Program Overview

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Expert in Preparation and Verification of Sustainability Reports

The course "Expert in the Preparation and Verification of Sustainability Reports" from the Rey Juan Carlos University and the General Council of Economists is a response to the urgent demand in the business, legal, and social fields for transparency and accountability in sustainability reporting.

Objectives

• Become an expert in the preparation and verification of sustainability reports.
• Acquire knowledge on non-financial reporting statements (NFRS)/sustainability statements and the first European sustainability reporting standards (NEIS/ESRS).
• Immediately apply the knowledge acquired in professional work.

Programme

The programme is structured into several modules:

MODULE 1. STATE OF THE QUESTION

• Unit 1. Introduction (Practical cases and real experiences)

MODULE 2. SUSTAINABILITY, CSR AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

• Unit 1. Sustainability
• Unit 2. Corporate Social Responsibility and SDGs
• Unit 3. Corporate legitimacy and good governance

MODULE 3. PREPARATION OF NON-FINANCIAL OR SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION: REGULATION

• Unit 1. Preparation of non-financial or sustainability information
• Unit 2. Preparation of non-financial information in Spain: Law 11/2018 on non-financial information and other provisions

MODULE 4. TRANSVERSAL ESRS

• Unit 1. ESRS 1 General Requirements
• Unit 2. ESRS 2 General information

MODULE 5. THEMATIC ESRS: ENVIRONMENT

• Unit 1. ESRS E1 Climate Change
• Unit 2. ESRS E2 Pollution
• Unit 3. ESRS E3 Water and marine resources
• Unit 4. ESRS E4 Biodiversity and ecosystems
• Unit 5. ESRS E5 Resources and circular economy

MODULE 6. THEMATIC ESRS: SOCIAL

• Unit 1. ESRS S1 Own template
• Unit 2. ESRS S2 Workers in the value chain
• Unit 3. ESRS S3 Affected Communities
• Unit 4. ESRS S4 Consumers and end users

MODULE 7. THEMATIC ESRS: GOVERNANCE

• Unit 1. ESRS G1 Business Conduct

MODULE 8. SPECIFIC CASES: SECTORAL AND SME DEVELOPMENT

MODULE 9. DUE DILIGENCE

MODULE 10. VERIFICATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

• Unit 1. Introduction
• Unit 2. Acceptance of the assignment
• Unit 3. Planning the work
• Unit 4. Execution: information review, verification tests and evidence analysis
• Unit 5. Closing and Reporting (Conclusions and final steps)

MODULE 11. GLOBAL CASE STUDY NEW REPORT

MODULE 12. FINANCE AND SUSTAINABLE TAXATION

• Unit 1. Sustainable finance
• Unit 2. Sustainable taxation

Quality Commission

The quality of the course is overseen by a commission consisting of:

• José Ángel Rivero Menéndez (URJC)
• Miguel Ángel Sánchez de Lara (URJC)
• Salvador Marín Hernández (Director of the Research Service of the General Council of Economists)
• Esther Ortiz Martínez (Vice President of Accounting Economists of the General Council of Economists)

Recipients

This course is aimed at students with a previous university degree who are looking to specialize in the preparation and verification of sustainability reports. Candidates are expected to have a solid foundation in topics related to sustainability, data analysis, and an understanding of the current regulations in this area.

Access Requirements

• Students with a previous university degree.
• Candidates are expected to have a solid foundation in sustainability-related topics, data analysis, and an understanding of current regulations in this area.
• Students enrolled in a Bachelor's or Double Degree who have a maximum of 30 ECTS credits of an official university degree in Spain whose profile matches the functions legally provided for in the corresponding field will be able to access conditionally.

Selection Criteria

In the event that the number of applications exceeds the number of places offered, a selection will be made based on the following objectively weighted criteria:

1. Degree affinity: The affinity of the student's academic degree will be assessed between 0% and 25%, with the maximum score being awarded to degrees with programs most closely related to the course objectives.
2. Academic record: The academic record may receive a score between 0% and 25%, with the highest weighting going to students who have obtained the highest grades or average marks.
3. English level: The level of English and, where applicable, other languages, will be assessed on a scale between 0% and 25%, with the highest score being awarded to students with a C1 or higher recognized through an official certificate.
4. CV and motivation letter: The student's attitudinal and vocational aspects will be weighted between 0% and 25% through his/her CV and motivation letter, with the highest scores going to students with potentials closest to the orientation of the Course.

Number of Places Offered/Minimum Number of Students Required for Teaching

• Number of places offered: 100
• Minimum number of students required for teaching: 40

Academic Management and Faculty

The course is directed by:

• José Ángel Rivero Menéndez. Director of the own title
• Miguel Ángel Sánchez de Lara, Co-director of the independent title
• Salvador Marín Hernández (Director of the Research Service of the General Council of Economists)
• Esther Ortiz Martínez (Vice President of Accounting Economists of the General Council of Economists)

The teaching staff includes:

• Ana Belen Alonso Conde
• Gabriel Cachon Rodriguez
• Alicia Cándida Blanco González
• Jose Castro Morales
• Cristina del Castillo Feito
• Maria Luisa Delgado Jalon
• Maria Isabel De Lara Bueno
• Francis of Assisi Diez Martin
• Sandra Escamilla Solano
• Sandra Flores Ureba
• Vera Gelashvili
• Alba Gomez Ortega
• María Patricia Mińambres Puig
• Leonor Mora Agudo
• Miguel Prado Roman
• Javier Rojo Suarez
• Miguel Angel Sanchez de Lara

And other teaching staff not belonging to the URJC, including:

• Salvador Marin
• Xavier Xubirats
• Esther Ortiz
• Marcos Anton
• Paloma Belmonte
• Beatriz Aibar
• Dunia Alvarez
• Oriol Amart
• Manuela Cańizales
• Jorge Capeans
• David Curbelo
• Isabel Maria Garcia
• Ruben Gimeno
• Max Gosch
• Jose Maria Hinojal
• Jose Ignacio Llorente
• Ana Manzano
• Jose Mariano Moneva
• Victoria Nombela
• Luis Piacenza
• Francisco Lari
• Gemma Sanchez-Danish
• Francisco Manuel Somohano
• Maria Dolores Urrea
• Maria Antonia Garcia-Benau
• Longinos Marín
• Bernabe Escobar
• Maria Miras
• Joan Claret
• Ana Lejárraga García

Duration and Development

• Modality: Blended/online
• Number of credits: 15
• Contact hours: 2 per session generally speaking
• Place of delivery: e-learning
• Opening hours: Online class sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:00 to 20:00 p.m.
• Start and end date: Start January 2026, End June 2026

Reservation of Place and Enrollment

• Pre-registration and registration period: 17/09/2025 to 17/12/2025
• Title price: 1,300
• Possibility of scholarship: Yes

The start of the course is subject to the minimum number (40) of enrolled students.

Enrollment Instructions

Documentation to attach includes:

• National Identity Document or equivalent
• University Degree of the studies that give access to the requested postgraduate degree
• Curriculum vitae
• Responsible declaration of veracity of the data provided in digital format
• Any other document required by the Academic Department of Continuing Education for acceptance

Students with foreign qualifications must submit additional documentation, including a passport or Residence Card and a foreign Higher Education Degree.