The main objective of the project is to increase the knowledge of sustainability in a group of business executives within vocational training.

Through the implementation of the project, it will also achieve:

Implementing an innovative Training Programme – Sustainability – ESG Management in the vocational training sector,

• Increased knowledge and competence regarding sustainable development in SMEs,
• the development of vocational training linked to sustainable development,
• Increasing the cadre of specialists in sustainable development,
• impact on the implementation of the European Green Deal and the New Taxonomy.

On 28 April 2022, the first international meeting of the project “Sustainability Academy – ESG management” took place. The meeting was attended by representatives of all Partners:

1. University of Tourism and Ecology (WSTIE) – Poland
2. GREEN INDUSTRY FOUNDATION (GIF) – Poland
3. Európai Ökociklus Társaság (European Ecocycles Society) (ECS) – Hungary
4. EDU SMART TRANING CENTRE LIMITED (EDU) – Ireland

On behalf of the Consortium Leader, the meeting was officially opened by Chancellor Maria Grzechynka. During the meeting, project activities, the timetable, and the principles of communication and project management were presented. The partners clearly defined the activities and deadlines for the first task in the project. The composition of the Partnership Council was also established and Partner Coordinators were appointed. Discussions focused mainly on the content area, i.e. sustainable development and green transformation in Europe. Considerable attention was also paid to the promotion of the project, including social media activity and activities to disseminate the project – networking of personal, expert and institutional contacts.

Project partners publish “Research report on management competencies in: corporate sustainability management in Poland, Ireland and Hungary”

Today’s organisations need to take into account numerous risks (including climate risks) and also holistically adapt to the requirements of sustainability policies. The project partners decided to respond to this need – starting with a comprehensive diagnosis of the European business reality. The published ‘Research Report on Management Competencies in: Corporate Sustainability Management in Poland, Ireland and Hungary’ is the culmination of these efforts.  

Research methods

The research was conducted on the basis of an online survey questionnaire on a group of 304 persons (100 persons in Poland, 102 persons in Hungary and 102 persons in Ireland). The research was also complemented and detailed by a series of individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) with management representatives of SMEs.

Conclusions of the report

After analysing the data obtained, and setting the results in the context of European market realities, several key trends and phenomena were discerned:

It was recognised that today’s organisations must actively respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

This requires managers to have comprehensive competences, in terms of risk management, technology and environmental knowledge, and sometimes skills from other disciplines.

A change in the education profile is therefore necessary – and in every industry. For example, research in the area of agricultural production shows that managers are required to have knowledge of quality chains, process engineering and new crop technologies.

The education of managers should therefore be oriented towards interdisciplinarity in such a way as to enable them to acquire knowledge from sociology, psychology, economics and technology.

Management training must have a practical dimension and training programmes must be individually tailored to the needs of each industry. It is therefore impossible to use universal templates. Training must start by examining the needs of the group in question and then tailoring the educational content to address key challenges while taking into account the latest ESG trends.

Practical application of the report’s conclusions

The report, although only part of the project work, is already of great practical importance in itself. It contains important information on sustainable management and its impact on business development.

The report may prove helpful to all those who are interested in developing sustainable business and acquiring new competences, related to ESG management.

It can also be used by entrepreneurs who want to adapt their companies to the requirements, related to sustainability and climate issues.

The partners hope that the report will serve as an important source of information and inspiration for all those wishing to contribute to sustainable and green economic development. They, in turn, will serve to precisely guide further project work, leading ultimately to the implementation of an innovative training programme and the development of vocational training linked to sustainable development.

The second international meeting was held on the WEBEX platform on 26.09.2022. The meeting followed the following programme:

1.Summary of task O1

2. task O2 – start (scope, time, budget)
3. the two operational teams and their tasks within O2

4 Discussion and questions

The purpose of the meeting was to summarise the work on deliverable O1 (Survey of sustainability management competences) and to verify and monitor the work on deliverable O2 (Development of a description of sustainability management competences). The meeting enabled the further work on the Programme of each partner to be planned in detail. During the meeting, the partners also exchanged experience, made an educational analysis related to sustainable development in view of the changes associated with the entry into force of the European Green Deal. The meeting was also about project management – discussing the work done so far, its compliance with the timetable and budget, partnership cooperation and evaluation of activities.

