Course Details
About
Are you driven to advance your career by stepping into a leadership role that not only focuses on managerial excellence but also champions sustainable and ethical business practices? Do you aspire to be at the forefront of driving purposeful change, leading organisations towards a more sustainable future? The PgCert Sustainable Management program at Ulster University Business School is designed to immerse you in the principles and practices of sustainable business across various sectors.
This course has been designed to provide you with an understanding of how sustainable principles are integrated into core business functions. Students can focus on areas such as Data Analytics, Supply Chain Management, or Leadership, presented through a sustainability lens. Modules such as Sustainable Reporting and Governance or Enterprise and Innovation for Sustainable Development, will allow you to gain practical insights into weaving sustainability into core business strategies, preparing you to be a leader in sustainable business transformation.
Studying at Ulster University Business School, a forward-thinking institution with strong connections in the business world and a commitment to excellence in sustainability, you'll join a diverse community of students from around the globe. This environment fosters a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives, preparing you for a dynamic and evolving business landscape.
Whether you come from a business background or are new to the field, this practical and relevant program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in today's business world, making you a valuable asset to any organisation committed to sustainable practices.
Career Opportunities
The course places a strong focus on enhancing your employment prospects. This program equips you with the skills and knowledge to become a leader in specialist sustainability orientated careers. Here are just a few exciting career paths you might explore:
Sustainability Officer/Manager: Overseeing a company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts.
Sustainability Consultant: Advise businesses on integrating sustainable practices into their operations.
Sustainability Analyst: Gather data and analyse a company's environmental impact. Sustainable Business Model Innovator: Help companies develop new business models that are both profitable and sustainable.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager: Lead a company's CSR initiatives, which focus on social and environmental responsibility beyond legal requirements.
Whilst the course is sustainability focused, it will also prepare graduates for traditional managerial roles and empower the next generation of business leaders to take existing business models and adapt them to be more sustainable.
Students may wish to continue their studies and complete the MSc Sustainable Management course.
Course Duration and Delivery Format
This course will start in w/c 23rd September 2024
The course is taught 1 day a week (3-7 hours) on the Derry~Londonderry campus. In Semester one lectures will take place on Fridays.
The part-time Postgraduate Certificate is completed in two semesters of 12 weeks duration each.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Assessment is 100% coursework assessed
This program is designed to empower you with the essential skills to navigate and address complex management challenges within sustainable contexts. By blending theoretical knowledge with hands-on applications, you will develop the capability to critically assess and effectively respond to the operational needs and consumer demands of ethical and responsible business practices.
The curriculum is crafted to ensure a harmonious integration of individual and collaborative learning experiences. Through the use of real-world case studies and interactive, inquiry-based activities, we aim to enhance your analytical, strategic, and problem-solving skills, all within the realm of sustainable management.
You will benefit from the expertise of our faculty members, who are not only scholars but also practitioners deeply rooted in the sustainable business sector. Their current research and industry partnerships will bring you insights into cutting-edge sustainable practices. Additionally, guest lectures from industry experts will further enrich your understanding of the latest trends and challenges in sustainable management.
Your learning journey will be assessed through a dynamic mix of formative and summative methods, including individual assignments, collaborative projects, interactive discussions, and reflective exercises, all aimed at reinforcing your knowledge and skills in sustainable management.
Academic Profile
The academic team at Ulster University Business School is composed of highly skilled lecturers who combine academic research and real-world expertise to provide students with practical and relevant learning experiences.
For instance, Dr. Sayali Chavan incorporates her research on data analytics and artificial intelligence into her teaching, focusing on how these tools can drive sustainable business practices. Her work allows students to explore how data-driven decision-making can be used to support sustainability goals, such as reducing waste or optimising resource use in line with circular economy principles.
David Hanna, a Lecturer in Management, focuses on teaching the core principles of sustainable business and circular economy. Through his work on projects related to sustainability and resource management, David ensures that students grasp the fundamental concepts of circularity and how they can be applied to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact in various business operations.
The teaching team ensures that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is embedded throughout the curriculum, empowering students to engage with topics such as resource efficiency, sustainable innovation, and ethical business practices. With an emphasis on real-world challenges, the PGCert program enables students to gain the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to lead in the transition toward a more sustainable and circular global economy.
