UCD
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I know, let’s sign upI have an account, let me sign in firstThe Professional Diploma in Sustainable Finance for Governance, Risk and Compliance Professionals is the first programme of its kind globally and is the result of an enterprise-driven collaboration between Compliance Institute, Sustainable Finance Skillnet (SFS) and IFS Skillnet. The Diploma forms part of the continuing effort to address the talent gap in sustainable finance and build Ireland’s capacity as a global leader in sustainable finance.
UCD
Who is this programme for?
Compliance professionals or those entering compliance roles
Those seeking to up-skill and/or evolve their knowledge in sustainability and/or compliance
This programme qualifies for 30% funding through Sustainable Finance Skillnet and IFS Skillnet.
Sustainable Finance Skillnet and IFS Skillnet will contact you to see if you are eligible for funding.
If you do not want to be contacted regarding eligibility for funding, please contact us directly at [email protected]
Full Programme Fees: €2,040
Fees for Sustainable Finance Skillnet - IFS Skillnet Funded Place: €1,428
At the end of the programme graduates will be able to:
Explain to peers, customers, and other key stakeholders the relevance of sustainability to the economy, business and the financial sector, and the role of financial services within the sustainability agenda;
Identify the key current and emerging issues and drivers from a sustainable finance and regulatory perspective in particular the EU Taxonomy, SFDR and mandatory and voluntary sustainable finance and standards;
Explain to peers and the Board, corporate sustainability reporting and sustainable finance disclosure requirements;
Analyse the role of culture and ethics in a sustainable finance compliance framework and advocate for the sustainability agenda within their organisation;
Recognise the regulatory requirements on sustainability factors and risks relevant to the FS sector and organisation in which they work and assess the impact on how the organisation manages sustainable finance compliance risk;
Establish compliance frameworks to translate the mandatory rules, regulations and policy into operational requirements and the tools to assess sustainable compliance risks and monitor and report on them;
Communicate effectively key sustainable finance messages to all stakeholders, internal and external;
Equip themselves with resources and market information to be alert for and stay up to date with sustainable finance developments.
Modules will be delivered using a blended model which combines online webinars and in person delivery.
The programme fee is €680 per module.
Modules are assessed using a combination of group and individual assessment. Group assessments seek to use case studies as not only a form of assessment, but to develop a community of practice. The individual assessments will focus on the application of the knowledge within the individual’s organisation.
IOB programmes are largely delivered and assessed online. Students should ensure they have appropriate equipment (laptop), and that appropriate software (including MSOffice: Office and Word) is available to them to participate in the programme and related assessments (continuous assessments and exams).
When you successfully complete this programme, you will be awarded a Professional Diploma in Sustainable Finance for Governance, Risk and Compliance Professionals from UCD.
This is a level 8 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifiations.
The Professional Education Framework is a flexible education pathway that provides learning and development opportunities wherever you are in your career. You can access the framework at any step to take specialist qualifications depending on your career and learning need. Please click here to view the 2024/25 portfolio of programmes.
For more information, please click on the 'Express an interest' button in the top right hand cormer.
Spring Trimester 2025 - (Assessment in May 2025)
4 February 2025
24 January 2025
This programme enrols twice a year. To see other enrolment dates in the 2024-25 academic year, please click on Key Dates.
For more information please contact the Programme Manager, Deirdre Hendrick at [email protected]
The Professional Diploma in Sustainable Finance for Governance, Risk and Compliance Professionals comprises of three modules. Each module carries 10 ECTS academic credits:
At the end of this module, you will understand:
• What is sustainability and what does it mean for the economy, business and the financial sector;
• ESG origins and evolution - you will gain knowledge of macro level sustainability issues for the economy, business and the financial sector. Examine the relevance of corporate purpose and how compliance, culture and ethics can align to support the sustainability strategy within a financial services organisation;
• Sustainable Finance - what and why? The evolution of sustainable finance and ESG. Review the key stakeholder groups driving the sustainable finance agenda globally, why they are doing so and what specifically they are doing;
• Climate change and climate-related financial risk and opportunity;
• Promoting a culture of compliance; are individual accountability regimes and controlled functions aligned with supporting the sustainability strategy in financial services?;
• Ethics, compliance and corporate culture in financial services;
• Corporate purpose (in the context of financial services firms) and corporate sustainability strategy;
• Primer on financial services regulatory and supervisory landscape (Ireland, EU, UK & US also international influences e.g. IOSCO, FSB, NGFS);
• Sustainable Finance in action across financial sectors (i.e. what does ESG mean at the level of a bank, an asset manager, insurance firm, an investment fund, pension etc).
