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Sustainable Business Governance (Higher Education Short Course)
Sustainability is no longer just about environmental impact; it is increasingly linked to how organisations are governed and how they make ethical decisions. This higher education short course introduces you to the governance of sustainability, helping you understand how responsible business practices shape long-term success. This course is ideal for learners from a wide range of backgrounds, including those with experience in business, engineering, digital technologies, or other fields. It is particularly suited to individuals who are taking on or preparing for responsibility in sustainability or governance, as well as mature learners looking to develop new knowledge or progress their careers.
You don’t need prior expertise—just an interest in how organisations can operate in a more ethical, transparent and sustainable way. Take the Next Step Towards Sustainable Leadership, Whether you are looking to lead sustainability initiatives, strengthen your understanding of governance and ethics, or explore a new professional pathway, this course offers a practical and accessible starting point. With organisations under increasing pressure to act responsibly, now is the perfect time to develop the knowledge and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
This course forms part of the Higher Technical Qualification so you can be assured that the knowledge and skills you will gain are aligned to current industry needs. It also meets the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner occupational standard.
Course Details
Study Mode
Part Time
Start & End
Monday, 26 April 2027 – Friday, 30 July 2027
Day(s) of the week
One ‘live’ 2 hour evening seminar including time for questions, per week. This is currently scheduled for a Wednesday evening.
Duration
13 Weeks
Guided Learning Hours
120 hrs. This includes completing ALO learning activities set by the tutor, tutorials, additional study support, and other group or individual sessions.
Self study hours
120 hrs
Fees
£1500
This course starts by looking at the principles of sustainability management. You will learn about
- The impact of sustainability principles and theories on organisations and communities
- The process required to develop sustainability strategies in organisations
- The role of sustainability practitioners and responsibilities for stakeholder management
- Different ways organisations identify, influence and work collaboratively with sustainability partners.
You will also gain insight into corporate governance and ethics, including:
- The ethical issues and moral dilemmas facing an organisation
- The impact of corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategy on business performance
- The need for businesses to develop a corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategy
- The approaches businesses adopt at a strategic level when managing ethical issues.
Transferable skills are those such as communication, teamwork, research and analysis, which are highly valued in higher education and in the workplace. By the end of the course, you will have sound knowledge of the basic concepts of leadership in relation to sustainability
This course is made up of two units:
Principles of Sustainability Management (15 credits)
The overall aim of this unit is to introduce you to the essential principles of sustainability in business that organisations are increasingly making a priority and adhering to. You will consider the impact of sustainable business on communities, and the steps necessary to develop sustainability strategies within organisations. You will also have the opportunity to investigate in more detail the role of sustainability practitioners, who are responsible for leading projects and working closely with a variety of stakeholders and partners. On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to understand economic theories of sustainable development in organisations and make use of the different tools available to identify sustainable themes/partners for developing relevant strategies. You will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to progress into roles in the sector and/or higher levels of study.
Corporate Governance and Ethics (15 credits)
The aim of the unit is to help you understand corporate governance and ethics and their relationship to organisational operations. The unit examines conceptual ideas of ethics to establish the impact of corporate behaviour and corporate governance on competitive advantage. Using management techniques and conceptual frameworks, you can examine the application of corporate governance and ethics through continuous improvement and benchmarking. This unit will be of interest if you are concerned with management culture and promoting the case for good governance and corporate social responsibility. The unit will help to determine the appropriate management structures to support a corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategy. It supports the case for communicating to all participants the approaches required to manage ethical issues.
This course is delivered online and will consist of weekly ‘live’ (synchronous) 2-hour workshops and seminars delivered through our Online Learning Platform along with learning materials which you will be guided through and able to complete at a time convenient to you.
You will learn through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. By participating in vocational activities, you will develop key behaviours and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, research, and analysis. Plus, you’ll be taught by a friendly, committed, and qualified team of lecturers who have both professional and teaching experience.
Assessment
There are no exams as you will be assessed through a mixture of written assignments, and practice-related coursework. You will also be supported with a wide range of learning resources made available via Activate Learning’s Online Learning Environment (ALO), including access to textbooks, articles, and multimedia content. You will have student access through your Activate Learning IT account to appropriate digital applications.
Support
You will have a range of support made available to you, including academic and pastoral support, learning support and access to additional support funds (if eligible). Please see our Support Pages for further information.
Additional study support
Whether you have a recognised disability, specific learning difficulty, or not, you will be eligible to access additional learning support in all the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- revision and exam tips
- presentation techniques
We consider every application individually as part of our commitment to widening access for learners who may not meet traditional academic entry criteria.
Typical UCAS Tariff
Use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to check how your qualifications translate into tariff points.
Normally, entry requires a minimum of 48 UCAS points from your Level 3 qualifications comprised of either:
- a BTEC Level 3 qualification such as an Extended Diploma in Construction or other relevant subject.
- a GCE A Level profile that demonstrates strong performance in a relevant subject, or satisfactory performance across more than one A Level.
- other related Level 3 qualification.
- an Access to Higher Education Diploma in a relevant subject.
- a T Level in a related subject, at Pass or above, or
- an international equivalent to the above qualifications.
In addition, you should have one of the following:
GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 (C) or above.
Equivalent qualifications, such as Functional Skills Level 2, may also be accepted
Please speak to us if you cannot find your actual qualification certificates.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
We welcome applications from people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
If you do not meet the formal entry requirements above but have relevant work experience, training, or alternative qualifications, you may still be eligible to apply through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
This process allows us to recognise the learning you have gained through professional practice, previous study, or other experiences when we assess your RPL application.
If you need any further advice or guidance, please see our ‘How to Apply for a Higher Education Course’, or send an enquiry through our Contact Us page.
Admissions Information
Our Admissions Policy outlines our commitment and responsibilities to applicants, while the Admissions Procedure for Higher Education explains the application and enrolment process.
All applicants are also encouraged to read our Higher Education Terms and Conditions, which provide important information and reference the relevant policies and procedures that apply to applicants and enrolled students. These can be found at the bottom of our Higher Education Policies page.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
We welcome applications from people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
If you do not meet the formal entry requirements above but have relevant work experience, training, or alternative qualifications, you may still be eligible to apply through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
This process allows us to recognise the learning you have gained through professional practice, previous study, or other experiences when we assess your RPL application.
If you need any further advice or guidance, please see our How to Apply for a Higher Education Course, or send an enquiry through our Contact Us page.
Admissions Information
Our Admissions Policy outlines our commitment and responsibilities to applicants, while the Admissions Procedure for Higher Education explains the application and enrolment process.
All applicants are also encouraged to read our Higher Education Terms and Conditions, which provide important information and reference the relevant policies and procedures that apply to applicants and enrolled students. These can be found at the bottom of our Higher Education Policies page.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be perfectly positioned to further your learning by moving on to study either another short course or the full Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Sustainable Business Management for England qualifications
Career opportunities could include Teaching, Research and development, corporate social responsibility officer, environmental social governance officer and responsible business officer. to name a few.
On successful completion, you will receive a Certificate of Unit Completion awarded by Pearson.
£1,500 per year home/EU students.
International students for study in the UK, not accepted
Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
*Fee information for European Union (EU) students: If your course starts on or after the 1st August 2021, you will no longer be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:
you are able to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreements
you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under Common Travel Area guidance arrangement will continue
Additional costs include:
You will need access to a laptop or PC for your course along with an internet connection
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read these important documents before applying for this course.