Corporate Sustainability as a Strategic Business Component
Sustainability is not merely a trend but a strategic necessity for companies and organisations aiming to lead in an increasingly environmentally and socially conscious world. This microcredential, developed in collaboration with the Public Business Corporation of Pamplona (CPEN), offers practical and up-to-date training aligned with current market demands, enabling you to become an agent of change in the transition towards a circular, green, and socially responsible economy.
- Modality: hybrid
- Credits: 2 ECTS (20 class hours)
- Registration: from 17/03/2025 to 16/09/2025
- Fees: € 220 | Fee with discounts: € 66 (Consulta condiciones)
- Teaching dates: October 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
This course is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
Training in environmental and social sustainability is essential for the transition towards a circular, green, and responsible economy. The EU, through its Sustainable Development Strategy and the Green Deal, requires companies to adopt sustainable practices, yet significant training challenges remain. Only 12% of the adult population in Europe has updated their skills in this area—far from the 80% target—and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria are still not widely understood. In Spain, 40% of the Recovery Plan funds are allocated to sustainable initiatives, highlighting the potential of this field.
In Navarre, sustainability is a key priority within the Navarre Sustainable Strategy 2030 and CPEN’s initiatives, although important training gaps persist. The Navarre Business Confederation stresses the need to raise awareness and guide companies in integrating the SDGs into their strategies. Without specific training, progress towards sustainability is limited.
This microcredential responds to the demand from social and economic stakeholders, providing practical and up-to-date training to help businesses incorporate sustainable strategies. Its objective is to equip professionals and organisations with the necessary tools to drive sustainable transformation through a realistic and applicable approach.
- Places: 35
- Language: Spanish
- Teaching location: Arrosadia Campus (UPNA)
- Business case of sustainability. Why is it important for companies?
- Environmental strategy
- Social strategy
- Governance
- Trends and Developments in Sustainability Reporting
Admission profile:
Applicants aged between 25 and 64 at the start date of the course may apply, provided they meet the following profile:
- Consultants specialising in sustainability or business transformation.
- Technical staff from companies and organisations seeking to implement sustainable strategies in their operations.
- Public administration personnel involved in the design and implementation of policies related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and circular economy.
- Graduates in business administration and management who wish to specialise in this field or broaden their professional profile with practical and up-to-date knowledge.
If, after the admission process, there are still available spots, individuals under 25 or over 64 years old - at the start of the course - who meet the profile and access requirements may be admitted. These places will be assigned strictly in order of registration until the quota is filled.
Access requirements:
- High School Diploma, Intermediate Vocational Training Certificate, or equivalent. (EQF level 4).
- Responsible declaration confirming compliance with the required candidate profile, including a brief description. Download here the document, complete it, and attach it to your registration.
Selection criteria:
In strict order of registration.
Once the course has begun, the final list of admitted participants will be published.
Resultados
- To identify various business models that demonstrate how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be integrated into corporate strategy, assessing their impact on organisational competitiveness and resilience.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of key sustainability indicators for measuring a company’s environmental, social, and governance/economic performance, determining their contribution to the achievement of strategic objectives.
- To apply analytical tools to identify the benefits and challenges associated with different business case approaches to sustainability, proposing strategies tailored to specific business contexts.
- To design and implement initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of business operations by incorporating sustainability criteria into operational decision-making.
- To conduct a critical analysis of the social impact of business decisions, devising strategies that promote employee well-being and support local communities.
- To interpret sustainability reports in line with international standards, integrating quaContitative and qualitative data to ensure transparency and credibility.
- To develop an ethical and sustainable leadership approach by designing action plans that promote transparency, foster a sustainable organisational culture, and reinforce commitment to sustainability.
- To identify emerging trends in sustainability reporting in order to anticipate regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations.
Training goals
- To understand the basic concepts and principles of corporate sustainability, identifying the relationship between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and business strategy.
- To distinguish between the environmental, social, and economic pillars of sustainability, identifying synthetic indicators and understanding the interrelationship among the pillars and their impact on corporate strategy.
- To become familiar with the various business cases in the field of corporate sustainability by exploring objectives, drivers, benefits, and potential limitations.
- To design strategies to minimise the environmental impact of business operations by developing tools for the efficient management of natural resources.
- To identify opportunities to implement circular economy models within companies, assessing their impact on waste and resource management and proposing reuse- and recycling-based solutions.
- To analyse the social impact of business decisions both internally (on workers) and externally (on society and local communities).
- To understand the main standards for sustainability reporting, identifying best practices in report development.
- To understand the role of ethical leadership in corporate sustainability, designing transparency and disclosure strategies to promote a sustainable culture.
- Academic Management: Francisco J. López Arceiz, Associate professor (tenured) at UPNA.
- Academic Co-Management: David Pérez de Ciriza Eslava, Delegate of the Spanish Association of Sustainability Executives (ASG) in Navarre and Operational and CSR Coordinator at the Public Business Confederation of Navarre (CPEN).
- UPNA Faculty Collaborators
- Francisco J. López Arceiz, Associate professor (tenured) at UPNA.
- CoExternal Collaborators:
- Eva Sevigne Itoiz, specialist in Circular Economy in Environmental Management in Navarre (GAN) and researcher at Imperial College London.
- David Pérez de Ciriza Eslava, Delegate of the Spanish Association of Sustainability Executives (ASG) in Navarre and Operational and CSR Coordinator at the Public Business Confederation of Navarre (CPEN).
- Ricardo Trujillo Fernández, Director of Social Impact and Human Resources at Forética.
- Ana Antolín, researcher and lecturer in sustainability-ESG, stakeholders and intangible assets.
- Timetable of the sessions to be held in October.
- The room will be notified by e-mail to the participants before the course begins.
- Final multiple-choice exam: 30 %
- Oral presentation of a project: 70 %
Obtaining the microcredential is subject to passing the enrolled ECTS credits, in accordance with Article 27 of the Regulations Governing UPNA's Own Degree Programmes.
Standard Tuition Fee: 220 €
Tuition feee with a discount:
- € 66 - 70% funded by European Funds for admitted participants who are between 25 and 64 years old at the start of the course.
- € 0 - Additional 30% funded for individuals working for public organisations which are part of CPEN who are between 25 and 64 years old at the start of the course.
Tuition aid grant procedure
Check here the procedure to be granted aids to see whether you meet the eligibility criteria for financial aid during the registration process.
Grants are only available to individuals whose tuition is not funded by any entity.
This microcredential is standalone and is not linked to any other academic programme.
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Academic Management
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External Academic Coordination
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Administrative Coordination
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