ESG and Sustainable Finance, offered by the University of St. Gallen's Swiss Institute of Banking and Finance, is a certificate course designed to provide an in-depth introduction to ESG and sustainable finance. The program is led by Prof. Dr. Markus Schmid in cooperation with ESG industry experts from Ethos, Inrate, MSCI, Nest Sammelstiftung, UBS, Vontobel, Kellerhals Carrard, and Zürcher Kantonalbank. Scheduled for Spring 2026, it will be delivered across six weekly events in May and June, with participation available either in Zurich or online. The course combines academic evidence with hands-on industry experience, making it particularly relevant for professionals seeking practical and current insight into ESG integration and sustainable investing.

Core Content

The curriculum emphasizes the practical implementation of ESG and sustainable finance within today's financial sector. It examines how to integrate ESG standards into the investment process, measure ESG performance and deal with data issues, address regulatory and certification challenges, and navigate legal ESG risks. The course also covers ESG and climate risk management, communication of ESG targets and achievements to clients, the financial performance of sustainable investments, and the assessment of real-world impact. This structure positions the program as both academically rigorous and directly linked to current market practice.

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to understand and apply ESG principles in financial decision-making and investment processes. The course equips learners with skills to evaluate ESG data, interpret regulatory and certification issues, assess ESG and climate-related risks, and communicate sustainability objectives more effectively to clients and stakeholders. It also helps participants build a stronger understanding of how to assess both the financial performance and real-world impact of sustainable investments. These learning outcomes make the program especially relevant for professionals working at the intersection of finance, risk, reporting, and sustainability strategy.

Target Learners

This course is designed for finance professionals working in asset management, banking, financial advisory, pension funds, risk management, insurance, and finance IT. It is also relevant for corporate treasury and finance employees involved in ESG compliance and reporting, as well as broader learners interested in ESG and sustainable finance. Because the program is framed as an in-depth introduction rather than a beginner overview, it is particularly suitable for professionals looking to strengthen applied knowledge in a market and regulatory context.

Learning Format

The course is delivered as six weekly events held on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in May and June 2026. Each session usually includes two lectures and a weekly networking reception, giving participants the chance to engage directly with speakers and fellow learners. The program is available both in person in Zurich and online, and in-person participants who cannot attend individual sessions can flexibly switch to online participation. This hybrid structure makes the course suitable for professionals who want live engagement with added flexibility.

Additional Benefits

The program offers strong professional value by combining university-led instruction with contributions from major ESG and financial market practitioners. Its format gives participants access not only to applied learning on ESG investing, risk, regulation, and impact, but also to weekly networking opportunities with speakers and peers. The involvement of leading institutions from across finance, data, legal, and investment fields adds practical credibility to the course and makes it particularly useful for professionals seeking a current and implementation-focused view of ESG and sustainable finance.

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