Course content

This course provides an in-depth exploration of sustainability reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The course focuses on how firms identify, measure, and disclose sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities in accordance with the new EU regulatory framework.

The course is structured around five key modules:

1. Theoretical foundations of sustainability reporting - covering core theories and conceptual frameworks.
2. CSRD/ESRS requirements and regulatory framework - providing a detailed examination of the CSRD scope, reporting structure, double materiality assessment, disclosure requirements, and documentation obligations.
3. Disclosure quality and measurement - developing the ability to assess disclosure quality, specificity, and comparability across policies, actions, targets, and KPIs.
4. AI and digital transformation in sustainability reporting - exploring how technology and artificial intelligence influence data collection, analysis, and digital reporting processes.
5. Research implications and current debates - analyzing how sustainability reporting relates to governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and market perceptions.

The course combines lectures, real-company cases, and group work to strengthen students’ analytical and evaluative skills and prepare them to apply the CSRD and ESRS framework in practice.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student should:

• Understand key theories and conceptual foundations that explain sustainability reporting practices, including several economic and accounting theories.
• Understand the principles, requirements, and structure of sustainability reporting under the CSRD and ESRS frameworks.
• Have knowledge of the double materiality process, disclosure requirements, and documentation obligations.
• Understand how to evaluate the quantitative, qualitative, and textual aspects of disclosure quality in sustainability reporting.
• Understand how AI and digital transformation influence sustainability reporting, data collection, and analysis.
• Have knowledge of current research and debates on sustainability reporting, including its implications for corporate governance, stakeholder engagement, and market perception.

Skills

The student should be able to:

• Apply the CSRD and ESRS requirements to analyze and interpret sustainability reports.
• Conduct double materiality and disclosure quality assessments using real company data and cases.
• Critically evaluate and discuss theoretical and regulatory perspectives on sustainability reporting.
• Identify and interpret how digital tools and AI applications can be used to improve reporting processes and data reliability.
• Work collaboratively on group projects and case analyses to propose practical reporting improvements and solutions.

General competence

The course should contribute to the students developing general competence in accordance with the learning outcomes described at the program level, and especially contribute to development of an analytical mindset and the ability to think critically.

Learning methods and activities

The course is based on active learning and requires students to engage in lectures, seminars, and group activities throughout the semester. Students are expected to read assigned materials in advance and participate actively in class discussions and case-based exercises.

To fulfill the mandatory activity requirement, students must complete three group-based activities, which include prepared presentations, analyses, and discussions of sustainability reports and related topics. Active participation in these activities is required to be eligible to sit for the exam.

The course combines lectures, group work, and individual study, and is suitable for students who can participate in on-campus learning activities. Language of instruction: English.

Compulsory assignments

• 70% attendance and participation in seminar teaching on campus

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of corporate governance, financial markets, accounting and financial reporting.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Course material:

The course material includes relevant provisions from the Norwegian Accounting Act and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), as well as selected academic literature and practical cases.

The main textbook is:

Aggestam Pontoppidan, C. (2025). Sustainability Accounting and Reporting: A CSRD Perspective. Cengage.

Additional readings, articles, and cases will be provided during the semester. Literature references and specific materials will be announced at the beginning of the course.