Reporting and Metrics for Sustainability

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

The general objective of these sessions is to analyze why and how do organizations report for sustainability and to illustrate that it would require to measure their sustainability performance.

This course proposes an introduction to and opens discussions (via lectures, readings, videos, etc.) about sustainability reporting and metrics (What? Challenges? Critical perspectives? Examples?).

For example, this course:

• Frames sustainability in both global and corporate contexts
• Describes sustainability reporting standards/frameworks
• Shows how to fulfill sustainability reporting requirements (e.g. double materiality assessment, stakeholders management, etc.)
• Underlines the link between sustainability reporting and metrics
• Discusses both operational and strategic challenges to report and measure for sustainability
• Critically analyzes how these changes would require an adaptation or modifications of management to support a company's sustainability performance management.

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

The ChocoMission V2 serious game offers students an immersive, systemic, and reflective learning experience centered on the sustainable transformation of business models.

Based on a scenario inspired by a real-world case, it engages participants in a collaborative simulation involving strategic, ethical, and operational dilemmas faced by a Belgian SME in the cocoa sector committed to sustainability.

 

The pedagogical objectives are to:

 

• Stimulate experiential learning: enable students to explore real sustainability challenges through decision-making, resource exploration, and team discussions
• Expose the complexity of global value chains: integrate North-South tensions, climate crises, governance issues, and social justice concerns
• Raise awareness of systemic trade-offs: every decision impacts both the dynamic Donut (representing planetary boundaries and social foundations) and the company's cash flow (costs, risks, profitability)
• Experiment with alternative governance and financing models: allow students to embody different roles (guardian, observer, strategist) and assess the consequences of decisions from each perspective
• Leverage immersive tools : field testimonies, animated avatars, and 360° videos in regenerative cocoa plantations, to deepen emotional engagement and critical thinking
• Strengthen collaborative skills: work in cross-functional teams, use double materiality matrices, receive dynamic feedback, and track performance via a score based on impact, cash flow, and cooperation

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and skills to:

• Discuss key challenges and frameworks related to sustainability, sustainability reporting and sustainability measurement
• Analyze and debate the importance of performance management in sustainability implementation
• Consider and understand the complexity of sustainability reporting standards and related requirements
• Critically analyze business sustainability reports

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

Understanding of Sustainability Concepts

• Acquire a robust understanding of sustainability principles across planetary boundaries and social foundations
• Explore how these principles guide strategic choices and reshape business models in the context of global value chains

• Develop the ability to navigate trade-offs between People, Planet, and Profit under real-world constraints
• Learn to make decisions that are ethically robust, financially viable, and environmentally responsible

• Apply learnings from courses (e.g. Sustainable Finance, Life Cycle Management, ESG Reporting) to a complex simulation
• Translate theoretical sustainability frameworks into concrete business strategies and multi-stakeholder decisions

• Address wicked problems and crisis scenarios using systemic thinking
• Confront ethical dilemmas such as greenwashing, inequality, or environmental degradation with evidence-based reasoning

• Deepen your understanding of stakeholder expectations and power dynamics in sustainability transitions
• Experiment with governance models (cooperative, sociocratic, multi-stakeholder, etc.) and assess their impact

• Assess the double impact of business decisions: both on the Donut (ecological/social indicators) and on cash flow
• Understand how to manage for positive financial balance without maximizing surplus-aligning purpose and performance

• Strengthen collaborative decision-making through role-based gameplay (strategist, observer, guardian)
• Improve your capacity to defend and communicate decisions under time pressure and uncertainty

• Learn to adapt strategies in response to external shocks (flooding, climate risk, reputational crises)
• Develop resilience capabilities by iterating and rebalancing decisions throughout the simulation

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Basic knowledge in all the fields of management (finance, marketing, HRM, supply chain management, marketing, strategy, etc.) and strategic management tools.

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

This course is part of the competency development pathway in sustainability organized by HEC Liège. It follows the completion of a thematic course and provides a space to apply acquired knowledge in a practical, immersive setting.

During the first block of the master's program, students are required to choose and complete one of the following thematic courses, all of which are taught concurrently:

• Sustainable Finance - Ethics and Sustainability in Finance
• Reporting and Metrics for Sustainability - Sustainability Reporting and Strategy
• Life Cycle Management - Life Cycle Assessment and Ecodesign

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Interactive pedagogical approach based on several teaching methods :

• Academic lectures (including illustrative videos and examples)
• Conferences with guest speakers
• Pre- and complementary readings
• Practical sessions during which students will (by groups) work on business sustainability reports

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

The course includes a serious game designed to simulate the challenges of transforming a company's business model toward sustainability. The simulation is played live, in teams of 3 students, over a single 3 to 4-hour session.

Each student plays a distinct role (e.g., controller, observer, guardian) and accesses role-specific resources via an interactive digital interface.

Throughout the game, students are invited to:

• Explore multimedia content (videos, avatars, documents)
• Complete individual and team-based quizzes
• Make decisions individually and collectively across a series of missions and crisis scenarios

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Blended learning


Further information:

• Face-to-face lectures, conferences, practical sessions
• Distance learning (readings, videos)

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

Blended learning


Further information:

The serious game is currently (september 25) in version 2 (V2) development.

It is played live, in person, during a single 3 to 4-hour session, using a dedicated digital interface.

Students participate in teams of 3, each with a specific role.

The game unfolds in real time, blending interactive decision-making, resource exploration, and team collaboration, all supported by a dynamic and gamified interface.

 

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- LOL@


Further information:

Information about recommended and required readings will be presented during the lectures.
The slides and relevant documents will be posted on Lol@ but students are expected to take notes during the lectures, presentations and conferences.

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )

Other : See details below


Further information:

First session : out of session

• active preparation and participation to the course (30% of the final grade)
• in-person written exam (MCQ) at the end of the course (70% of the final grade)

•  in-person written exam (MCQ)

• Sustainable Finance
• Reporting and Metrics for Sustainability
• Life Cycle Management

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

Other : Simulation integrated assessment


Further information:

Assessment for this course is based on multiple components linked to the serious game experience:

• Active engagement during the simulation
• Completion of missions and individual/team activities
• Sustainability performance, measured through team results (Donut positioning, financial balance)
• Teamwork and collaboration, including a peer evaluation

• Part A (15 points): the thematic course selected in block 1 (e.g., Sustainable Finance, Reporting, or Life Cycle Management)
• Part B (5 points): the serious game "Sustainable Business Models"

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Official language: English.
The attendance to the course is compulsory.

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

Students will be informed of the detailed arrangements a few weeks before the serious game takes place.

A remote information session is scheduled to explain the practicalities of the simulation: March 30, 2026 18:00-19:00 (online)

The serious game itself will be played in-person, during one of three available 3-hour sessions:

• April 15, 2026
• April 17, 2026
• May 6, 2026

Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Prof. Nathalie Crutzen :

Assistant: Julien Chouak

Other contact person : Audrey Lebas (Audrey.Lebas@uliege.be) 

Sustainable Business Models : a Serious Game

Professor Virginie Xhauflair, v.xhauflair@uliege.be

 

Teaching Assistant : Youssra El Midaoui, Youssra.ElMidaoui@uliege.be

 

For any organizational or practical questions related to the serious game, please contact Youssra El Midaoui and include "ChocoMission" in the subject line of your email.