The Diploma in Advanced Sustainability enables participants to comprehend and respond to global challenges from the perspective of business as a force for good.
Executive Education in Business Sustainability
The Diploma in Advanced Sustainability (DAS) program has been created in 2011 and has been jointly directed by Thomas Dyllick and Katrin Muff ever since. Both are confirmed thought leaders in the space of business sustainability and responsibility and how to develop powerful educational spaces for creating change agents able to create and transform organizations to enhance their positive impact for the world. They have founded the Institute for Business Sustainability.
The 10-months, part-time executive program includes subject knowledge in the field of sustainable business, leading change and project management experience. The program is endorsed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and by the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein. Participants who have successfully completed the program are awarded a Diploma (DAS) in Advanced Sustainability by the independent Institute for Business Sustainability.
We also propose a lighter Certificate option which starts every January and completes in October each year: our Certificate in Business Sustainability (CAS), which includes 6 modules and a personal study project in positive impact. It is designed for seasoned changemakers and sustainability professionals looking to round off their experience with targeted modules and a project to clarify their personal impact journey. It is open for participants who are interested to join us from further away and/or are looking for an online participation.
Discover below all the information concerning the two programs. If you need more information, do not hesitate to contact us.
Start & duration
Program Overview
Start & duration
Certificate in Business Sustainability
Diploma in Advanced Sustainability
Every September; pre-course work starts in early-September and the first course module in late September.
The program lasts 10-months part-time, consisting of 13 modules of 2-days, taught in 7 sessions of 2 days and 3 sessions of 4 days.
Every January; pre-course work starts in December and the first module in mid January.
The program lasts 10-month part-time, consisting of 6 modules of 2-days, taught in 6 sessions and an independent project.
Study time & location
The program entails 13 modules with 15.5 hours in-class and 10 modules with 20 hours of individual pre- and post-course work. Plus 250 hours for the consulting project.
Total workload: 620 hours.
The modules take place across Switzerland in inspiring places.
The program entails 6 modules with 17 hours in-class and 23 hours of individual pre- and post-course work. Plus 100 hours for the consulting project.
Total workload: 340 hours.
Either on location around Switzerland or online: we welcome participants from Switzerland and around the world.
Degree & credits
Diploma of Advanced Studies
The Diploma represents 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
Certificate in Advanced Studies
The Certificate represents 15 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
Program fee
The program costs CHF 18'000
Course material, location expenses and lunches are included.
Individual travel expenses to the locations, overnight stay and dinners are not included.
No scholarships or discounts available.
The program costs CHF 9'000
Course material, location expenses and lunches are included.
Individual travel expenses to the locations, overnight stay and dinners are not included.
No scholarships or discounts available.
Study time & location
Degree & credits
Program fee
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
Learning Perspectives
Rather than looking at sustainability from the business perspective alone, the program approaches sustainability from three different perspectives:
Learning Dimensions
The competencies of participants are developed in three different domains, which the program integrates with the different learning
perspectives.
* In the CAS, the leading change skills and the project experience are combined in a personal impact project that a participant works on independently with support from our leadership coaches.
Foundations in trandisciplinary research
The education provided during the Degrees in Advanced Sustainability is based on research to continuously advance the latest thinking on sustainability and transformational practices. Another goal of the Institute for Business Sustainability and one of the objective of the programs is to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The concrete tools below allow to do so and are part of the courses material.
A typology to orient businesses in their sustainability journey, offering a roadmap for business to become a force for good.
A framework that translates the SGDs into key measures for nations and regions, outlining the gap of where we are today versus where we need to be so that all of us can live well on our planet.
A book providing a building blocks, tools and insights to solve wicked problems through co-creation.
An online assessment, which generates a responsible leader profile around five competencies and three domains of action.
The Faculty
The program provides cross-cultural and cross-sectorial practical experiences, guided by a recognized and committed faculty from reputed business schools around Europe as well as from thought-leaders, experts and facilitators from business, start-ups, and non-governmental organizations.
Some of the professionals teaching during the DAS and CAS are presented below
Do you want to know more about the programs, the Institute or our projects?