The Masters of Studies in Sustainability Leadership is delivered part-time over 2 years via four week-long residential workshops and intermediate e-learning sessions.
Workshops
The residential workshops encompass:
• lectures and talks by leading academics and practitioners;
• facilitated discussions and group activities;
• face-to-face tutorials and supervisions to support the completion of the assignments and research dissertation; and
• first-hand exposure to some of the University’s impressive facilities and traditions.
Twelve interdisciplinary modules are taught over the four residential workshops and additional modules are delivered via e-learning. The first workshop introduces the sustainability challenges and a broad spectrum of leadership responses, which are then explored in more detailed over the next three workshops.
While the focus is in on leadership responses, one or two sustainability challenges are ‘spotlighted’ at each workshop. Crosscutting leadership and change topics are also embedded within and/or interspersed between the sessions covering the various leadership responses.
The residential workshops are highly intensive and there is little free time; hence participants wishing to experience Cambridge’s many attractions should make arrangements to do this outside the compulsory residential periods.
Modules Covered
Download a detailed description of the modules covered.
During the first academic year of the Masters of Studies in Sustainability Leadership, participants undertake two 3,000 word individual assignments and a group project of 5,000–7000 words. In the second academic year a research dissertation of up to 15,000 words must be completed.
Individual Assignments
Participants complete two individual assignments of relevance to their professional settings, namely:
Analysis Paper
A detailed, critical analysis of a sustainability challenge of relevance to their organisation. The analysis makes use of relevant conceptual frameworks and theories, supported by current thinking in the field and practical examples.
Strategy Paper
Participants formulate recommendations to their organisation regarding how to respond to a sustainability challenge or opportunity. This usually builds on the case review findings.
Dissertation
Research towards a dissertation is undertaken under guidance from a supervisor. The research must follow a recognised qualitative and/or quantitative methodology, but can be applied (e.g. action research). The research can address a topic of relevance to a specific organisation, or focus more generally on a sector, challenge or location. Participants are encouraged to choose research topics that are practically-focussed and of relevance to the most pressing sustainability challenges. The dissertations are expected to be at the same level as would be required on a full-time Masters programme.
Group Project
In parallel with the individual assignments, participants work in small groups of 6–8 to develop an original piece of thinking on a sustainability topic of mutual interest. It can take the form of a research paper, or a proposed model/tool with recommendations for its use. With the help of an expert Tutor, each group decides how to approach the project and then develops the ideas and content so that it draws on the collective experience of the group members. Participants must be willing to work collaboratively, share ideas generously and contribute to the fullest possible extent.
Examples of Group Project Topics
Financing the future
How do we cause the finance sector to embed sustainability factors into their general lending and investment activities? How can they finance the transition to a low carbon sustainable future? What it would take to shift financial capital at scale into climate solutions and natural asset classes?
Role of business in shaping a sustainable economy
What role can business play in shaping a more sustainable economy? The last 30 years have shown us that our current economic paradigm is not working as well as it could. Even though we have succeeded in lifting many people out of poverty and have seen technological progress unimaginable to previous generations, we are also facing an environmental, social and economic crisis of significant proportions. Since the Second World War, the objective of any society has been to further economic growth, but this has come at the expense of people, planet and even economic stability. There is a growing consensus within government, business and civil society that a new approach is needed, but still uncertainty as to what that new approach should be. The group will explore the failures of the current economic paradigm, explore the potential of a new, more sustainable paradigm and define how business can thrive by enabling the transition between the two.
Use of brands to achieve sustainable consumption
How can we use brands to achieve sustainable consumption? Personal consumption drives the large part of economic activity and has given rise to a level of economic wellbeing never experienced before, but only for a few. If everyone consumed at the levels we do in the West we would need two to three Earths to provide the resources to feed this consumption. As the global population increases towards 9 billion over the next fifty years, the challenge will be dramatically harder. So current consumption is unsustainable and if it continues we are jeopardising the very existence of future generations but, without it, billions will remain locked in poverty. Marketing and brands have fuelled the growth of consumption. Can these tools now be used to change consumption through innovation and behavioural change to develop new consumption patterns that work towards sustainable consumption for all, and if so, how?
Aligning planning and decision-making with sustainability
Conceptual frameworks and definitions of sustainability have proliferated in recent years, but what do they mean in the context of business planning and decision-making? When we develop an investment strategy how can we ensure that more sustainable options are selected over less sustainable ones and that proposals, plans and strategies are as sustainable as possible? How sustainable is ‘sustainable enough’? What if the industry within which we work could be argued to be fundamentally unsustainable? Where should the lines of responsibility between business and government be drawn? What if our stakeholders have different concepts of sustainability? The group will explore how sustainability may be ‘operationalised’, developing a sustainability assessment framework and process for application to a relevant planning and decision-making process.
The role of business in society
Is the business of business business, as Milton Freedman wrote? Or should and can business have a higher calling and contribute to society in more ways than simply commercial ones? Can a business be ethical? Can a business be motivated beyond commercial concerns? What is the role of an oil or coal company in dealing with climate change? What is the role of a pharmaceutical company in fighting malaria in poor countries? Can a water company help bring clean water to a developing country? How does a publicly owned company take its shareholders with it if it wants to contribute more to society, or does our model of company structure and shareholder value mean business is pushed to unsustainable actions? The group can explore any aspects of the role of business in society, researching cases and models.
Virtual Learning Environment
The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provides an additional learning resource between the residential workshops, and full participation in the Masters e-learning is required. The VLE is used to deliver:
1. Virtual tutorials, supervisions and discussions/ seminars;
2. Three content-based modules (see the indicative Programme Structure download) .
In addition, the VLE provides an avenue for communications between the participants and the Programme team. The VLE is also used to make available supplementary material, such as slides used by presenters and links to useful websites, articles, etc. The VLE is has been developed using Moodle. This robust and user-friendly open-source software is widely used by provides of online learning, including the UK’s Open University.
The Masters in Sustainability Leadership VLE can be accessed via the internet using a standard internet browser. (A username and password is required to enter the site.)