Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability
Make Your Career Your Calling
The Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability is a post-graduateprogram that aligns your career with your values and purpose. This blended program provides learners with academic knowledge and practical tools to lead meaningful change in sustainability, ESG and social impact. Earn a recognized credential while advancing or transitioning your career—and become a force for good in your organization and community.
Watch a video about advancing your career through the Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability.
Watch a videoabout the philosophy of the SR&S program.
Format and Delivery
Designed for working professionals, this program can be completed in 16 months or take up to three years to graduate. You will participate in three in-person sessions, live web lectures with subject matter experts, valuable peer collaborations, and a “hands-on” practical, Mentored Capstone Project. This one-of-a-kind, flexible program is specifically designed to ensure that you can work full-time while earning your diploma.
In-Person: 3 days in mid-October, 5-days in early May, 3-days in mid-November at St. Michael’s College on the University of Toronto’s downtown campus
On-line Self-Directed Learning: Start: July, 2026 completed by November, 2027 on our Learning Management System, fully mobile-friendly so you can learn anywhere, anytime.
On-line Synchronous Lectures: ZOOM lectures every 2 weeks at 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET. Recorded if you cannot attend.
Mentorship: A minimum of monthly Mentor meeting virtual or in person. Mentorship runs September 2026 through September 2027.
What to expect during the three modules of the program
Embedding Project Tools – Embedding Sustainability in Organizations
Companies as Catalysts for Community Engagement through Volunteer Programs
Understanding our worldviews and implications for a better future
Allyship & EDI Embedment in sustainability, ESG and social responsibility
Making the business case for sustainability and social responsibility – ROI tools
Understanding your role as an intrapreneur
Giving Voice to Values
State of Sustainability, CSR, ESG
Company and project – level business cases
Sustainability assessment frameworks
Leading change from the middle – Sustainability Champions Guidebook
Procuring the world we want
Building mindfulness, meditation and reflection into your practice
ExperienceChange™ change management business simulation and transitional pathways – Three Horizon Model (group case)
Global trends in ESG & sustainability standards & reporting session
Transitional leadership competencies and practice
Introduction to Truth and Reconciliation – Kairos blanket exercise
Understanding context and systems – slow knowledge and reflection
Capstone Project: Work with your Mentor on your Capstone Project, Capstone Proposal, Final Capstone Project and Presentation
Assignment 1: CSR, sustainability, ESG book review
Assignment2 : Choice of: designations, short course learning or organizational assessment
Group Projects: Triple Bottom Line Business Models, Three Horizons change model, standards and reporting assignment
Bi-weekly live lectures (every other week)
Sustainable development goals and tools
Activating triple bottom line business models and tools for social responsibility & sustainability
Social Purpose 101
Stakeholder Engagement
ESG, how it differs from CSR, sustainability & investor perspective
Climate Transition Plan/TCFD reporting
Sustainable Finance and Financing Sustainability
SASB and integrated reporting
IFRS sustainability disclosure standards including: general sustainability-related disclosures and climate-related disclosures
Reporting best practices (annual report by The Works Design)
Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act
Governance – Transparency, Anti-Corruption Legislation and Risk Management Compliance Tools
Building Leadership Resilience for Sustainability Professionals
Climate Talks Lectures
Readings, videos and discussion posts on the Learning Management System
In Person:
Developing and Embedding Purpose and Sustainability in strategy
Examining Position Statements and Credible goals
Materiality methods and approaches for opportunity, risk management & reporting
En-ROADS, MIT Interactive climate solutions simulation
Ethical behaviour, tools (codes of conduct etc.) and giving voice to values
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & accessibility panel
Journey to Allyship
Building mindfulness, meditation and reflection into your practice
Transitional leadership and building a Resilience Strategy
Community investment, corporate partnerships
Metrics & Reporting ESG, CSR, Sustainability and Expert Panel
ESG & sustainability ranking and ratings and Investor Perspective
Prep on Learning Management System
Journaling and reflection
Indigenous perspectives and reconciliation for ESG, Sustainability & CSR
Partnership Accreditation for Indigenous Relations, Canadian Council for Indigenous Business
Governance: implications for ESG, CSR and sustainability panel
Your transitional leadership journey ESG, CSR & sustainability panel
Building mindfulness, meditation and reflection into your practice
Novel study – application of ESG, CSR, sustainability
(Optional Day) Convocation ceremony, President’s capstone award nominee presentations and awards and reception
Capstone Projects
Apply your learning directly through a mentored capstone project. You’ll identify a real – world challenge in your workplace or sector and develop a practical, strategic response. Capstone topics have included ESG strategy development, social impact reporting, stakeholder engagement frameworks, and purpose-aligned leadership models and many others. You will be paired with a uniquely matched Practitioner & Thought Leader in ESG, Sustainability, & Social Responsibility as a Mentor throughout the program. This individual will provide advice on your Capstone and Assignments. Exemplary Capstone Projects will be nominated for the President’s Capstone Awards which are celebrated at graduation.
Join a community of practice among practitioners and alumni from around the world and across a variety of business, government and non-governmental organizations.
This program was central to transitioning my career to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. I made valuable contacts and landed a CSR contract during the program. The learning from the faculty, materials and my classmates has been invaluable as it strengthened my existing areas of expertise and closed the gap in others. The outcome was a skill set to be a catalyst for impact and create economic, social and environmental value through sustainable business.
Eric Saarvala (Class 2017/2018)
Head, Corporate Sustainability, Raymond James Ltd.
Benefit from 40 days of direct contact time with professionals and mentors – more than any comparable program.
