This module examines the increasing importance of sustainability reporting, as regulators worldwide mandate reporting and demand for sustainability information from investors and stakeholders continues to rise. Affected companies face a diverse set of reporting requirements and data points they must disclose. This class equips participants with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complex landscape of sustainability reporting and its implications for managerial decision-making, with a particular focus on the European context. It covers sustainability reporting frameworks and current policy discussions; the use of sustainability information for investment decisions; standardized reporting under the ESRS and the Taxonomy Regulation; benchmarking of companies’ sustainability information; and the analysis, interpretation, and use of sustainability information.
- Understand the regulatory framework(s) governing sustainability reporting for EU companies
- Work with the standardized reporting requirements of the ESRS and the Taxonomy Regulation
- Navigate companies’ sustainability reports, distill key KPIs, and extract decision-relevant information
- Critically discuss how companies’ sustainability reports reflect their actual sustainability matters
- Assess the managerial implications of (mandatory) ESG reporting
This course is part of the prestigious part-time Master in Finance, conducted in English on Fridays and Saturdays on Campus Westend. It offers a valuable opportunity to network and gain expertise without committing to a full degree program. Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate of Participation. This course may be credited towards the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Risk Management & Regulation when completed together with the other required courses within one academic year. As the number of seats is limited, we recommend to register early. If you're a GBS or Goethe University alum, explore our attractive alumni discount options.
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Next course offering: Summer Semester 2027. New dates will be announced soon.
Prof. Dr. Katharina Hombach
Prof. Dr. Katharina Hombach has been Professor of Financial Accounting and Corporate Governance at Goethe University Frankfurt since 2022. She previously held professorships at the University of Oldenburg and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. Her research focuses on corporate transparency, disclosure regulation, and targeted transparency. She completed her PhD at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management after studying at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (BSc) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc).
Candidates with an undergraduate degree (i.e., bachelor or equivalent) of 180 credit points (CP) based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) can apply for our Open Programs. The allocation of credit points for work experience will appear on the Academic Transcript of Records and be titled ‘Prior Learning Assessment’.
Open Program applicants must submit a recent proof of English language proficiency at the higher B2 level per the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The GBS Office of Admissions will accept test results of the following tests, taken no longer than two years ago upon the date of submission:
- TOEFL iBT®
- TOEFL iBT® Home Edition
- IELTS
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
- English Language Level Test (ELLT) - Oxford International Digital Institute
Applicants may request a waiver of proof of proficiency in English in case one of the following conditions applies. The applicant
- is a native speaker of English;
- has graduated from an international baccalaureate program
- has completed their undergraduate or master-level studies in a program taught entirely in English;
- has worked in an English-speaking country for at least one year.
If the applicant has not taken any of the above tests when submitting the application, the applicant can upload a confirmation of the test registration to the online admissions portal.
Applicants who submit a language certificate older than two years but without an expiry date will be invited for an additional interview with a native speaker of English.
Proof of relevant post-undergraduate work experience of at least one year is to be submitted, e.g., a performance review, reference letter, or written confirmation from your employer.