Business and society demand professionals with an educated vision of international sustainable development. Professionals who see the connection between international challenges and their own working discipline. Professionals who can contribute to the complex solutions needed by being creative thinkers with the ability to build bridges across sectors, cultures and nationalities. The post-graduate course in International Sustainable Development (ISD) trains such professionals.

Sustainability has developed from a politically-correct issue into a concept of mere self-interest. In recent years we have been confronted by various global crises that are, to a certain extent, linked: the climate crisis, the energy crisis, the food crisis and the financial crisis. In addition, awareness is growing about unfair production processes that harm both our planet and its people, especially in developing countries. The subsequent challenges go beyond national boundaries and sectors and affect the profit, non-profit and public sectors alike.

As a result, companies, NGOs and public institutions all agree there is a need for international, multidisciplinary and cross-sector solutions. They have reached a common understanding that all sectors have complementary expertise and need one another to deal with a context of limited raw materials, water and energy sources, of climate change and increasing public pressure for fair and transparent management.

The ISD course offers professionals the insight, tools and attitude to integrate global sustainability issues into their own work and company/organisation. The aimed-at participants are working in middle management positions within companies, NGOs or public institutions that are involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR), and deal directly or indirectly with developing countries and/or emerging markets.

Information meeting 2012

On Thursday 26 April 2012, Thursday 7 June 2012 and Thursday 30 August 2012 from 18.30 to 20.00 hrs we organize information meetings for this course. Please send an e-mail to steinfort.j@hsleiden.nl if you want to attend one of these meetings.