Certificate in Sustainable Reporting and Transformation
Course Overview
Enterprise Ireland now funds Griffith College’s Certificate in Sustainable Reporting and Transformation, a Level 9 programme helping Irish businesses navigate upcoming ESG regulations.
The Certificate in Sustainable Reporting and Transformation is an accredited training solution on reporting, monitoring and supplier training relating to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as well as the Voluntary Small and Medium Enterprises (VSME). Fully covered under the Climate Action Voucher, it equips companies with essential skills for sustainability and compliance.
Why Study Sustainable Reporting and Transformation at Griffith?
Organisations need advice and practical ways to address ESG risks. They need to be able to comply with ESG directives while delivering their ESG targets through smart transition plans. This programme provides the insight, knowledge, and tools to do so.
This a 10-credit postgraduate Certificate, comprising of two 5-credit modules, both assessed through continuous assessment/project work. The first module, 'Fostering Sustainable Practices', will provide training on the key aspects of the CSRD and the required disclosures that companies that fall in the scope of CSRD will have to embrace by 2027. The second module, 'Building Resilience and Compliance', is a bespoke module for small and medium-sized companies but also for the buying community dealing with SME suppliers.
Course Highlights
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Leading sustainability consultants delivering the programme.
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Course assessment will be aligned/closely aligned with your current workplace.
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Many SME's are in support of the design of this programme, given the urgency for many to Educate themselves in this area.
Intake Dates
- Dublin - Part-Time - February 2027
- Cork - Part-Time - February 2027
- Dublin - Part-Time - September 2027
FAQ'S
Yes. Griffith College's Certificate in Sustainable Reporting and Transformation covers the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in depth, including its scope, the disclosures it requires and how it applies to SMEs and supply chains. It's a QQI-validated Level 9 certificate worth 10 credits, studied part-time over one 12-week semester.
It's a short, part-time Level 9 certificate for professionals who need to understand sustainability reporting and ESG compliance. Over two modules, you'll look at CSRD, the EU Green Deal, sustainable supply chains and the VSME standard for smaller businesses. Assessment is linked to your own workplace, so the learning applies directly to your role.
The course runs over one semester of 12 weeks. It's blended, with one evening class a week online plus one in-person Saturday for each of the two modules. That format is designed to fit around full-time work, and the course is offered in Dublin and Cork.
Module 1, Fostering Sustainable Practices, covers CSRD scope and disclosures, the EU Green Deal, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), sustainable supply chains and ethical trading. Module 2, Building Resilience and Compliance, focuses on the VSME standard, CSRD for SMEs, supply chain compliance, risk assessment and building resilience across value chains.
Yes. The course deals directly with ESG reporting, ESG risk and compliance, with a strong focus on CSRD and the wider EU sustainability rules. On completion, you receive a QQI-validated Level 9 certificate, a recognised academic qualification rather than a short vendor training badge.
Yes. A full module is dedicated to how CSRD affects small and medium-sized businesses, including the VSME standard and what larger customers may ask of their suppliers. It's especially relevant if you work in an SME, in procurement, or in a role that manages supplier relationships and value chain risk.
VSME is a voluntary sustainability reporting standard for non-listed small and medium-sized enterprises, developed by EFRAG. It gives SMEs a simpler way to report on ESG matters, often in response to requests from banks, investors or larger customers covered by CSRD. Module 2 of the course focuses on applying it.
It's aimed at professionals who want to build or move into a career in sustainability reporting, monitoring and supplier training linked to CSRD. That includes people in finance, compliance, operations and procurement, as well as anyone leading an organisation's response to ESG risk and the move to more sustainable ways of working.
Applicants usually hold a Level 8 qualification and are looking to achieve a Level 9 certificate. If you're over 23, you can also apply on the basis of previous learning or work experience, along with a demonstrated commitment to further education. The admissions team will assess applications against these criteria.
Assessment is continuous, using project work that's tied to your own workplace. Rather than sitting a final exam, you'll apply what you learn about CSRD, VSME and sustainable supply chains to real situations in your organisation. That means your coursework can feed straight into your organisation's own reporting work.
Apply directly to Griffith College. You'll need to show evidence that you meet the minimum entry requirements, such as your Level 8 qualification or details of relevant work experience, along with a copy of your ID, either a passport or a driving licence.
Course Details
Module 1
In January 2023, the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into force, and its application from the fiscal year 2024 becomes mandatory for all large European companies with over 500 employees, as well as for medium and small companies, except for micro-enterprises, whose securities are listed for trading on a regulated market in the European Union.
