The Future of Accounting Education at Higher Education Institutions: Embedding Education on ESG Accounting and Disclosures

The adoption of an increasing amount of mandatory ESG disclosures within the European Union in conjunction with widespread use of voluntary reporting led to the demand for a stand-alone course at the master level entitled ‘Environmental Social and Governance (ESG): data, accounting and reporting’. This course provides students with an understanding of ESG governance at a global, regional (EU) and local level. The course is focused on providing a holistic understanding of ESG data and reporting. An integral part of the course attends to solving a case study in regard to the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The course addresses the interlinkages between financial reporting and ESG reporting. Students will gain a sound theoretical understanding in the area if ESG accounting and reporting together with technical understanding of leading reporting frameworks and mandatory reporting requirements. This will equip students to understand, among other things; carbon accounting, double and financial materiality for ESG reporting and voluntary versus mandatory ESG disclosures.