The project partners have developed a description of the competencies of sustainability management

“Academy of Sustainable Development – ESG Management” is an international project, implemented by the University of Tourism and Ecology in cooperation with partners from Poland, Hungary and Ireland. The aim of the initiative is to bring about an increase in knowledge of sustainable development among business managers, which will be made possible through specialised training courses that build ESG skills. Their foundation is an in-depth analysis of market realities, as well as the identification of a number of competencies in urgent need of development.

The partners – WSTiE, EDU Smart Traning Centre Limited, the European Ecocycles Society and the Green Industry Foundation – combined experience and knowledge to produce a fully practical description of sustainability management competencies at two levels. This includes a detailed descriptive account of the standards, challenges and opportunities, which formed the starting point for the development of an innovative training programme and development materials. On the basis of the research carried out as part of the project, the desired skills of managers were identified, as well as the methods for acquiring them, developed in the form of a professional competence map.

The matrix has been prepared taking into account the two levels of seniority of staff, which has made it possible to respond more accurately to the real needs of entrepreneurs.  It lists the sustainability management skills that both senior managers (advanced level) and middle managers (basic level) should have. The training programme, created on the basis of these findings, responds to market demand and also fits in with the necessary requirements that a socially responsible business must meet.

The development of a two-level description of sustainability management competencies is an important step towards increasing awareness and knowledge of ESG among business managers. Ultimately, the project will contribute to preparing managers to effectively implement the principles of a modern approach to sustainability and further develop key skills.

Training courses in the series “Sustainability – ESG Management” are now available!

The project ‘Sustainability Academy – ESG management’, implemented by WSTiE together with its partners (EDU Smart Traning Centre Limited, European Ecocycles Society and Green Industry Foundation), has produced not only a specialised report and a detailed matrix of managerial competences, but also a series of professional training courses to acquire – and verify – key management skills in the ESG area.

The implementation of the economic transformation requires entrepreneurs to make sweeping changes to their business strategies, abandoning old, unproven models and shifting to a new, sustainable and green approach to doing business. Even large corporations are finding it difficult to adapt to the new requirements, according to research, on climate awareness. Specialised training, based on precisely identified competence gaps and tailored to the level of managers, may be the answer.

The project, implemented by WSTiE with its partners, has developed a series of sustainability training courses, which are now available in each partner country. As part of the course programme, participants will acquire leadership skills in ESG, climate risk management and the integration of green transformation requirements in the organisation. In addition, they will gain knowledge on how to formulate effective KPIs, making it possible to measure the environmental impact and dependency of an organisation, as well as to prepare reports, integrated with international standards and practices.

The training and course programme is validated, which allows for real verification of the level of competences developed, as well as identification of potential areas requiring further improvement. The training courses are addressed not only to representatives of the business world, but also to all entities operating in the field of vocational training and competence improvement of managerial and executive staff. For the convenience of users, the training courses are conducted online and are available in several language versions: Polish, English and Hungarian.

On 22 March 2024, the University of Tourism and Ecology hosted experts, researchers and practitioners, focusing on the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of sustainable development. The scientific conference that brought them together was the crowning point of the project, carried out together with Edu Smart Training Centre Limited, the European Ecocycles Society and the Green Industry Foundation. The activities, carried out over a period of two years, sought to bring about a real change in awareness, regarding sustainable management.

During the conference, a rich thematic programme was presented, with industry experts playing a leading role. Dr Marek Nocoń, Professor at WSTiE, presented the assumptions and developed results and products of the international partnership project. This was followed by a presentation by Dr Sandor Nemethy of the European Ecocycles Society from Hungary, who reported on the experiences of the project partners and shared good practices on environmental management in the face of climate change. Bartłomiej Mróz, representing WSTiE, discussed the training programme developed as part of the project, and Dr Tomasz Pasierbek from the Babia Góra National Park explained the importance of the ESG approach in a time perspective. The conference was concluded with a panel discussion with representatives of academia and business, including Maria Grzechynka (Chancellor of the University of Tourism and Ecology), Dr. Sandor Nemethy (President of the European Ecocycles Society), Dr. Tomasz Pasierbek (Director of the Babia Góra National Park) and Dr. Tamas Kopeczi-Bocz (representative of the business sector, lecturer at the University of Tokaj).

