Program Overview

Course Overview

Course Description

The course BFIN6030, Strategic Sustainability Management for the Financial Industry, provides students with insight into making informed and forward-looking decisions in the face of increasing complexity and uncertainty. This complexity arises from nature loss, the transition to a net-zero society, demographic and technological change, and the growing need for societal security and emergency preparedness.

Course Details

Course Content

The course covers the responsibilities and role of board members in strategic sustainability management, strategic priorities, and follow-up of sustainability ambitions and goals. It addresses the board's responsibilities and room for manoeuvre in sustainable transformation related to investments, risk, innovation, and growth, and how to balance short-term profitability with long-term value creation.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• Upon completion, the student shall have knowledge of:
  • How nature loss, climate risk, and resource scarcity are not only external threats but also strategic challenges that affect access to capital, customer behavior, regulatory trust, and market position.
  • Environmental sustainability in a national and global perspective, with a focus on key challenges and trends, as well as knowledge of the financial industry's crucial role in transforming the economy toward greater sustainability.
  • How to make informed and forward-looking decisions in the face of increasing complexity and uncertainty—where complexity stems not only from nature loss and the transition to a net-zero society, but also from demographic and technological changes, and the growing need to strengthen societal security and emergency preparedness.
  • Strategic risk understanding related to nature and climate, and how these factors influence access to capital, regulatory trust, customer preferences, and market position.
  • Regulatory developments, including the EU's sustainability agenda and how this affects an organization's strategic room for maneuver.

Skills

• Upon completion, the student shall be able to:
  • Apply ESG frameworks and methodology in strategic sustainability management to identify and manage sustainability risks and opportunities.
  • Use double materiality analysis as a tool for integrating sustainability into strategy, management, and board work — with the aim of strengthening profitability and reducing risk.
  • Contribute to boards fulfilling their responsibilities and leveraging their opportunities in sustainable transformation related to investments, risk, innovation, and growth.
  • Understand what types of questions the board should ask management in order to follow up on the organization's sustainability responsibilities, implementation of strategic priorities, and achievement of sustainability ambitions and goals.
  • Demonstrate insight into the board's role and responsibility in setting direction, following up sustainability objectives, and ensuring that sustainability is integrated into the organization's core decisions.

General Competence

• Upon completion, the student shall:
  • Have a holistic understanding of strategic sustainability management and how sustainability can be used as a competitive advantage in the financial sector.
  • Have strengthened ability to understand the organization's role in a broader economic and societal context.
  • Be able to reflect on how strategic sustainability initiatives affect value creation, profitability, and risk—both in the short and long term.
  • Have a comprehensive understanding of how Europe's strategic direction and priorities, green transformation, demographic and technological changes, and the need for increased societal security and preparedness affect organizations.
  • Have sufficient competence to stay updated on developments within strategic sustainability management, ESG, circular economy, and regulatory requirements.

Course Structure

Credits and Level

• Credits: 5
• Level: Further education, higher degree level

Duration and Language

• Duration: 1 semester
• Language of instruction: Norwegian

Location and Examination

• Location: Trondheim
• Examination arrangement: Off campus exam

Admission and Requirements

Admission Requirements

• Admission to a programme of study is required.
• Courses - Trondheim Business School (ØAEKSKURS)

Required Previous Knowledge

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Subject Areas

• Economics

Additional Information

Compulsory Assignments

• Obligatory assignments are part of the course.

Specific Conditions

• Specific conditions for the course include admission to a programme of study and fulfilling the required previous knowledge criteria.