MSc Sustainability programme highlights
KEDGE's Research Centre for Sustainability conducts interdisciplinary research into the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of organisations at different levels of analysis. With 24 academics and 6 PhD students, it is one of the largest European research and higher education centre dedicated to corporate sustainability.
The Research Centre is a catalyst for sustainable business practices and works towards a better and more sustainable world.
The MSc degree builds on its expertise and know-how and passes it on to the students throughout their course. Such anchoring allows students to participate in international seminars, conferences, and workshops on sustainable and environmental development challenges.
As part of the MSc programme, students are immersed in an ecosystem and exposed to multiple testimonials. They have the opportunity to undertake research projects, company visits, climate murals and experiential workshops. Real company challenges create the opportunity for students to apply sustainability notions and go through a first-hand sustainability transformation experience. This valuable experience enhances their career prsopects and prepares them for leadership roles in the international sustainability sector.
Transformation is also encountered during the sustainability factories, in which students engage in a personal and organisational journey. By enhancing complex thinking capabilities for problem solving, sustainability factories allow for better problem framing, application of knowledge, acceleration of ideas, co-construction of solutions and presentation of sustainable value propositions for a better world.
Collaboration with key players from the civil world such as NGOs and regulators is key to successful business transformation. To ensure a thorough understanding of the potential of such cross-sector collaboration, students engage in an NGO mission with a specific assignment. The real-life experience in non-business sector organisations activates students' understanding of the contributions that such players can make towards sustainability transformation. Skills acquired during the NGO project are a differentiating element for employability. During the programme, students are supported in the transferability process of such skills in their career-building process.
Mehdi Dahmani, Fnac retail director welcomed a group of MSc Business Transformation for Sustainability students in 2023 to work on Darty's sustainability and repairability issues with great success.
The MSc course promotes personal transformation for organisational transformation by embracing complex thinking. Personal transformation for sustainability involves an individual's conscious effort to change their:
- attitudes
- beliefs
- behaviours
- lifestyle choices
in ways that promote environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This transformation is deeply rooted in the recognition of the interconnectedness between personal actions and their impacts on the planet and society.
Students are immersed in an ongoing process that requires continuous learning, self-reflection, and adaptation. It involves staying informed about emerging sustainability trends and solutions, reflecting on one's progress and challenges, and being open to evolving perspectives and practices.
Complex thinking for sustainability, anchored in Edgar Morin's approach, emphasises a holistic understanding of the interconnected and interdependent nature of sustainability challenges. Incorporating Morin's principles into our curriculum empowers students to navigate the complexities of real-worl sustainability problems with agility and creativity.
- All courses are conducted in English, being widely regarded as the international language of academia and business.
- Course materials, such as business simulations and case studies, delve into global issues, offering a comprehensive view of sustainability challenges worldwide. This curriculum is pivotal in equipping aspiring leaders and professionals to confront urgent global issues.
- Students, both international and domestic engage with international speakers and professors, fostering a dynamic multicultural environment both on campus and during internships. This exposure not only enhances their academic experience but also fosters a profound comprehension of global sustainability challenges and the collaborative approaches essential for their resolution.
Core values such as inclusiveness are central to the curriculum as well as to the school's vision. Among the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, some are directly related to inclusivity. At KEDGE, inclusivity means fighting all forms of discrimination such as:
- gender
- sexual orientation
- religion
- geographical and social origine
- disability
- territory (rural versus urban for example).
Supporting inclusivity also implies taking actions both internally (students, employees and professors) and externally, by considering its entire ecosystem in its territories. This commitment to inclusivity is integrated into various aspects of the academic programme, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed and supported throughout their master's degree.
The programme approach perfectly captures the school's culture of sustainable development through several initiatives. The Green Plan is the reference of "Sustainability Development" in French superior education. It is both a self-diagnosis guide and a dashboard, as well as a strategic guide for the actions of the institutions. Key components of the Green plan may include: environmental management, social responsibility, sustainable curriculum, campus sustainability, stakeholder engagement.
For over a decade, the school has diligently pursued the advancement of its sustainable development strategy, in line with the six principles (purpose, values, method, research, partnership, dialogue) for managing responsible education supported by the United Nations (UN PRME).
Key skills developed in the Sustainability Management programme
Every one of the 5 modules within the course is tailored to centre around sustainabilities principles. By immersing themselves in this focused educational environment, students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become adept stewards of our planet's future.
- Sustainability Factories
- Fundamentals of Sustainability Transformation
- Collaboration for Transformation
- Change Management for Sustainability
- Sustainability Management & Tools
This highly comprehensive learning empowers graduates to orchestrate resources across corporate boundaries, and to successfully manage organisations in dynamic and changing social environments. The programme also provides them with the mindset that makes the difference between the past and the future: a mindset of sustainable collaboration.
