Towards a new culture of sustainability

The new Course on Advanced Training in Corporate Sustainability Reporting will start next month, promoted by the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policies of the University of Milan, in collaboration with PLEF (Planet Life Economy Foundation) and Human Hall. The course, coordinated by Professor Stefano Bocchi, represents a training project that unites the academic and entrepreneurial worlds to respond to an increasingly urgent and central challenge: to integrate sustainability into the heart of corporate strategies, in a transparent, measurable and shared way.

According to Professor Bocchi, integrated reporting, which includes social, economic and ecological aspects, is no longer an option but a necessity for all companies, public and private. Starting in the coming years, in fact, it will become mandatory for many businesses, in line with the European legislation on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). “Sustainability reporting is not only a technical tool, but a lever for internal cultural growth within companies,” Bocchi emphasizes. “It serves to develop awareness in corporate processes and choices, and at the same time improves external perception and trust, strengthening reputation and transparency.”

The element that makes this course unique is its participatory approach. It is not simply a program imposed from above, but a path born from a process of active listening and shared design: “We directly asked students, professionals and those already working in this field what they would have liked to find in a course dedicated to corporate sustainability reporting,” says Pietro de Marinis, one of the organizers. An approach that fully reflects European guidelines, increasingly oriented towards inclusive, practical and contextually relevant training models.

One of the most innovative aspects of the course is the close collaboration with the productive world. Partner companies include leading names such as DENTIS Group, CORIPET, BIOBAP, Gruppo MIDA, PLANETFARMS, PRENATAL, PROMOTI and, recently, also CRAI. The latter has recently joined the project, offering its premises to host the trainees in practical activities.

The alternation between theory and practice is one of the strengths: 65% of the course hours will be carried out directly in the company, through 78 hours of active learning. This immersion in the real context allows students to deal with the concrete problems of reporting and to observe closely the dynamics and good practices of the most virtuous companies. Furthermore, four scholarships will be offered by as many partner companies, who have decided to support the project also from an economic point of view, rewarding the most deserving candidates.

This is not a simple collaboration, but a systemic model promoted by entities such as PLEF ETS, which has been working for years to integrate the values of sustainability into the real economy. The goal is not only to train competent professionals, but to build a widespread culture of sustainability, capable of generating positive and lasting impacts in society and the market. The launch of this course marks an important step for those who want to work in the field of corporate social responsibility, impact assessment and ethical communication.