Shaping the future of finance: Why sustainable investment skills are becoming essential
Global finance is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Investors, regulators and clients increasingly expect capital to be deployed in ways that generate long-term value for society, the environment and shareholders alike. This is not a passing trend but a structural shift that is reshaping markets and redefining the skills needed by finance professionals.
Globally, sustainable investing assets reached US $30.3 trillion in 2023, reflecting the rapid mainstreaming of responsible investment strategies (Global Sustainable Investment Review, 2023). Regulatory frameworks such as the EU SFDR, the UK Stewardship Code and TCFD reporting requirements are embedding sustainability considerations at the core of financial decision-making.
Meeting the demand for sustainable investment expertise
In response to this market shift, Edinburgh Business School has launched a new online course - Sustainability, Investment and Value Creation. Developed in partnership with Arkadiko Partners, a specialist advisory firm in sustainable finance strategy, the course equips professionals with the skills to lead in this changing environment.
Delivered through Professional Academy, Heriot-Watt’s platform for short, credit-bearing courses, the course offers flexible, accessible learning designed for professionals seeking to build in-demand sustainable finance expertise or progress towards postgraduate study through our online degree offerings.
Equipping finance professionals to lead
The course provides a holistic and practical understanding of sustainable investment and stewardship. It focuses on how asset owners, asset managers and companies can create long-term wealth grounded in fiduciary duty, embed sustainability in investment and business strategies and achieve effective stewardship of client assets.
Through this course, you will gain the confidence to navigate the complex and sometimes contradictory ways in which stewardship and sustainable investment are presented, and to apply these concepts within real investment processes and communications. Key skills include:
- Integrating sustainability factors into investment decision-making
- Understanding and navigating global regulatory frameworks
- Designing stewardship and engagement strategies
- Assessing systemic impacts across markets and sectors
“We are seeing a real shift in mindset and expectations across the industry. The next generation of investment professionals must be trained not only in financial modelling, but in systems thinking, ethics, communication, and public policy. They must be able to connect their work to the wider world,” says Colin Melvin, CEO and Founder of Arkadiko Partners.
Flexible, credit-bearing learning pathways
The course is fully online, self-paced and credit-bearing. It can be stacked into the MSc Financial Management, giving you the flexibility to build their qualifications progressively. This approach reflects our commitment to providing world-class, career-relevant education that fits around professional and personal commitments.
Preparing for a future-critical field
Sustainable investment and stewardship are now defining features of global finance. By integrating these concepts into our curriculum and collaborating with industry specialists, the Professional Academy is preparing professionals to lead in a financial system where sustainability is integral to long-term value creation.
Explore the Sustainability, Investment and Value Creation course on Professional Academy.