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A Complete Course-Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Steven Khor, MIA, MIM, CFP, MBA,BA

A) Aim of Course:

This course aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and practices and equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to apply them in your careers and organizations. The ESG book of knowledge keeps evolving and new syllabi will be revised and added from time to time.

You also can study this course to help you prepare for professional examinations such as EFFAS Certified ESG Analysis, CFA Investing Certificate in Investing, CFI Diploma in ESG and many more.

Read more

A) Aim of Course:

This course aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and practices and equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to apply them in your careers and organizations. The ESG book of knowledge keeps evolving and new syllabi will be revised and added from time to time.

You also can study this course to help you prepare for professional examinations such as EFFAS Certified ESG Analysis, CFA Investing Certificate in Investing, CFI Diploma in ESG and many more.

Whether you are a corporate director, executive, fresh graduate or undergraduate student, this course will help you to build your knowledge and skills on ESG.  Hence, the course aims to meet the workforce's needs for new knowledge, skills, and competencies.

This course may also be offered to students in accredited programs as supplementary or complementary skills certification for better employability.

B) Course Learning Outcomes (CLO):

By completing this course, you should have acquired the following knowledge, skills, and competencies:

1. Knowledge of ESG principles and their applications in business and society.

2. Ability to analyze the impact of ESG factors on organizational performance and stakeholder value.

3. Skills in identifying and managing ESG risks and opportunities.

4. Ability to apply ESG frameworks and standards to assess and report on organizational performance.

5. Knowledge of ethical investing principles and the ability to incorporate ESG considerations in investment analysis and decision-making.

6. Skills in communicating ESG data and information effectively to internal and external stakeholders.

7. Ability to develop an ESG strategy for a real-world organization and assess its effectiveness

C) Module Structure.

Multiple-choice quizzes will test the learner's knowledge and skills at the end of each module.

Module1: Introduction to ESG

Module 2: Environmental Sustainability

Module 3: Social Responsibility

Module 4: Governance Compliance

Module 5: ESG Reporting and Communication

Participants can complete module by module. The course is flexible to allow you to complete each module on your own time.

D) Curriculum

Module 1: Introduction to ESG

Unit 1.1 Definition of ESG

Unit 1.2 Overview of ESG principles and their importance in business and society

Unit 1.3 Historical and current perspectives on ESG including global trends and their implications for organizations

Unit 1.4 Key ESG frameworks and standards and their role in ESG reporting and assessment

Module 2: Environmental Sustainability

Unit 2.1 Principles of environmental sustainability and their application in business operations

Unit 2.2 Impact of climate change on the environment and its implications for organizations

Unit 2.3 Strategies for energy and resource management and compliance with environmental regulations

Module 3: Social Responsibility

Unit 3.1 Principles of social responsibility and their application in business operations

Unit 3.2 Impact of diversity and inclusion on organizational performance and culture

Unit 3.3 Strategies for promoting human rights and labour practices and conducting social impact assessment and measurement

Module 4: Governance Compliance

Unit 4.1 Principles of corporate governance and their application in organizations

Unit 4.2 Effectiveness of board structures and executive compensation in promoting corporate governance

Unit 4.3 Strategies for engaging with shareholders and addressing shareholder activism

Module 5: ESG Reporting and Communication

Unit 5.1 Principles of ESG reporting and communication and their role in promoting transparency and accountability

Unit 5.2 Different types of ESG reports and their audience and purpose

Unit 5.3 Strategies for collecting, analysing, and Visualizing ESG data and communicating effectively to stakeholders

Each module includes lectures and quiz exercises to help you apply the concepts and principles learned. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of ESG principles and their applications in business and society and to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage ESG risks and opportunities and communicate ESG data effectively to stakeholders.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of esg principles and their application in business and society.
  • Evaluate the impact of esg factors on organizational performance and stakeholder value
  • Identify and analyze esg risks and opportunities and develop strategies for managing them.
  • Apply esg frameworks and standards to assess and report on organizational performance.
  • Incorporate esg considerations in investment analysis and decision-making.
  • Communicate esg data and information effectively to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop an esg strategy for a real-world organization and assess its effectiveness.

