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Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management

Graduate Diploma
(Postgraduate)

To impart knowledge on the key environmental, social, and governance issues affecting businesses and to develop the critical skills that are needed for a rewarding and impactful career in sustainability management.

Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management


Overview


Businesses today are inundated with mounting pressures from environmental and social forces, ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to consumer rights violations and socially unacceptable labour practices. On the one hand, businesses have to manage both physical and transition risks associated with climate change, while balancing the often-conflicting demands of its stakeholders and economic profits. On the other hand, businesses that have the strategic foresight to avail themselves of the new opportunities in the green economy while creating shared value for society will find themselves to be competitively advantaged to those with a sole focus on an economic bottom line.

The Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management (GDESG) programme is designed with the key consideration that sustainable businesses will require its employees to have knowledge and skills that transcend functional and sectoral boundaries. The core courses in the programme offer broad-based coverage on the important trends and developments in the sustainability landscape, while providing practical tools and useful strategies to advance an organisation in its sustainability journey. The elective courses allow learners to acquire functional- or sectoral-specific skills and knowledge to cater to their unique interests and work demand.

Unique Features of the Programme

  • Stackability: Learners can learn at a pace comfortable to them, and progress from the more general Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Management, to the more specialised Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management, and even onwards to a Master of Management or Master of Social Sciences
  • Industry-aligned: Course content is curated based on the latest industry developments and aligned to important industry standards in order to ensure their continued relevance in addressing pressing sustainability issues faced by enterprises
  • Industry-cocreated: Courses are developed in collaboration and consultation with industry partners (e.g., BCA Academy), who will also provide the practitioner perspectives through guest lectures and co-teaching models for select courses





Admission Requirements

Refer to general admission criteria for graduate programmes.

This programme is currently unable to take in international students, i.e., you must be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or a resident in Singapore (e.g., Employment Pass holder) in order to apply for admission.

Financial Assistance

The University offers course fee concession for selected graduate programmes. Please click here for more details.

Programme Structure

To graduate with the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management, students are required to complete 30 credit units (cu) of courses.

ProgStruc_GDESG

The Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management programme is suitable for:

  • Senior managers who are championing net zero mandates for their organisations;
  • Mid-career professionals whose portfolios have expanded to include sustainable development;
  • Fresh graduates who are looking to develop a career in sustainability management;
  • Consultants and auditors with fresh responsibilities to advise and help organisations in sustainability transformation, reporting and compliance; and
  • Small business owners who would like to understand the implications of climate change for their businesses.

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management programme can look forward to a broad range of career opportunities. These include positions within:

  • Sustainability offices of companies that are looking to reduce their carbon footprint;
  • Functions that are relevant for sustainable development such as reporting, compliance, risk management, and procurement;
  • Sectors that are impacted by climate change that are integral to Singapore’s economy such as financial services and real estate;
  • Actors in the broader sustainability ecosystem such as consultants, auditors, and regulatory bodies.

  1. How many intake(s) are there in a year for the Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management (GDESG)?
    There are two intakes per year, taking place in January and July.

  2. How long does it take to complete the GDESG?
    The GDESG can be completed in one year, with a maximum candidature period of two years.

  3. Can taking the GDESG help me progress towards a Master degree?
    While we do not currently offer a dedicated Master in Sustainability Management programme, you can advance towards the Master of Management or Master of Social Sciences programme if you complete the GDESG with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

  4. When and how are the lessons conducted?
    Classes are generally conducted face-to-face on weekday evenings from 7 pm to 10 pm and on Saturdays.

  5. What happens if I do not complete the graduate programmes (e.g. Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master) within the candidature period? Can I apply to take the remaining courses via CET pathway?
    Students who have not completed their graduate programmes within the stipulated candidature period will not be eligible for the award of the qualification for such graduate programmes. Such students however may apply to take, via the CET pathway, the remaining courses which they did not complete under their graduate programmes as part of their personal learning and development. Such application will be subjected to the CET admission requirement. However, as such students have exceeded the candidature period for their graduate programmes, they will not be awarded the qualification for such graduate programmes even after taking and completing the remaining courses via the CET pathway (“Condition”).

    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE, IS ONE OF THE COURSES UNDER A GRADUATE PROGRAMME. THEREFORE, APPLICANTS FOR THIS COURSE ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING CONDITION. BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS COURSE, THE APPLICANT AGREES TO BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING CONDITION.
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