Leadership development and sustainability programmes

CISL’s executive education builds on Cambridge’s leading-edge capabilities, our unparalleled experience in education for sustainability and our commitment to help organisations in every sector improve their performance towards a sustainable future. Our programmes draw upon and explore the latest technological, economic, social and environmental trends and their implications for strategy and leadership.

Companies and government entities working with CISL benefit from access to international industry leading practice, cutting-edge research and thinking, and unique leadership insights that help tailor each programme according to each sector and organisation.

Across all of our work we integrate the commercial imperative for business to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which represent a global strategy for achieving economic growth that is consistent with the planet’s carrying capacity, society’s basic needs and priorities, and the capabilities and stability of the economy.

Customised programmes designed to meet client needs

We deliver programmes in Cambridge or locally in the Middle East, with the option to combine both.

Our programmes are fully customised to address the specific learning and development needs of an organisation. Working closely with the client to define the key objectives, our design teams then work through a process using needs analysis, horizon scanning and assessment of participant profiles to determine the right content and structure.

A course can consist of a series of short seminars, two to three-day workshops or multi-week engagements. They can combine face-to-face learning, online modules and remote coaching and working, with all attendees awarded a Certificate of Completion at the end of a course. While predominantly delivered in English, we do offer the option of a translation service if required. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements, and find out more about how our courses can support your organisation

Leading Change: The Commercial Advantage of Sustainable Business

30 key decision makers in Majid Al Futtaim participated in a course titled ‘Leading Change: The Commercial Advantage of Sustainable Business’ as part of the Sustainability Leadership Programme run by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. The programme was designed to teach participants to identify opportunities for value creation, aligning commercial success with positive outcomes for the Company, as well as identifying the latest insights and evidence in business critical trends. It included discussions in emerging shifts and changing expectations featuring case studies of strategic and operational best practice.

In addition to the expert knowledge imparted through the content of the course, the training also had an unexpected emotional impact as it broke down barriers, allowing senior leaders to get to know each other, share their individual stories, and try to understand the hopes and concerns that drive them in their efforts for sustainability. The training programme also taught them useful skills that could be implemented immediately; participants mentioned how certain elements acted as real eye-openers, allowing them to suddenly see how they can make change.

Learning in Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has an 800-year history of academic excellence. With over 90 Nobel prize-winners among our alumni, and some of the most distinguished research laboratories and libraries in the world, we are able to offer a truly distinctive environment for learning. Our teaching takes place in University facilities, including in some of the historic colleges, which have inspired generations of students, leading thinkers and world leaders. Cambridge is host to one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world with 60,000 people employed and over 4,700 knowledge-intensive firms and start-ups. Our courses include visits to experience breakthrough technologies and transformative solutions. 

Other CISL courses

In addition to our customised programmes for senior leaders, we run open programmes and graduate study courses. These include:

• The Prince of Wales’s Business & Sustainability Programme: International seminars for senior executives in mainstream leadership roles. Designed to equip participants with the inspiration, understanding and confidence to translate complex sustainability trends into strategic business decisions.
• Sustainability Practitioners Programme: Developing the leadership skills of middle to senior sustainability managers who seek to influence change. This programme provides leadership skills to help build an integrated approach to sustainability across multiple functions within your organisation.
• Flexible e-learning courses: Available entirely online, anywhere in the world. Our part-time sustainability courses empower individuals and organisations to lead, either with a self-paced course (Sustainability Essentials for Business) or learning with others in a tutor-assisted part-time course (Business Sustainability Management).
• Our part-time graduate study courses for business professionals and managers are designed to enhance an individual’s ability to lead and influence change for sustainability, whilst also gaining an academic award from the University of Cambridge. 

Get in touch to discuss your requirements, and find out more about our education programmes.