Syllabus

Upon completion of this section, you are able to explain the importance of ESG to business and society.

This unit explains the importance of applying ESG factors to an organisation and their impact on business and society. In this unit, you can download a useful template for ESG data collection.

Read more
Module 1: Introduction to ESG

In this unit, you will learn the definition of ESG and its framework. Upon completion of this module, you are able to

1.1 Define the concept of ESG.

1.2 Explain the principles of ESG.

1.3 Explain the importance of ESG in business and society.

In this unit, you will learn the principles of ESG.

In this unit, you will learn the importance of environmental sustainability.

In this unit, you will learn the history of how ESG evolved until current stage.

In this unit, you will learn the current and future perspectives on ESG.

In this unit, you will learn the key ESG reporting framework and standards. The details of GRI and TCFD reporting requirements will be covered in module 5

In this unit, you will learn how the application of ESG in the business and society.

At a recent public forum on climate change, my university invited Mr. Lhundup Dukpa from Bhutan (a country between China and India) to share his perspectives on ESG-related issues, particularly the impact of climate change on his country. He flew to Malaysia to share his concept of a smart omni village to promote the balance among the environment, and social and economic development. I hope that this case study will enrich your global perspectives on ESG.

Module 1 Quiz Introduction to ESG
Module 2: Environmental Sustainability

Upon completion of this module, you are able to:

2.1 Explain the principles of environmental sustainability and their application in business operations

2.2 Assess the impact of climate change on the environment and its implications for organizations

2.3 Formulate the strategies for energy and resource management and compliance with environmental regulations.

2.4 Analyze the impact of environmental sustainability on organizational performance and stakeholder value

In this unit, you will learn the principles of environmental sustainability.

In this unit, you will learn how to conduct the materiality assessment when doing the environmental impact assessment.

In this unit, you will the impacts of climate change to business and society.

In this unit, you will learn energy management strategies. You will learn how to use those strategies to reduce the consumption of energy while increasing the generation of renewal energy.

In this unit, you will learn how to manage resources effectively and efficiently.

In this unit, you will learn the regulations that govern the environment. Compliance with environmental regulations is important to reduce the non-compliance risk, legal risk and reputation risk.

In this unit, you will learn the impact on environmental sustainability to the organisation and society.

My friend -Ms Sneha Poddar from India came to Malaysia to share her concepts and insights on "Restoring Harmony on Earth" at my university. She presented the concept of omni village to balance the environmental, societal and economic needs. You may pick up new knowledge from her sharing. We acknowledge her hard work and appreciate her contributions in the areas of ESG.

Module 2 Quiz : Environmental Sustainability
Module 3: Social Responsibility

In this unit, you will be able to define the meaning of social sustainability. Upon completion of this module, you are able to:

3.1 Define social sustainability.

3.2 Explain the principles of social responsibility and their application in business operations.

3.3 Assess the impact of diversity and inclusion on organisational performance and culture

3.4 Formulate strategies for promoting social sustainability, human rights, and labour practices and conducting social impact assessment and measurement

In this unit, you will learn the principles of social responsibility.

In this unit, you will learn the impact of diversity and inclusion

In this unit, you will learn the strategies for social sustainability.

In this unit, you will learn how to measure the social impacts

In this unit, you will learn the tools used to measure the social impacts.

I was honoured to have Mr. Lim Hock Song and Mr. Virgil Gunting share their project known as "The PROVE"- Pensiangan Regenerative Omni Village Ecosystem in Sabah, Malaysia. The objective of the project is to increase the environmental, social and economic sustainability in the rural remote districts. They are using the concept of Omni Village as the strategy to address ESG issues. You will gain new insight on their project. Enjoy learning.