Campus
Derry~Londonderry
Further information
Email: engage@ulster.ac.uk
Module details
Students will study 3 of the following modules to complete the PgCert Sustainable Management.
Sustainability Reporting and Governance
Sustainability reporting is critical for organisations to measure economic, environmental, and social activities. This module develops the students' appreciation of what must be disclosed in sustainability reports, to comply with local, national, and international sustainability reporting requirements. Students will also gain an understanding of how good corporate governance leads to high quality sustainability reporting and the effective management of the organisation's sustainability-related risks, opportunities, and targets progression.
Fundamentals of Sustainable Management
"Fundamentals of Sustainable Management" is designed to familiarise students with the critical aspects of sustainability within business operations, including the drivers, barriers, and trends. It explores the balance between economic performance and sustainable practices, highlighting the importance of ethical decision-making, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. Through engaging with contemporary case studies and theoretical frameworks, students will learn to apply sustainable management principles to real-world scenarios, emphasising practical, innovative solutions to sustainability challenges.
Data Analytics for Sustainable Management
In today's global business landscape, data analytics plays a vital role in providing insights into organisational performance and increasing value. This module equips students with essential skills to navigate this trend, emphasising sustainability-focused data analysis. By collecting and analysing data on sustainability-related factors, students will gain actionable insights crucial for guiding sustainability initiatives and enhancing resource efficiency in organisations.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
This module focuses on equipping students with skills to navigate globalised supply networks sustainably. It covers core logistics and supply chain management principles, strategies, and practices, emphasising environmental impact reduction and social responsibility. Students will develop critical thinking and ethical and responsible decision-making abilities to evaluate, enhance, and implement sustainable solutions for long-term benefits by analysing contemporary issues and incorporating applicable Sustainable Development Goals.
Managing and Leading Sustainable Business
Contemporary leaders are effective in their use of managing people to engage in sustainable business. Knowledge and understanding of human behaviour are essential pre-requisites for effective and efficient people management. This module encourages students to reflect on what is known about how people behave in organisational settings, the theories that inform this knowledge and aid their consideration of delivering an effective sustainable business.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Sustainable Development
This module provides an understanding of the relationships between societal and economic needs and the environment, focusing on a range of sectors. It explores different perspectives on the goals of improving human wellbeing and environmental conservation, particularly the extent to which these might be complementary, compatible or contradictory goals, and how this intersects with broader social phenomena such as inequality and climate justice. The module considers how different sectors approach the relationship between people, place and purpose.
Course Entry requirements
This degree is open to students with a second class honors degree in any background – no prior business experience needed.
Applicants must:
(a) have gained
(i) a second class honours degree or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body or from an institution or another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard,
or
an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification;
and,
(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent); the minimum English language requirements for non-native English speakers, are IELTS 6.0 (with no contributing band at less than 5.5).
or, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b):
(c) in exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
Fee Funding Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (ROI);
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK or ROI for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK or ROI.
- meet the course specific entry requirements as detailed above.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
- this programme is not available to applicants with the following residency:
- GB and Islands
- EU excluding ROI qualifying residents
- International students
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of funded places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process, on a first come, first served basis.
Application Process
- Click on the Apply Now button.
- This will take you to the online application system – if you have never used this before please click on First Time user account creation and create an account.
- Log into the system and click on New – create a new application.
- Choose Postgraduate UK and ROI as the Application Type.
- Choose Admission Term Academic Year 2024-2025 and complete your details.
- Click the Fill Out Application button.
- Click on Programme Selection.
- In the programme choice dropdown please choose: Sustainable Management, PG Cert Part Time Derry~Londonderry
- Please complete all required application sections.
- Ensure your application is complete and then submit.
- You will receive a confirmation email that the application has been submitted, please ensure you check your junk mail as well as the inbox of the e-mail address listed on your application.
- If you have sent all required information and you have been successful, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
- If you have not sent all required information, you will be asked to send outstanding items. If a place is still available and you have met all requirements, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
IMPORTANT: If we have requested additional items, you do not have a guaranteed place. You may lose your space if you do not provide any required information by the deadline supplied in the Request for documentation Email. - Once your place is accepted, you will receive an enrolment email. You must complete the online enrolment to confirm your place and start your course.