module 2
Transition and transform
Module 3
Reform marketing's footprint
Module 4
Rewire marketing's brainprint
Module 5
Be boldly authentic
Module 6
Lead and innovate
Module 7
Move ambition to action
Module 8
Unite for long-term impact
What past students
think
Cherry Ye
Communications Director, dentsu
“I really enjoyed the [macro to micro] structure of this course. It helped me better understand the larger context of the sustainability issues we are facing, and marketing's role in it. [The course] provided me with new perspectives, knowledge and tools for understanding how to tackle these issues, and ended with profound self-reflection – making sure I know exactly what actions I need to take to apply learnings from this course into my personal and professional life. I really enjoyed the peer-to-peer discussions, as well as the weekly assignment. Every exercise had a clear purpose and really pushed me to reflect on my weekly learnings and apply them to my personal context and real-life examples.”
Course Convenors
Dr Victoria Hurth
Fellow, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership & Visiting Fellow, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Charlotte Thompson
Programme Director, Executive Education, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Discover the art of incorporating and fostering sustainability within your organisation, practice, and society, and earn an official 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.
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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.
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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.
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