Module 3 Quiz Social Responsbilities
Module 4: Corporate Governance

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

4.1 Define the corporate governance

4.2 Explain the principles of corporate governance and their application in organizations

4.3 Apply the effectiveness of board structures

4.4 Design the executive compensation in promoting corporate governance

4.5 Formulate strategies for engaging with shareholders and addressing shareholder activism

In this unit, you will learn the principles of corporate governance

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of setting up an effective board of directors.

In this unit, you will learn the importance of designing appropriate executive compensation in a fairly and responsibly manner.

In this unit, you will learn the strategies for engaging with shareholders.

Vitrox Corporation is the second-largest semiconductor company in Malaysia. It is a publicly listed company in Bursa Malaysia. Vitrox has been awarded with an outstanding ESG compliance company locally and internationally. One of the strategies that Vitrox is using to engage the stakeholders is developing and practising its corporate culture. Let us learn together how Vitrox implements the Vitrox's Corporate Culture.

Module 4 Quiz Corporate Governance
Module 5: ESG Reporting and Communication

Upon completion of this module, you are able to:


5.1 Explain the principles of ESG reporting and communication and their role in promoting transparency and accountability.

5.2 Apply Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards

5.3 Apply TCFD requirements

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of GRI 1 Foundation

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of GRI 2 General Disclosure

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of GRI 3 Material Topics

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of TCFD Governance Disclosure

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of TCFD Strategy Disclosure

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of TCFD Risk Management Disclosure

In this unit, you will learn the requirements of TCFD Metrics and Targets Disclosure

Module 5: Quiz ESG Reporting and Communication

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Aids in preparation for professional examinations like EFFAS Certified ESG Analysis and CFA Investing Certificate in Investing, which can boost career prospects
Covers key ESG frameworks and standards, providing a solid foundation for understanding and applying ESG principles in various contexts
Explores strategies for engaging with shareholders and addressing shareholder activism, which is crucial for corporate governance and stakeholder relations
Includes case studies and guest perspectives, such as the smart omni village concept, which enriches global perspectives on ESG and sustainable development
Requires learners to understand and apply Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and TCFD requirements, which are essential for ESG reporting
Features guest speakers sharing insights on specific projects, such as the Pensiangan Regenerative Omni Village Ecosystem, which may not be broadly applicable

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in A Complete Course-Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) with these activities:
Review Key ESG Frameworks
Refresh your understanding of key ESG frameworks like GRI, TCFD, and SASB to better grasp the reporting requirements covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify the core components of each framework.
  • Summarize the reporting requirements for each framework.
  • Compare and contrast the different frameworks.
Review 'Sustainable Investing: A Path to a New Horizon'
Gain a deeper understanding of sustainable investing principles and practices to enhance your ability to incorporate ESG into investment decisions.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Identify the main arguments and supporting evidence.
  • Relate the book's content to the course materials.
Review 'ESG and Responsible Institutional Investing Around the World: A Critical Review'
Deepen your understanding of the global landscape of ESG investing and the challenges faced by institutional investors.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and highlight key arguments.
  • Analyze the case studies presented in the book.
  • Discuss the book's findings with peers.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create an ESG Infographic
Solidify your understanding of ESG principles by creating an infographic that visually explains key concepts and their importance.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific ESG topic to focus on.
  • Research the topic and gather relevant data.
  • Design the infographic using a visual tool.
  • Share the infographic on social media.
Develop an ESG Strategy for a Company
Apply your knowledge by developing a comprehensive ESG strategy for a real-world organization, covering environmental, social, and governance aspects.
Show steps
  • Select a company and research its current ESG practices.
  • Identify key ESG risks and opportunities for the company.
  • Develop specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
  • Outline strategies for achieving the goals.
  • Present the ESG strategy in a report.
Develop an ESG Risk Assessment
Enhance your skills in identifying and managing ESG risks by creating a risk assessment for a specific organization or industry.
Show steps
  • Select an organization or industry to assess.
  • Identify potential ESG risks and their impact.
  • Assess the likelihood and severity of each risk.
  • Develop mitigation strategies for each risk.
  • Present the risk assessment in a report.

