New university certificate in sustainability auditing starts in May
2024-12-09 Since 2017, around 500 capital-market-oriented companies and banks in Germany have been required to prepare a so-called ‘non-financial statement’. Due to the new EU CSRD directive, around 14,000 companies will be added from 2025. All sustainability reports must be audited. The part-time university certificate at the Leuphana Professional School prepares auditors, internal auditors and other people interested in auditing for the new challenges.
‘Sustainability reporting is a huge and dynamic field,’ explains Professor Dr Patrick Velte. The professor of business administration, specialising in accounting, auditing and corporate governance, has been conducting research in sustainability reporting for many years: “We offer scientifically based further training with integrated practice partners.” Lawyers, software developers and auditors guide participants through the 18-week certificate course. ‘There is an enormous demand for experts in the field of sustainability auditing. With this training, auditing firms can set themselves apart from competitors in the market,’ explains Patrick Velte.
The part-time programme is aimed at auditors, but also at internal auditors and other key personnel who want to develop basic knowledge in sustainability auditing. ‘Sustainability auditing is not a mandatory part of the traditional auditing exam,’ criticises Patrick Velte.
In three modules, students acquire in-depth knowledge of sustainability reporting in accordance with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), sustainability analysis and due diligence, and auditing of sustainability information. In addition, AI-driven computer programmes are presented that can be used to automate complex sustainability reporting and reduce human error.
Participants complete the programme online, except for a few attendance periods.
The application deadline is 31 January 2025.