Prof. Dr. Holger Hoppe
Head of the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program
Sustainability Manager Seminar
Sustainability Coordinator in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises – Your Introduction to Corporate Sustainability Management
Sustainability is no longer just a ‘nice-to-have’ – it is a genuine competitive advantage, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. After all, one thing is clear: on the one hand, SMEs are drivers of sustainable development and can use this advantage to position themselves for the future in a competitive market. On the other hand, they are increasingly faced with ESG requirements from customers, regulators and banks, and are affected by sustainability-related developments within their supply chains.
Sustainability affects every business today – from craft businesses and service providers to manufacturing companies. This presents both opportunities and risks for SMEs, which must be managed professionally as part of a company’s sustainability management system. The ‘Sustainability Manager’ seminar equips you with the essential skills to coordinate sustainability within your own company in a practical and professional manner – step by step, using methods and real-world examples from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Key facts at a glance
What you get
You will learn:
- how to establish and structure sustainability within your organisation
- how to meet ESG requirements
- how to calculate CO₂ emissions and collect relevant data
- how to engage staff and facilitate change
- how to make sustainability visible both internally and externally – in tenders, customer meetings and reports
You’ll benefit from practical examples from small and medium-sized enterprises, checklists, templates and exercises.
Seminar content
1. Fundamentals and drivers of sustainability management
- Why sustainability is particularly important for SMEs
- What ESG, CSR, sustainability management and other terms mean
- Overview of the regulatory framework (CSRD, ESRS, LkSG) and other standards (VSME, DNK, GRI, ISO 14001 and others)
- Market requirements: tenders, ratings, customer requirements
- The relevance and role of the sustainability coordinator within the organisation
Outcome: Your company profile – where sustainability plays a role today and in the future.
2. Assessing the current situation and key sustainability issues
- Tools for assessing the current situation: PESTEL, SWOT, SDG Impact, etc.
- Identifying key sustainability issues within the organisation (from energy to human resources)
- Understanding stakeholders and their requirements – from customers to employees
- Assessing sustainability risks and integrating them into planning and management systems
Result: Operational analysis & materiality: your key sustainability issues are organised in a structured manner.
3. Sustainability strategy and targets
- From material sustainability issues to a strategy
- Formulate targets that are appropriate for the organisation and link them to existing target systems (interfaces with ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001)
- Identify relevant key performance indicators and collect data on them
- Integrate sustainability into existing management systems and processes (QM, EM, ASM)
- Establishing responsibilities within the organisation and defining tasks
- Work with teams, management and staff to agree on measures and drive change
Outcome: Development of the sustainability strategy and organisational structure.
4. Greenhouse gas accounting in organisations
- Fundamentals of CO₂ accounting (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064)
- Scopes 1–3: Where do which emissions originate?
- Drawing up a GHG inventory
- Identifying approaches to reduction
Outcome: Preparation of a CO₂ inventory using practical tools.
5. Sustainability Reporting & ESG Communication
- How to show customers, banks and partners what you’re doing
- ESG reporting in accordance with CSRD/ESRS, VSME and DNK explained in simple terms
- What information and data are important – and where to find them
- Tips for simple, credible sustainability communication
Outcome: Creation of a sample report in accordance with VSME.
Target audience
- Specialists and managers from small and medium-sized enterprises who wish to develop or professionalise their sustainability practices
- Staff from all departments (engineering, human resources, environment, procurement, financial control, logistics, marketing, etc.)
- Environmental, quality and energy officers
- Project and process managers and those interested in sustainability
- People changing careers with an interest in sustainability
- Individuals who coordinate sustainability initiatives and wish
to gain greater confidence in dealing with legislation, data and strategies
Job profiles
Upon completion, you will be qualified to take on roles within your own organisation such as:
- Sustainability Officer / Coordinator
- ESG coordination
- Reporting, communication and stakeholder management
- Liaison role between management, clients and regulatory authorities
Entry requirements
- No formal admission requirements
- A basic understanding of business processes would be an advantage
- Openness to interdisciplinary work and change processes
Degree and ECTS
- Workload: 72 hours (including group work, self-study and time of attendance)
- Credit points: 2 ECTS
- Qualification:
- Certificate of attendance (standard qualification)
- THI higher education certificate: ‘Sustainability Coordinator in Medium-Sized Enterprises’ upon completion of the optional final assessment
Final
assessment: The final assessment consists of a one-to-one technical discussion, to be held at a separate time. The technical discussions focus on applying the knowledge gained to specific practical scenarios. The timing of the technical discussions is arranged on an individual basis. Please
note:
ECTS credits are only awarded upon passing the optional certificate examination (separate appointment, additional fee).
| Option | capacity | Net price per person |
| Option 1: Participation without the certificate examination | Course (3 days) incl. course materials & certificate of attendance | €1,700 |
| Option 2: Participation with certificate examination | Course (3 days) including course materials, certificate examination & higher education certificate | €2,050 |
Seminar fee
| Variant | capacity | Net price per person |
| Option 1: Participation without certification exam | Course (3 days) including course materials & certificate of attendance | €1,700 |
| Option 2: Participation with certificate examination | Course (3 days) including course materials, certificate examination & higher education certificate | €2,050 |
Location
Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt/Campus for Lifelong Learning or INAS:
Institute for Applied Sustainability,
Gumppenbergstrasse 7
, 85057 Ingolstadt
Dates
Duration: 3 days (Wednesday to Friday, 9.00 am–4.00 pm)
Seminar Day 1: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Seminar Day 2: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Seminar Day 3: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Dates:
September course: 16 September 2026 to 18 September 2026
November course: 11 November 2026 to 13 November 2026
The specialist discussions will take place in the following week and will last approximately 60 minutes
Registration
Seminar leader
Your contact person
-
Andrea Schiberna
In partnership with
-
Michael Tretter
INAS Institut