Career center

Learners who complete A Complete Course-Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
ESG Analyst
An ESG Analyst evaluates a company's environmental, social, and governance practices to assess risks and opportunities, which is a core focus of this course. They analyze data and create reports that inform investment decisions, corporate strategies, and stakeholder engagement. This program, with its detailed modules on ESG reporting and communication, will help an ESG Analyst to understand how to collect, analyze, and present ESG data effectively. The course's emphasis on various reporting standards will be directly applicable to the analyst's work, allowing them to make informed assessments of organizational performance.
See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Analyst
ESG Reporting Specialist
An ESG Reporting Specialist is responsible for gathering, analyzing, and reporting ESG data, ensuring compliance with relevant frameworks and standards. This role is deeply connected to the material of this course. This course provides extensive coverage of ESG reporting principles and communication strategies, making it an ideal preparation for this career. The modules focusing on specific reporting standards like GRI and TCFD are particularly relevant. This course helps an ESG Reporting Specialist understand the intricacies of ESG reporting, enabling them to ensure transparency and accuracy in an organization's disclosures.
See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Reporting Specialist
Sustainability Consultant
A Sustainability Consultant helps organizations improve their environmental and social performance, an area directly addressed in this comprehensive ESG course. This role involves assessing current practices, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategies to implement sustainable solutions. This course would equip a budding sustainability consultant with a strong foundational understanding of ESG principles, reporting frameworks, and the strategic application of those principles to real-world business scenarios. The course modules on environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance compliance are particularly relevant, providing the knowledge base necessary to excel in this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager develops and implements an organization's CSR strategy, aligning it with ESG principles. This role requires a thorough grasp of sustainability, ethics, and stakeholder engagement. This course would be extremely valuable since it covers all of these areas in detail. With a focus on both strategic planning and practical application, the course will help a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager in setting objectives, tracking progress, and communicating impact. The unit on social impact assessment is especially useful for this role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
Investment Analyst
An Investment Analyst assesses financial securities but, increasingly, must also incorporate ESG factors into their analysis. This course provides a thorough grounding in how ESG principles impact investment decisions. Completing this course will provide an investment analyst with the ability to analyze the impact of ESG factors on organizational performance, enabling them to incorporate ethical considerations into investment decisions. The coursework's focus on ethical investment principles and incorporating ESG into analysis directly addresses the needs of an investment analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst
Public Relations Specialist
A Public Relations Specialist manages an organization's public image, and ESG considerations have become crucial for maintaining a positive reputation. This course will provide a public relations specialist with an understanding of how to communicate ESG data effectively. The course’s emphasis on stakeholder engagement will help create a more positive public perception. The modules on ESG reporting and communication will support the ability to convey an organization’s ESG efforts clearly and transparently, improving the public image.
See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist
Risk Manager
A Risk Manager identifies and assesses various risks, and increasingly this includes ESG-related risks. This course will help a risk manager by providing comprehensive coverage of ESG principles, including risk identification and management. The course explains how to analyze the impact of ESG factors on organizational performance, which is crucial for assessing sustainability and operational risks. The modules on governance and compliance are particularly relevant, helping the Risk Manager to develop a holistic understanding of how ESG factors can impact an organization's overall risk profile.
See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager
Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
An Environmental Health and Safety Specialist works to ensure that workplaces are safe and environmentally responsible, a key aspect of ESG. This course will be very helpful because of its coverage of environmental sustainability, energy management, and compliance with environmental regulations. An Environmental Health and Safety Specialist will develop useful knowledge and skills for managing environmental risks and improving workplace safety. The course’s attention to detail in relevant fields will help in the creation of a safe and compliant work environment.
See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
Project Manager
