Educational resources for financial professionals

In support of the work of the Central Bank Climate Risk and Sustainable Finance Forum, the Capacity Building Working Group has compiled a comprehensive list of courses to aid financial sector professionals in understanding climate-related financial risks and sustainable finance practices.

Kevin Thompson, CEO Intact Ireland, Former Co-Chair: The Sustainability Working Group was established to build awareness within the financial service sector regarding climate change and to help build capacity to meet the challenges presented by climate change.

Aedin O'Leary, Boards, Asset Management & Funds: Well, I think sustainable finance is fundamentally changing the way investment decisions are made today. And in today's world, investment teams, advisors, and boards need to know more about the landscape in which they're operating around sustainable investment and understanding ESG risks and opportunities.

Diarmuid Murphy, Institute of Bankers:Capital is definitely needed in terms of financing the transition, but it's also the skills, competencies, and the judgment to apply that capital to financing the transition.

Anne McGlynn, Insurance Institute: ESG literacy is so important. Just recently, the ECB published a report that shows that climate change has already impacted on global GDP by 20%. So it's imperative for us that are working in financial services that we understand that impact.

Diarmuid Murphy, Institute of Bankers:IOB supports professionals and boards in terms of their lifelong learning, and this is something that's facilitated by IOB-supported skills framework.

Aidan Flynn, Insurance Ireland: We really want to encourage all within the financial sector to get involved, build capacity, build more sustainability and climate risk training, because we all must play our part.

Anne McGlynn, Insurance Institute: So it's perfect timing that we have this new resource, this inventory of programs and qualifications, which is hosted on the Central Bank website, so that we can upskill our members in this really critical area of climate change.

Elizabeth SmithWright, Brokers Ireland:We believe continued investment in education is crucial for our brokers and their employees. It ensures that they remain competent and confident in advising their customers in relation to sustainability.

David Delaney Sustainability Professional:ESG studies have been very beneficial to me in my career in asset management in terms of setting up our risk frameworks to ensure proper implementation of regulatory requirements, meeting ESG requirements on a day-to-day basis, communicating expectations across the business and to our investors in an informed way.

Tracey Mullin Ryan, Sustainability Professional: It can be challenging to find courses within the ESG space, and it would've been very helpful to have an inventory of ESG courses available to me.

Whether you are building foundational knowledge or advancing your expertise, these resources offer a range of flexible learning options to suit financial professionals who would like to build their skills in this critical area of our financial system.

In Person

Course / Programme Name Provider Duration Qualification
MSc in Sustainable Finance UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Full-time 12 months / part-time up to 24 months Level 9 MSc
Executive Education: Leading & Implementing Sustainable Finance Trinity Business School (TCD) 9 months part-time, typically delivered over 1.5 days per month from October to June Postgraduate Certificate

Blended Learning

Course / Programme NameProviderDurationQualification
Professional Diploma in Sustainable Finance for GRC Professionals  IOB/Compliance Institute 3 trimestersLevel 8  Professional Diploma
Postgraduate Certificate in Financial Management and SustainabilityLIAJan-MayCertificate from ATU Sligo
Master of Business in Financial Planning and SustainabilityLIAJan-MayLevel 9 Post Grad
MSc International Sustainable BusinessCork University Business School, UCC1 Year full-time; 2 years part-timeLevel 9 MSc (Postgraduate Diploma)
MSc / Postgrad Diploma in Sustainable Financial Technology & InnovationMaynooth University1 year part-timeMSc or Postgrad Diploma in Sustainable Finance Technology & Innovation

Online

Course / Programme NameProviderDurationQualification
Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Transformational Leadership IOB3 trimestersLevel 9  Graduate Diploma
Professional Diploma in ESG and Sustainable Finance LeadershipIOB3 trimestersLevel 9  Professional Diploma
Professional Certificate in ESG in Financial ServicesIOB1 trimesterLevel 7 Professional Certificate
Certificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk & ReportingChartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)8 weeksCertificate in Sustainability Strategy, Risk and Reporting
Diploma in Sustainability Reporting & AssuranceChartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)6 monthsDiploma in Sustainability Reporting & Assurance
Certificate in Climate Risk For Financial Services ProfessionalsInsurance Institute of Ireland14 weeksLevel 7 Certificate in Climate Risk
Sustainability & Climate Risk (SCR®) CertificateGARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals)100+ hours of study - can take 3 to 4 monthsProfessional Cert - SCR
Sustainable Finance & ESG Micro‑credentialsFunds Academy / Partner HEIs20-24 hours lecturesLevel 7
Diploma in Auditing & Assuring Sustainability Reporting 6 monthsDiploma in Auditing & Assuring Sustainability Reporting
PRI Academy (Responsible Investment / Climate Risk modules)PRI Academy (UN PRI)Ranges from 1 hour - 15 hoursProfessional training certificates
ICAEW Sustainability Certificate & AcceleratorICAEW (UK)84 hoursSustainability learning excellence badge from ICAEW
Micro Credential in Climate Risk & Climate InvestingMaynooth University10 weeksLevel 9 Micro Credential
Creating Value with ESG - Micro credentialTrinity College Dublin6 weeksLevel 9 Micro Credential
Sustainable Finance  - Micro CredentialLIA12 weeksMicro Credential
Certificate in Climate RiskInsurance Institute of Ireland in conjunction with IFS Skillnet14 weeksLevel 7 Certificate in Climate Risk
Sustainability Regulatory Reporting (short course)Compliance Institute4 weeks
Environmental & Social Risk Analysis (ESRA) Online CourseUnited Nations EP FI3 weeks
Climate Change: Risk Management in the Banking Sector Online CourseUnited Nations EP FI3 weeks
Sustainability Leaders ProgrammeSkillnet Climate Ready Academy8 weeks
Climate Risk for investors (training for leadership, boards and senior management)PRI Academy (UN PRI)2 hoursCertification of Completion
Responsible Investment (training for leadership, boards and senior management)PRI Academy (UN PRI)1.5 hoursCertification of Completion
Certified ESG Analyst ProgramEFFASOnline self-learning c.2-4 monthsProfessional designation
Certified Climate Risk Analyst ProgramEFFASOnline self-learning c.6 monthsProfessional designation
EFFAS ESG EssentialsEFFASOnline self-learning c.20 Hours of studyProfessional designation
Business Sustainability ManagementCambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)8 weeksCertificate of completion
Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB) Online Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)Part 1: 8 weeks
Part 2: 10 months
Postgraduate Certificate, equivalent to 1/3 of a Master’s degree
Sustainability Leadership Executive ProgrammeCambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) 27 weeksCertificate of completion
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Self-paced sustainability courses designed for business leaders and professionalsCambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) self-pacedCertificate of completion
Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative FutureImperial College London12 weeksCertificate of completion
Sustainable Investing CertificateCFA Institute100+ hours of study - can take 3 to 4 monthsSustainable Investing Certificate
Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing CertificateCFA Institute100+ hours of study - can take 3 to 4 monthsSustainable Investing Certificate

 


About This List

This list has been compiled by members of the Capacity Building Working Group in collaboration with key education providers. Requests for additions or amendments to the listing should be submitted to [email protected].

Disclaimer

Centralbank.ie provides a list of third-party courses for informational purposes only.

Central Bank of Ireland is not the provider of these courses and does not endorse, warrant, or make any representations regarding the quality, accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided, or the courses themselves. Course content, availability, and other details may be subject to change without notice.

Any decision to enrol in or engage with a course is made at the users own discretion and constitutes a direct arrangement solely between the user and the relevant course provider. Central Bank of Ireland accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising in connection with the use of this information or participation in any course.