Advanced Certificate in Sustainability and Sustainable Business Module 1: Introduction to Sustainability and Strategic Community Investment
- Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance
- Innovation & Business Improvement
This programme is conducted on-campus.
2 days (9am - 6pm)
Singapore Management University
Who Should Attend
Professionals and business owners who are keen on deepening their skills and knowledge in corporate and business sustainability.
Overview
In 2015, the 193 countries of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2016, 175 countries ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, addressing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit rising temperatures.
A member of the United Nations, Singapore has made considerable progress on the SDGs through policymaking efforts, as well as cooperation with various ASEAN countries and UN agencies on multiple initiatives. Yet, sustainable development is a constant journey; maintaining momentum on this journey requires vigilance in the potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, for the nation, for businesses, and for civil society.
In addition, community investment remains crucial to keep businesses competitive. Community investment is generally deemed as a business' investment in public services, such as hospitals or schools. Such investments are key to keeping businesses competitive, ensuring them a social license to operate while strengthening engagement with local stakeholders. Yet, while a growing number of companies are contributing to their communities and producing sustainability reports, many have still been unable to report on the positive impacts created as a result of their efforts.
UN Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) is the Singapore chapter of the United Nations Global Compact.
As the national lead agency promoting corporate sustainability, GCNS provides an ecosystem for companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through various platforms for multi-stakeholder engagement and collective action, GCNS advances the stewardship of sustainable business practices and Singapore’s national agenda of becoming a regional sustainable business hub. In addition, GCNS nurtures the next generation of responsible business leaders through its youth initiatives. GCNS is a stakeholder of the Global Reporting Initiative and supports the Singapore chapter of the World Bank Group's Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC).
Learning Objectives
- Be able to give an overview of corporate sustainability, ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) issues and discuss key trends in the industry
- Understand what sustainability means for businesses in the new economy
- Understand what is community investment
- Learn how to manage community investment projects and assess their impact towards the community
Topic/Structure
Day 1
Part A: Introduction to Sustainability: Opportunities for the Future Economy
- Introduction to Corporate Sustainability and the business case for it
- Introduction to key global movements including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Introduction to the importance of Sustainability Reporting and Climate issues
Day 2
Part B: Strategic Community Investment and Impact Assessment
- Introduction on the social responsibility of business and what is strategic community investments
- Methods to strategise and understand the impact delivered
- Understanding inputs, outputs and impacts
- Measuring change delivered
- Reporting of community investment
Assessment
- Class Participation
- Group Work
- Classroom Activities
As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of every module. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a presentation or based on classroom exercises.
Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion.
Calculate Programme Fee
Fee Table
| EMPLOYER-SPONSORED | |||
|
PARTICIPANT PROFILE |
SELF-SPONSORED |
SME |
NON-SME |
|
Singapore Citizen < 40 years old Permanent Resident LTVP+
|
$523.20 (After SSG Funding 70%) |
$203.20 (After SSG Funding 70% |
$523.20 (After SSG Funding 70%) |
|
Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old |
$203.20 (After SSG Funding 70% |
$203.20 (After SSG Funding 70% |
$203.20 (After SSG Funding 70% |
|
International Participant |
$1,744 (No Funding) |
$1,744 (No Funding) |
$1,744 (No Funding) |
All prices include 9% GST
Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.
Self Sponsored
SkillsFuture Credit
Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.
This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.
Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).Workfare Skills Support Scheme
From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.
Employer Sponsored
Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)
- Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
- Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
- Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
- Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
- Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
- Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here.
Please click here for more information on ETSS.
Absentee Payroll
Employers who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:
AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)
Intake Information
Intake 23: 1 & 2 Jul 2025 [Registration Closed]
Intake 24: 26 & 27 Aug 2025 [Registration Closed]
Testimonials
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