Research Approaches in Sustainability Management and Reporting

About

The Summer School “Research approaches in sustainability management and reporting” is an advanced program explicitly designed as a research-oriented training experience, with a strong focus on research methodology applied to sustainability. Its goal is to provide participants with solid and advanced methodological skills to analyze sustainability challenges in a rigorous and structured way.

In a context where Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues are becoming increasingly central to organizational strategies and European policies, the program provides tools to design, conduct, and critically evaluate research in sustainability management and reporting.

The main focus will be on the various research methods that can be applied to the field of sustainability reporting and management, equipping participants with the tools to explore these disciplines in depth, develop rigorous research designs, and further investigate them through independent and applied research projects. Particular emphasis is placed on methodological approaches, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as empirical and data-driven analysis.

The Summer School is co-funded within the European DIGI-ME project, which supports the development of digital skills for sustainable innovation, with a specific focus on their application in research and data analysis.

The program is delivered in a blended format, combining an online component (June 1–5, 2026) with an in-person session at the Università di Pavia (June 8–12, 2026), for a total of approximately 40 hours of teaching activities.
Participants can earn 6 ECTS credits.

A key feature of the program is its strong international academic dimension, fostering exchange across different research traditions and methodological approaches through collaboration with European partner universities.

The program is structured into two complementary modules:
-Module A, “Digital Tools for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship”: This module explores the role of digital technologies in social innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship, with particular attention to their use in research design, data collection, and empirical analysis.

-Module B, “Advanced Digital Technologies in Sustainable Management and Reporting”: This module focuses on advanced technologies for measuring, analyzing, and validating ESG data, with a specific emphasis on research methodologies applied to sustainability reporting and non-financial disclosure.

The Summer School is aimed at master’s students, PhD candidates, researchers, and professionals interested in deepening their knowledge of research methodologies and their applications in sustainability. Its main objective is to provide advanced knowledge in sustainable management and reporting, while also training participants to adopt a rigorous research-oriented approach, in response to the growing demand for these skills in both academia and the job market.

Teaching activities include lectures, methodological workshops, group work, and contributions from academic and industry experts, with a strong focus on:
-Research question development
-Research design
-Qualitative and quantitative methods
-Data analysis and interpretation

The program is a learning experience and research training opportunity, enabling participants to develop critical skills and actively contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of sustainability.

Target group

We are looking for motivated individuals who want to lead the next generation of sustainability research:

- PhD Students & Post-Docs: Looking to refine their research design, master new methodologies, or strengthen their thesis/publications in Management, Accounting, or Economics.

- Advanced Master’s Students: Specifically those in their final year of International Business & Management who are preparing a research-heavy thesis on ESG or corporate social responsibility.

- ESG Analysts & Research Professionals: Practitioners in the field of sustainability reporting who require a more rigorous, scientific approach to data analysis and impact measurement.

- Data-Driven Innovation Seekers: Individuals interested in the intersection of digital transformation and sustainability (supported by the DIGI-ME framework)

Course aim

The program aims to achieve this through four strategic pillars:

-Methodological Empowerment: To provide a deep dive into both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Participants will learn how to move beyond descriptive analysis to build robust, empirical frameworks capable of withstanding the scrutiny of top-tier academic journals and international policy boards.

-Critical Evaluation of Reporting: To equip attendees with the analytical tools necessary to deconstruct and evaluate sustainability reporting. In a landscape often clouded by "greenwashing," this course aims to instill the rigor needed to verify and measure true organizational impact.

-Integration of Digital Innovation: Leveraging the support of the European DIGI-ME project, the course aims to bridge the gap between sustainability and technology. A key goal is to foster digital literacy, enabling researchers to use advanced data analysis and digital tools to solve complex sustainability challenges.

-Global Academic Synergy: To create an international forum for intellectual exchange. By collaborating with European partner universities, the program aims to broaden the participants' horizons, exposing them to diverse research traditions and fostering a community of scholars who can address sustainability on a global scale.

-The Ultimate Goal: At the conclusion of the program, participants will possess the autonomy to design, execute, and lead independent research projects that contribute meaningful, data-driven insights to the fields of sustainability management and international business.