A Project Manager plans, executes, and closes projects, including those with a focus on ESG initiatives. Completing this course will provide project managers with a fundamental understanding of ESG principles to help in the planning of sustainability projects within their organizations. This course provides the knowledge required to identify and manage environmental and social risks and opportunities within a project's lifecycle. Understanding ESG strategies will help a project manager align project goals with broader sustainability objectives.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Compliance Officer
A Compliance Officer ensures that an organization adheres to legal and ethical standards, and this now often includes ESG regulations. This role benefits from an in-depth understanding of governance compliance, a major module in this course. The course modules on environmental regulations, corporate governance, and ethical business practices will be particularly useful. The course provides insights into how to maintain regulatory compliance related to ESG factors, essential knowledge for a compliance officer. For a compliance officer, this course may help to build a foundation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Officer
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager is responsible for growing a business and finding new market opportunities, and ESG is an increasingly significant consideration for many clients. This course would be useful for a business development manager who needs to grasp ESG and sustainability factors. The course will help them understand how to incorporate ESG criteria into new ventures. The course modules on ESG principles and their applications can help a business development professional tailor their strategies to align with the growing demand for sustainable and ethical business practices.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager is responsible for the efficient and effective functioning of an organization's operations, and integrating ESG principles into operations can benefit the company and the planet. This course may help an operations manager to identify opportunities to enhance environmental and social performance within their operational domain. The course modules on environmental sustainability and social responsibility are particularly pertinent for this role. An operations manager will learn about resource management and compliance to improve operational efficiency and reduce negative impacts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst collects, processes, and performs statistical analysis for various purposes, including ESG reporting, and an understanding of this field will be beneficial. This course will help a data analyst better understand where ESG data comes from and how it is used by organizations. This program will make a data analyst more capable of working with and making sense of ESG-specific datasets. The course curriculum will help a data analyst with the application of ESG frameworks and standards to assess and report on organizational performance.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Policy Analyst
A Policy Analyst researches and analyzes policies that help shape the future, including those related to ESG and sustainability. This course will help a policy analyst by providing an understanding of the underlying principles and frameworks for environmental and social policies. The modules on sustainability, social responsibility, and governance will help a policy analyst develop a well rounded, thorough understanding of the topic. The course will help a policy analyst to create effective and informed policy recommendations.
See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst
Human Resources Specialist
A Human Resources Specialist manages employee programs and organizational culture. The modules on diversity and inclusion, along with social responsibility, will be of particular use for a human resources specialist. This course would be useful for a human resources specialist to understand the importance of ESG. By completing this course, a human resource specialist will have the knowledge to help foster a more diverse, inclusive, and ethically responsible workplace.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Specialist

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in A Complete Course-Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of sustainable investing, covering various ESG factors and their impact on investment performance. It offers practical guidance on incorporating ESG considerations into investment analysis and decision-making. The book is particularly useful for understanding the integration of ESG into investment strategies. It serves as a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced professionals in the field.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
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Effort
8 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Steven Khor, MIA, MIM, CFP, MBA,BA
Language
English
Good to know
Aids in preparation for professional examinations like EFFAS Certified ESG Analysis and CFA Investing Certificate in Investing, which can boost career prospects
Covers key ESG frameworks and standards, providing a solid foundation for understanding and applying ESG principles in various contexts
Explores strategies for engaging with shareholders and addressing shareholder activism, which is crucial for corporate governance and stakeholder relations
Includes case studies and guest perspectives, such as the smart omni village concept, which enriches global perspectives on ESG and sustainable development
Requires learners to understand and apply Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and TCFD requirements, which are essential for ESG reporting
Features guest speakers sharing insights on specific projects, such as the Pensiangan Regenerative Omni Village Ecosystem, which may not be broadly applicable
Share and help others discover this course.
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