Sustainability Leadership

Course Overview

Sustainability is a leadership imperative in today’s world, as organisations face increasing pressure to respond to complex global problems such as climate change, labour exploitation, and persistent inequality. This programme will equip students with the leadership skills to address the challenges, risks, and opportunities that environmental sustainability and social responsibility present for contemporary businesses and organisations. Participants will learn to value the importance of preserving relationships with communities, employees, and the environment, therefore ensuring responsible business models. Through a holistic consideration of environmental, economic, and social resources, students will develop the expertise to lead organisations through the transition towards a sustainable planet and society.



The programme leverages the interdisciplinary research strengths and capacity developed over several years within the College of Business, Public Policy & Law, the College of Science and Engineering and the Ryan Institute.The part-time, flexible approach allows for industry’s skills needs and training requirements to be met in a flexible manner. The curriculum will include an international study trip to a highly ranked European university partner. The curriculum is strongly integrated with industry through a combination of guest speakers, company site visits, real-life case studies and applied sustainability projects. Organisations are grappling with managing the transition towards a sustainable planet and society. The programme addresses a gap in the market and will enable participants to develop sustainability leadership expertise.



Skillnet Ireland’s recent report on Talent for Ireland’s Green Economy, undertaken in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), reports the following:



Leadership is essential to provide strategic direction for enterprises and to encourage employees to engage with climate action and sustainability issues.

The top skill sets needed to lead companies’ transition to a low-carbon economy include climate change and corporate sustainability strategy skills.

Such skills currently have a high demand but low supply/ high recruitment difficulty.

This new MSc programme directly addresses the identified gap in sustainability leadership skills.



The key strength of this programme is that it will equip students with the leadership skills to address the challenges, risks, and opportunities that environmental sustainability and social responsibility present for organisations.

Year 1 / Semester 1

Module Code Module Title ECTS

Module Status (Core/Optional)

MK5155 Consumption and the Consumerist Society 5 Core

MG5145 Responsible Management and Leadership 10 Core



Year 1 / Semester 2

Module Code Module Title ECTS

Module Status (Core/Optional)

BSS2104 Introduction to Sustainability 5 Core

MG5144 Sustainable Innovation 10 Core



Year 1 / Semester 3

Module Code Module Title ECTS

Module Status (Core/Optional)

SBE3117 Field Trips: Leading sustainable business transformation 20 Core



Year 2 / Semester 1

Module Code Module Title ECTS

Module Status (Core/Optional)

AY5138 Corporate Governance and Taxation 5 Core

MS5133 Sustainable Information Systems 10 Core



Year 2 / Semester 2

Module Code Module Title ECTS

Module Status (Core/Optional)

EC5145 The Economics of ESG 10 Core

SBE3118 IrelandNetZero Simulator 5 Optional

MK5153 Stakeholders, Partnership Development and Collective Action 5 Optional



Year 2 / Semester 3

Semester 3 is the summer semester, where the summer schools and field trips will take place—May/June.

Module Code Module Title ECTS

Module Status (Core/Optional)

AY5139 Financing Net Zero Summer School 10 Optional

MK5154 Systems Thinking and Practice for Sustainable Leadership 10 Optional

Applicants should have a minimum of two years’ post-graduation working experience, along with a primary degree in business, science, engineering or social science.



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants who do not meet the formal academic entry requirement may be considered if they have a minimum of five years’ work experience. Such candidates will be interviewed to ascertain the relevance of their work experience for the programme.

How to apply

We encourage all applicants to apply as early as possible.



Review/Closing Dates (for Taught Programmes)

For most programmes, University of Galway does not set specific closing dates for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotas will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle with the exception of applications for some programmes which are reviewed after the specified closing date. Candidates who do not have their final degree marks available may be made a conditional (provisional) offer.



Online Application

Applications to most postgraduate programmes at University of Galway are made online via www.universityofgalway.ie/apply (see "Application Weblink").

Part-time: 2 academic years (six semesters).

Next start date: September 2024.



Review/Closing Dates (for Taught Programmes)

For most programmes, University of Galway does not set specific closing dates for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotas will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle with the exception of applications for some programmes which are reviewed after the specifed closing date*. Candidates who do not have their final degree marks available may be made a conditional (provisional) offer.

Career Opportunities

There is a very strong employer demand for these skillsets with several potential career pathways identified including Chief Sustainability Officer; Director of Sustainability; Sustainability Manager; Sustainability Officer; Marketing Officer; Procurement Officer; Planning Officer; Sustainability Coordinator; Sustainability Consultant; Sustainability Projects Leader; Supply Chain Officer; Hospitality Manager; Finance Manager; Project Manager; HR Manager; Policymaker; NGO and County Council roles; General Management roles.



- There is a need for organisations to understand the impact that sustainability will have on their supply chain, how to gain a competitive advantage and how to understand the regulatory and governance requirements.



- Companies are constantly being asked now by their larger corporate clients to demonstrate how they are integrating sustainability into their strategy and what plans and targets they have in place to reach Net Zero, implement the Climate Action Plan etc.



- SMEs will lose out on competitive bids if they are not demonstrating sustainability in their operations and supply chain.



- A high level of EU funding is available for companies to advance their sustainability strategies.