The structure of the CAS Sustainable Finance combines theory, concepts, industry expert interviews, and practical exercises, and is supported by mandatory and optional readings in addition to video material and tests. The practical dimension of this programme will allow participants to endorse different roles relevant to a full responsible investment process.

For example, students will act as the CEO of a bank and as an asset owner defining their values and investment guidelines. They will also play the role of an analyst defining ESG criteria and applying the guidelines, and of an asset manager in charge of selecting the right investment funds.

As virtual shareholders, students will exercise their voting rights and engage with companies on certain themes. Finally, participants will discuss the steps of their investment process during the last week of the course in Geneva.

Experts from the following organisations have been interviewed for this course: Conser Invest, de Pury Pictet Turrettini & Cie, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ethos, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Impact Finance Management S.A., International Labour Organization, Lombard Odier, Nest Fondation collective, Oberson Abels, PeaceNexus Foundation, Pictet & Cie SA, Quadia, SGS, Sustainable Finance Geneva, Swiss Sustainable Finance, Symbiotics, UNEP Finance Initiative, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), University of Oxford, and University of Geneva.

Learning outcomes

This course will enable participants to understand the drivers and characteristics of the sustainable finance movement and to build their own responsible investment strategy whether it be as a corporate actor, an investor, an asset manager, or as an active shareholder.

At the end of the programme, the participant is able to:

• Justify why sustainability is relevant to the financial sector
• Combine the constraints of risk, return, and impact
• Conduct ESG analyses and select responsible investment products
• Understand active ownership and engage with companies on sustainability issues
• Report on a full responsible investment process