Students are exposed to a variety of stakeholders and gain a comprehensive understanding of specific new tools for leading business transformation in a dedicated module:
- Circular economy
- Sustainability research methods
- Responding to climate change
- Sustainable finance
- Reporting for sustainability
Circular Economy Collage
This 3-hour collaborative workshop examines our current economic model, highlights its impacts and explores a different model using fewer resources, designs out waste and respects the planet's limits. Participants are working in small groups with the help of a set of cards and brainstorm ideas to shift away from our economy towards a more sustainable and circular model.
The workshop provides a structured and collaborative environment for exploring the transition to a more sustainable and circular economic model, empowering participants to envision, apply and contribute to positive change.
Our sustainable studies module provides students with hands-on experience and real-world projects that address global environmental and social challenges. Throughout the course, students work on collaborative projects with industry partners including an in-company internship as well as an NGO mission to make a tangible impact on sustainable development.
- Company: Throughout the internship, students actively participate in projects and initiatives aimed at advancing sustainability goals within the company. They apply theoretical knowledge gained from their academic studies to real-world scenarios, gaining practical skills and insights into sustainable business practices. During the company internship, students undergo a comprehensive 4-month training programme aimed at practicing value creation across four dimensions: value creation, stakeholder relations, steering, operational management and the transformation process.
- NGO: During the NGO mission, students collaborate with an NGO working on sustainability-related initiatives, such as environmental conservation, social justice, or community development. They contribute their skills and knowledge to support the organisation's mission, gaining hands-on experience in addressing real-world sustainability challenges.
Why study for an MSc Business Transformation for Sustainability at KEDGE?
The MSc in sustainability at KEDGE will indeed open various career opportunities, especially in the growing field of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. It prepares the students to be a catalyst for change for sustainability. It plays a crucial role in initiating, driving, or accelerating positive environmental, social, and economic transformations towards more sustainable practices and systems within organisations. As a catalyst, graduates will learn to inspire, motivate, and facilitate progress towards sustainability goals.
Professional opportunities after an MSc in sustainability
The MSc Business Transformation for Sustainability course delivered at KEDGE prepares students for careers in management, as much as cross-functional positions.
Careers in Management
Opportunities in careers in sustainability at the executive level are opening in order to drive sustainability initiatives and integrating sustainable practices into organisational strategies. These high-level roles in sustainability play a critical role in shaping organisational strategies, fostering innovation, and driving positive social and environmental outcomes. They require strong leadership, strategic vision, and interdisciplinary expertise to navigate complex sustainability challenges and opportunities in today's business landscape.
Cross-functional positions
There are opening opportunities for careers in sustainability that focus on creating relationships between departments and roles within an organisation are essential for integrating sustainability principles across all aspects of operations. These roles often involve collaboration, communication, and coordination to ensure that sustainability goals are effectively implemented and embedded within organisational structures. These careers in sustainability play a critical role in fostering relationships between departments and roles within an organisation, facilitating collaboration, and driving collective action towards sustainability goals. They require strong interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate complex organisational dynamics to effectively integrate sustainability across all levels of the organisation.
The MSc prepares students with a wide range of career opportunities in sustainability in many different sectors.
Positive impact jobs are gaining traction, enabling employees to give meaning to their work through social and environmental dedication. Such roles are becoming indispensable for organisations aiming to thrive in their ecological transition endeavours. Some are emerging, while others have been well-established in the landscape for several years, or even decades, but are currently undergoing transformation.
- Careers in product development & sales
- Careers in marketing & communication
- Consulting professions
For more information on career opportunities.
Curriculum and coursework
The curriculum consists of 5 distinct modules, starting with "Sustainability Factories" module and proceeding with "Fundamentals of Sustainability Transformation," "Collaboration for Transformation," "Change Management for Sustainability," and "Sustainability Management & Tools." This holistic educational approach equips students with the ability to coordinate resources across organisational borders and effectively lead organisations amidst evolving societal landscapes.
In addition, the programme offers students invaluable practical experience and research opportunities. These include internships and industry placements in France or abroad, collaborative projects with corporate partners, research methodologies within the field, a two-month NGO mission and engaging company challenges.
Academic requirements and application process
Eligibility criteria for the Master in Sustainability
To apply for the course, prospective students must meet the academic requirements, including relevant undergraduate studies and a strong command of the English language.
- Students with a 3-year university degree or a diploma equivalent to 240 ECTS credits for the long track MSc.
- Students who hold a 4-year university degree or a diploma equivalent to 180 ECTS credits for the short track MSc.
- Language requirement: English proficiency level (TOEIC (785)/ TOEFL IBT 79/ IELTS (6)/Cambridge First (B2)/ Cambridge Advanced (C1)/ Duolingo 105/ PTE 46). Native English speakers or applicants with at least one year of work experience in an English-speaking country are exempt from this requirement.
For detailed information on admissions requirements, and fees, please visit the relevant pages.
To apply for the Master in Sustainability programme
Online application on join.kedge.edu
Join us in shaping a more sustainable future through academic excellence and real-worl application.