Top 10 sustainability marketing & PR courses
The demand for sustainability-focused marketing and PR continues to grow, and so does the need for upskilling and training. Luckily, leading global universities have launched several specialised programs and courses that equip marketing and PR professionals with specialised sustainability knowledge and skills. Here is the list!
Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Marketing
Institution: CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing)
Duration: 12 months
Cost: tuition fees determined by the chosen study centre (from £300 per module) + CIM studying member annual fee (£65) + assessment fee (£510-£630)
Description: This Master’s degree equivalent programme offers Sustainable Transformation in Global Marketing as one of the electives, thus enabling postgraduate students to specialise in sustainability marketing. The syllabus covers topics such as sustainable marketing principles, ethical consumer behaviour, green product development, and sustainable supply chain management.
If you are looking for a shorter CIM course, check these:
Level 6 Diploma in Sustainable Marketing
1-day workshops: The Sustainable Marketer, Sustainable Marketing Strategy, Sustainable Brand Strategy
Sustainability Communication Strategies
Institution: London School of Economics and Political Science
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: £500
Description: This course offered by the London School of Economics and Political Science provides insights into effective sustainability communication strategies. Participants will learn how to engage stakeholders, communicate sustainability initiatives, and create impactful messaging. The course covers topics such as stakeholder analysis, storytelling for sustainability, corporate social responsibility reporting, and sustainable branding.
Sustainable Business Strategy
Institution: Harvard Business School
Duration: 3 weeks
Cost: $1,750
Description: This course explores the integration of sustainability into business strategy and decision-making. Participants will learn how to identify sustainability opportunities, assess risks, and create a business case for sustainability. The syllabus covers topics such as sustainable innovation, stakeholder engagement, sustainable operations, and measuring sustainability performance. The course is designed for individuals seeking to develop sustainable business strategies and drive organisational change.
Sustainability and Corporate Communication
Institution: Bocconi University
Duration: 1 semester
Cost: see the university’s website
Description: This course focuses on sustainable marketing and communication strategies from the point of view of corporate governance, compliance and and financial reporting (IFRS). It is best suited for those who are willing to pursue a career in corporate communications and want to understand how sustainability communications fit within organisational set-ups.
Communicating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability
Institution: Republic Polytechnic (Singapore)
Duration: 1 day
Cost: $24.80- $216.00
Description: This short course offers a comprehensive overview of communicating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability topics. Participants will learn about ESG reporting frameworks, stakeholder engagement strategies, sustainability communication channels, and sustainability marketing campaigns. The course is suitable for professionals involved in ESG and sustainability communication within organisations.
Communicating for Influence and Impact
Institution: University of Cambridge
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: £1,540
Description: Just as its name suggests, this course is all about impact communications. The syllabus covers subjects such as the role of communication in shaping society, the secrets of effective storytelling, purpose-driven communication and collaboration for impact. It is well suited for NGO marketers and corporate marketers looking to embrace corporate activism alike.
Sustainable Marketing, Media and Creative
Institution: University of Cambridge
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: £1,540
Description: This course focuses on sustainable marketing, media, and creative strategies. Participants will learn how to develop sustainable marketing campaigns, leverage media channels for sustainability communication, and integrate creative approaches into sustainability initiatives. The course covers topics such as sustainable brand communication, media planning for sustainability, and creative storytelling. It is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in sustainable marketing.
Specialist Diploma in Sustainability Communications
Institution: Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), through accredited study centres
Duration: 6 to 8 months
Cost: tuition fees determined by the chosen study centre (from £1,250 for the whole course) + CIPR registration and assessment fees (£65) + optional CIPR Affiliate or Global Affiliate membership fee (£93-£172)
Description: The Specialist Diploma in Sustainability Communications offered by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is a comprehensive qualification that covers various aspects of sustainability communication. It includes topics such as stakeholder engagement, ethical practices, sustainable reporting, and crisis communication. This course is designed for communication professionals who want to specialise in sustainability communication and gain expertise in driving positive change through effective communication strategies.
Crash course in communicating sustainability
Institution: University of Edinburgh
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: free!
Description: The "Crash Course in Communicating Sustainability" provided by the University of Edinburgh is a short yet intensive program that aims to equip participants with the essential skills to effectively communicate sustainability-related issues. Participants will learn about key sustainability concepts, storytelling techniques, and audience engagement strategies, making it suitable for professionals and students interested in quickly gaining practical communication skills to support sustainability initiatives. And the best part of it is that this pre-recorded course is available for free!
SDG Academy
Did you know that you can study sustainability for free at SDG Academy?
SDG Academy is a UN-powered learning institution aimed at promoting the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through education. The SDGs are integrated with many sustainability frameworks and reporting standards, so this free learning platform is a great start if you want to specialise in sustainability marketing and communications!
You may also find useful: Best books to get started with sustainable marketing
