ESG in the changing landscape of higher education

The Luxembourg Government has developed a very ambitious strategy to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. Climate action and the commitment to keeping the global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels are among the most prominent goals which led to the Paris agreement. Sustainable Finance is expected to contribute toward achieving these goals by shifting financial flows from harmful, “brown” investments to sustainable “green” investments, which will help build a “better” world. This is why the University has launched an ambitious research and education project in Sustainable Finance within the framework of the Chair in Sustainable Finance, funded partly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development.

With high-quality, fundamental research, we aim at better understanding the impact of ESG challenges on capital markets, financial institutions and economic systems overall. On the educational side, we are building teaching programs to spread knowledge in sustainable finance and produce graduates that have skills that are actively sought after by the financial industry in Luxembourg. For example, the Department of Finance of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance launched a new Master specialisation in Sustainable Finance within the Master of Science in Finance and Economics during the 2020-2021 academic year.

The selection of the students for the specialisation in Sustainable Finance is done by the Study Director of the program based on the personal application file of the student. As demand is high and space is limited, in general, candidates need to demonstrate a solid background in Finance.

Students may apply for jobs in the financial industry in Luxembourg and abroad. Banks, asset managers but also insurance companies are desperately searching for experts in Sustainable Finance. Through a compulsory internship and the writing of an applied Master thesis in the fourth semester, the University assists the students in complementing their academic education with relevant professional experience.

Promoting advanced and academically-founded knowledge in Sustainable Finance and ESG is very important for the financial industry. During eight days of intense learning, practitioners can take a deep dive into all aspects related to Sustainable Finance, including regulatory aspects, issues in ESG-related reporting and disclosure standards. The first edition of the certificate took place in May 2021, with the next two sessions planned for January and May 2022. More detailed information on the courses and application procedures can be found on our website.