At the end of this module, you will understand:
• What is sustainability and what does it mean for the economy, business and the financial sector;
• ESG origins and evolution - you will gain knowledge of macro level sustainability issues for the economy, business and the financial sector. Examine the relevance of corporate purpose and how compliance, culture and ethics can align to support the sustainability strategy within a financial services organisation;
• Sustainable Finance - what and why? The evolution of sustainable finance and ESG. Review the key stakeholder groups driving the sustainable finance agenda globally, why they are doing so and what specifically they are doing;
• Climate change and climate-related financial risk and opportunity;
• Promoting a culture of compliance; are individual accountability regimes and controlled functions aligned with supporting the sustainability strategy in financial services?;
• Ethics, compliance and corporate culture in financial services;
• Corporate purpose (in the context of financial services firms) and corporate sustainability strategy;
• Primer on financial services regulatory and supervisory landscape (Ireland, EU, UK & US also international influences e.g. IOSCO, FSB, NGFS);
• Sustainable Finance in action across financial sectors (i.e. what does ESG mean at the level of a bank, an asset manager, insurance firm, an investment fund, pension etc).
At the end of this module, you will understand:
• How ESG factors may translate into financial risks that may impact financial institutions individually and the financial system as a whole; How sustainability objectives may be integrated as part of financial products and services;
• The portfolio alignment method; risk framework method; exposure method; impact measurement; comparison of methods and their application;
• Structured frameworks and approaches to integrate ESG and climate risks and opportunities across a financial services organisation’s governance arrangements, strategy and business model, risk management framework and ESG reporting/disclosure processes;
• ESG investment approaches, from ESG integration into investment funds to sustainability-themed/impact investment. The voluntary Principles of Responsible Investment, including reporting obligations;
• SFDR case studies - Evolving practice around the integration of sustainability preferences into investment advice (implications of MIFID II amendments);
• ESG governance, risk management, monitoring and reporting in an investment environment. Overview of evolving compliance toolkits and supervisory expectations for asset managers and investment advisers;
• Why and how sustainable finance and banking is relevant to all teams across leadership, risk and legal, client facing across retail and corporate, communications & HR, and general services;
• ESG integration requirements into credit decisions and monitoring (EBA Guidelines on Loan Origination and Monitoring). Overview of new green finance products, including green loans, sustainability-linked loans, green bonds, sustainability-linked bonds etc;
• ESG governance, risk management and reporting in a banking environment. Overview of evolving compliance toolkits and supervisory expectations for banks, including from the EBA and the ECB. Update on the introduction of a green supporting factor in prudential rules;
• ESG governance, risk management and reporting in an insurance environment. Overview of evolving compliance toolkits and supervisory expectations for insurance companies;
• How to become an effective change agent, overcome barriers to change and obtain support and buy-in upstream and downstream in the organisation to secure compliance deliverables.
Graduates who complete the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Finance for Governance, Risk and Compliance Professionals will be invited by Compliance Institute to take up a professional designation.
Level 7 and 8 Key Dates 2024/25
Spring Trimester 2025 - (Assessment in May 2025)
4 February 2025
24 January 2025
Students seeking admission to the Professional Diploma in Sustainable Finance for Governance, Risk and Compliance Professionals should:
Possess an Honours degree (Second class Honours Grade 2 award or higher) and experience in financial services or professional advisory;
OR
Have at least 3 years’ experience in financial services or professional advisory and completed a 30 ECTS Special Purpose Award (SPA) or awards (at level 7);
OR
Exceptionally, students without a third level qualification but with extensive and demonstrable relevant financial services experience may also be admitted to the programme on a case-by case basis.
You must be a current member of Compliance Institute or IOB to apply for this programme.
For more information on the membership fee and the benefits of being an IOB member, please click here.
Note: You must be a member of Compliance Institute to attain and hold the designation.
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