ASU, Deloitte collab on sustainability, climate and equity training

In an effort to fill a growing need for sustainability fluency, Arizona State University is collaborating with the professional services company Deloitte to create a professional development program focused on sustainability, climate and equity. 

The collaboration aims to provide professionals with the enhanced skills and knowledge needed to drive positive change across industries.

The program will harness ASU’s CareerCatalyst, which designs innovative workforce education solutions aligned with in-demand skills in partnership with industry, and ASU’s extensive knowledge in incorporating sustainable practices into business strategies. Professionals at Deloitte will thus have access to cutting-edge resources and training to support their leadership in the fight against climate change and other pressing environmental issues.

During program development, the university provided insights into the changing landscape of sustainable business practices, including the rise of socially responsible investing and the growing importance of environmental, social and governance, or ESG, metrics. 

The “Sustainability Certified: Foundations for Business” learning program offers Deloitte professionals the ability to support clients and help their businesses, people and the planet. Course modules cover topics such as corporate social responsibility, sustainable supply chains and environmental impact assessments.  

“By investing in the education of its workforce, Deloitte is continuing to integrate best practices in sustainability, climate and equity into its own business operations and that of its clients,” says Meredyth Hendricks, associate vice president of ASU’s CareerCatalyst. “By leveraging Deloitte and ASU’s collective expertise, we want to inspire innovation in how the workforce can help reduce the environmental footprint of organizations.”

Designed by faculty at the W. P. Carey School of Business and the School of Sustainability at ASU’s College of Global Futures, the self-paced, flexible courses equip learners with the most relevant sustainability, climate and equity knowledge sought by industry employers today. 

Participants who complete the program will earn an ESG certificate. The courses also provide NASBA-approved continuing professional education units.

“As we look to the future, we believe that sustainability considerations will be critical for business leaders and will shape the business landscape for years to come,” says Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business. “The intersection between environmental issues and business is an area of strategic focus for the W. P. Carey School of Business. This program is one fundamental way the school demonstrates that business and business education are powerful forces for good.”

Incorporating sustainability, climate and equity business components into the program, faculty from the W. P. Carey School will offer business professionals a deeper understanding on topics such as sustainable consumer goods, sustainable supply chain management, ESG accounting concepts and sustainable materials in the supply chain.

“Building futures where people thrive on a healthy planet requires collaborations like this one — between the most innovative university, ASU, and the largest professional services organization in the world, Deloitte,” said Miki Kittilson, vice dean in the College of Global Futures. “This allows us to scale our impact by collaborating with Deloitte to educate the next generation of ESG practitioners.”

“As the economy continues to transition to a low-carbon future, there are an increasing number of our clients who are seeking to create new advantages,” said Steve Goldbach, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and leader of sustainability, climate and equity at Deloitte U.S. “We are investing in this industry-leading learning program so that our professionals can integrate our core capabilities with innovative thinking about sustainability. This is a key component of meeting our aspiration to be our clients’ first choice on sustainability.”