Professional Diploma in Sustainability Accounting & ESG Reporting
Accounting and Financial Reporting / Sustainability Accounting and ESG Reporting — Novera University
1. Program Overview:
An accredited professional and applied program extending over 3 months (80 hours of approved study load), aimed at preparing accountants, financial managers, and compliance officers to adopt and apply sustainability standards and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure requirements. The program covers the latest international sustainability and climate disclosure standards (IFRS S1 & S2), carbon accounting and the calculation of emission scopes (Scope 1, 2, 3), Integrated Reporting, independent audit and assurance (ISAE 3000), the prevention of Greenwashing, analysis of climate-related risks and their impact on financial statements, and the use of specialized software to automate ESG reporting.
2. Key Objectives:
- Applying international disclosure standards (IFRS S1 & S2): understanding general and climate-related disclosure requirements and the transition from previous frameworks such as TCFD and GRI.
- Mastering carbon accounting and Integrated Reporting: measuring and calculating the carbon footprint across all scopes and linking financial performance with environmental and social performance in accordance with the IIRC framework.
- Audit, credibility, and assurance (ESG Assurance): understanding independent assurance standards for reports and avoiding the risks of Greenwashing.
- Climate-risk analysis and reporting automation: assessing the financial impact of physical and transition risks through scenarios and stress testing, and using digital tools to automate data collection and reporting.
3. Target Audience:
- Financial and management accountants, auditors, and internal and external auditors.
- Financial managers and officers responsible for investor relations, risk management, and compliance.
- Sustainability and ESG/CSR specialists and consultants in institutions.
- Graduates and students of Commerce, Accounting, Financial Sciences, Economics, and Environmental Sciences.
4. Study Plan and Courses (8 Courses — 24 Interactive Lectures):
|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Number of Lectures |
Total Hours
|
|
SAC101 |
Introduction to Sustainability Accounting |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC102 |
International Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 & S2) |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC103 |
Carbon Accounting and Carbon Footprint Measurement |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC104 |
Integrated Reporting |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC105 |
Audit and Assurance of Sustainability Reports (ESG Assurance) |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC106 |
Natural and Social Capital Accounting |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC107 |
Financial Climate Risk Analysis |
3 |
6 hours |
|
SAC108 |
ESG Reporting Tools and Software |
3 |
6 hours |
|
Total |
8 Courses |
24 Lectures |
48 Training Hours |
5. Organizational Structure and Assessment System:
- Duration and sessions: 3 months (evening period), at a rate of two lectures per week, two hours per lecture = 48 interactive training hours.
- Language of study and delivery method: Arabic and English | fully remote interactive training (Online).
- Distribution of credit hours (80 hours):
· 48 hours: live interactive lectures.
· 20 hours: required readings and open resources.
· 8 hours: chapter questions and self-assessment.
· 4 hours: final review and graduation project.
- Attendance and assessment requirements: attendance of no less than 75% of the lectures, and completion of periodic tasks and assignments.
- Certificate and graduation project: the graduate is awarded a Professional Diploma in Sustainability Accounting and ESG Reporting after submitting an integrated sustainability report compliant with IFRS S1 and S2 for a hypothetical institution and passing the online examination.