The conference not only provided an opportunity to summarise the activities of the project consortium, but also indicated practical directions for further activities. Thanks to the project, it will be possible to implement an innovative training programme in the vocational training sector, which will contribute to increasing the knowledge and competence of expert staff. Furthermore, the project will have a positive impact on the implementation of the European Green Deal and the New Taxonomy, which will bear fruit in the long term. As the members of the project consortium pointed out, it is through such initiatives, undertaken in international cooperation, that it is possible to translate theory into practice and realistically build corporate social responsibility in the context of sustainable development.

O4: Self-Assessment (Self-Assessment Form and Diagnosis of Training Needs)

As part of the ESG Academy project, a training needs diagnosis form on sustainability management was developed. The purpose of the form is for participants to self-verify their competences. This is to help select an appropriate course from the planned Training Programme.

Results:

Collection of Competence Information:.

Function/Sector/Industry Needs Analysis:

Analysis of Feedback Obtained:

Assessment of the State of Entry:

Baseline Assessment:

Application of Diagnosis:

The form was used before, during and after the course:

Before the course: The participants’ baseline competences and needs were identified.

During the course: The training programme was clarified and expanded.

After the course: The effects of the training were evaluated and the competences achieved were assessed.

Languages of Result:

English

Polish

Hungarian

Outcome O4 provides a comprehensive tool for diagnosing training needs that supports sustainability management and contributes to the effective development of participants’ competences.

O5 Development materials – Sustainable Development – ESG Management – MODULE I (for senior managers)

Programme:

Module I – for senior managers

Determinants of sustainable development management

o Paris Agreement, Agenda 2030,

o European Green Deal,

o New EU Taxonomy

Sustainable business strategy

o Sustainable business models

o Decarbonisation strategy

o Sustainable Supply Chain

ESG strategy

o Investor expectations

o ESG ratings and analyst assessments

o Impact of ESG on company valuation

Sustainable financing

o Sustainable finance products

o Green investments and environmentally sustainable operations

o The process of raising and issuing green financial instruments (green bond, linked loan)

Sustainable Corporate Governance

o Role of the Management Board and Supervisory Board

o Audit and internal control

o Management of risks and opportunities arising from climate change

Educational materials consist of:

2 podcasts – introduction to the module

1 thematic multimedia presentation

10 worksheets/individuals

4 case studies

2 working scenarios

1 infographics

As part of the outcome, a Pilot Workshop was held where future users were trained on the Programme and the evaluation of the workshop allowed conclusions to be drawn for inclusion in the development of the final outcome.

Result language:  English , Polish , Hungarian

O6 materials – Sustainable Development – ESG Management -.

Development

MODULE II (for middle management)

Programme:

Sustainable reporting

o Integrated reporting

o Standards for reporting non-financial data

o Reporting on climate issues

Scenario analyses and climate-related risks

o Climate change scenarios

o Identification of climate-related risks

o Integration of climate risks into the corporate risk management system

Management of the ESG area

o ESG ratings

o ESG risks

o Dealing with ESG controversies

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

o Dialogue with Stakeholders

o CSR strategy

o Modern CSR communication

Sustainability management

o Integration of CSR, ESG and sustainability aspects

o Tools for operationalizing and implementing the ZR strategy

o Sustainability KPIs

Materials:

• will respond to the current need to implement the new EU climate guidelines
• provide a knowledge base at various levels on ESG management
• will also reduce financial barriers and the sheer cost of raising competencies

As part of the outcome, a Pilot Workshop will be held where future users will be trained on the Programme and the evaluation of the workshop will allow lessons to be learned for consideration in the development of the final outcome.

Result language: English , Polish , Hungarian