The directive also covers non-European trading companies that generate more than EUR 150 million in net income per year in the Union. The directive adapts the deadlines, areas and standards of application of the new sustainability reporting rules to the capacities and resources of individual categories of companies. Businesses covered by the directive will have to submit publicly available and detailed non-financial reports on a number of aspects of sustainability in their operations, as well as on the impact of external sustainability factors on current operations and the extended value chain.
The directive represents a strengthening of the existing European rules for the creation and publication of sustainability reports for the realisation of the goals of the European Green Plan and the successful transition of the EU to a sustainable economy and society.
In today’s global economy a sustainable supply chain is one of the key factors for the success of the organisation in order to secure its long-term future. This module provides conceptual understanding and places the concepts and tools within the complexities of the EU Green Deal, the CSRD, CSDDD and other related EU directives.
This module relates to the supply chain impact on communities and society, on environmental aspects, and on ethical trading and business conduct from a sustainable procurement perspective. The module looks at the alignment of sustainable goals, targets, and metrics of any organisation with their supply chain to create and maintain a resilient, compliant, and sustainable supply chain.
Module 2
This module introduces and develops the concepts, perspectives, and tools associated with the European (EU) Voluntary Small, Medium, Enterprise (VSME) standard recommended. It provides conceptual understanding and places the concepts and tools within the complexities of the EU Green Deal, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and other related EU directives that are or can be applicable to SMEs.
As well as providing the learner with a core body of knowledge of sustainable supply chain compliance requirements, the module aims to go beyond the prescriptive “legislative text” approach to present the learner a practical toolbox with appreciation of the complexities, subtleties and behavioural factors that fundamentally shape what the EU asks responsible businesses to do and why.
This central aim of the module is to ensure learners possess the understanding and tools to critically assess, embed and promote the variety of sustainable purpose, policies, actions, targets and metrics to build resilience and compliance across all links in the supply and value chain.
We will enable participants to identify and critically evaluate the different sustainability considerations of impact, risks and opportunities and the appropriate control that needs to be put in place across the people, process, and performance dimensions to create a resilient and compliant sustainable supply chain. This module relates to the supply chain impact on communities and society, on environmental aspects, and on ethical trading and business conduct. The module looks at the alignment of sustainable goals, targets and metrics of any organisation with their supply chain to create and maintain a resilient, compliant, and sustainable supply chain.
- Dublin
Timetables
1 Evening per week online
1 Saturday per module in person
How to Apply
Entry Requirements
The programme is aimed at mature learners who wish to pursue/advance a career in reporting, monitoring and supplier training relating to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as well as the Voluntary Small and Medium Enterprises (VSME).
This programme is also aimed at learners who currently hold NFQ Level 8 cognate qualification(s) and wish to achieve a Certificate at Level 9 on the NFQ.
Applicants over the age of 23 may apply based on previous learning and/ or work experience and a demonstration of commitment to further education.
How to Apply
Applicants should apply directly to the College. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of meeting the programmes minimum entry requirements, and will also be asked for a copy of their ID (passport or Driver's license) when applying.
Fees
For purposes of fee calculation, residence is counted from the time of application.
Please note that not all study modes may be offered at all times; for confirmation, refer to the Intake dates on the Overview tab.
Tuition Fees
Study Mode: Blended
Dublin
EUR 1,650.00
Cork
EUR 1,650.00
Limerick
EUR 1,650.00
Study Mode: Part-Time
Dublin
EUR 1,650.00
Cork
EUR 1,650.00
Limerick
EUR 1,650.00
Study Mode: Full-Time
Please refer to the Irish/EU Living Abroad Fees section.
An Academic Administration Fee of €250 is applicable each year, regardless of duration of study. The fee is due in February for February-intake students, and in September for September-intake students.
A 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted. The fees above relate to Year 1 fees only.
Flexible payment options
Students wishing to pay their fees monthly may avail of our direct debit scheme. Please view our Fees information page for more information and assistance.
Sponsorship
Is your company paying for your course?
They will need to complete a Griffith College Sponsorship Form and send this to the Student Fees Office:
- Post: Student Fees, Griffith College Dublin, South Circular Road, Dublin 8
- Email: studentfees@griffith.ie
2% Learner Protection Charge
All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of the provider ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded.
QQI Award Fee
Please note that a QQI Award Fee applies in the final year of all QQI courses. To find the relevant fee for your course level, please see the Fees page.
