This course provides students with detailed knowledge of sustainability reporting with a particular focus on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The course begins with an introduction to the structure of the standards and an insight into the standard-setting process. During the course, a comprehensive overview of all applicable standards is provided. In addition, selected standards in the areas of cross-cutting, environment, social and governance will be covered in detail. The course also focuses on developments in sustainability reporting audits. Particular attention is paid to the level of assurance and its impact on the scope and procedures of the audit.

Professional skills:

• Be able to describe and understand the objectives, requirements and basic principles of the ESRS and the IFRS SRS.
• Be able to understand the interrelationship between individual ESRS and between the ESRS and the IFRS SRS.
• Be able to recognize and explain the differences between sector-agnostic and sector- or company-specific disclosures.
• Be able to understand and describe the objective of sustainability reporting audit.
• Be able to understand the legal frameworks and auditing standards in the context of sustainability reporting audit.
• Be able to understand and critically reflect on the key differences between limited and reasonable assurance and the necessary steps for providing a higher assurance-level.

Social and personal skills:

• Be able to collaborate effectively with a team of fellow students to complete in-class exercises.
• Be able to critically reflect and discus challenges and problems of sustainability reporting and assurance and develop potential solutions to these problems, including critical discussions and reflections on such solutions.
• Be able to communicate in the classroom clearly, concisely, and logically.

Skills in scientific work:

• Be able to understand and reflect on the objectives and basic principles of different sustainability reporting frameworks.
• Be able to describe and analyze a defined problem and develop potential solutions, including a critical reflection.
• Be able to apply content analysis to understand main objectives and requirements of sustainability reporting standards.

Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung: 80% minimum.

Throughout the course, classroom exercises and homeworks are used to confront students with “real-life” problems. Additional insights are provided from practitioners through keynote speeches on specific topics.

• In-class exercises and/or homework, individually or in groups (30%) 

• In-class participation (10%) 

• Quiz (20%) 

• Final exam (40%) 

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