Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
- Course description
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, students will have been specifically led to:
- Understand the concept of sustainability, both at the level of the economic system and at the level of individual enterprises.
- Link unsustainable behaviors to market failures
- Understand the financial implications of sustainability ambitions
- Acquire in-depth knowledge of the main private and public mechanisms for financing sustainability
- Develop critical thinking on the links between sustainable finance, corporate sustainability and ecological transition.
These achievements are part of the generic achievements of the HEC Master in Management Sciences, as they help students to:
- Draw up a strategy (with a view to sustainability)
- Translate strategy into operational terms and plan its implementation
- Apply a holistic approach to performance control
- Communicate effectively on the corporate project
- Adapt managerial practices to an ever-changing world, by developing both an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to grasp economic, social and environmental issues.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- Students must be able to express themselves in French or English and must be able to read fluently French and English.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is designed as a seminar in which participants are encouraged to take a proactive approach to building their knowledge.
The planned learning activities include:
- The co-creation of certain topics
- Scientific readings to be completed before the sessions and discussed in class
- Readings/podcasts to be viewed before the sessions and discussed in class
- Meetings with experts in sustainability financing
- A masterclass as part of ULiège's Climate Weeks (9-20 November)
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
The teaching method is mixed. The course is mainly based on face-to-face teaching (introduction to the readings, discussion of the readings) and students will also be invited to prepare the discussions sessions through guided home readings (instructions via the lol @ platform).
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- LOL@
Further information:
The course will use the virtual interface Lol @, on which will be mailed:
- Powerpoint presentations
- Compulsory references for each discussion session
- Additional references (which reading is recommended but not compulsory)
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
- Remote
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Assessment will combine three elements
- Individual work: preparation of a topic (30%)
- Individual assessment for participation in other sessions (20%)
- Individual grading via oral examination (50%).
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The course takes place in the first term, Monday morning at HEC - N3a (room 1/3).
First session : Oct 12 2026; Last session : Dec 14 2026.
Contacts
Prof. Sybille Mertens, Centre d'Economie Sociale - HEC Université de Liège - N1d 2nd floor - smertens@uliege.be
This year, Mrs Francesca Furlani will also be in charge
Secretary (Mrs Jourdan) : nathalie.jourdan@uliege.be
Teaching assistant : Charlotte Moreau charlotte.moreau@uliege.be and Margaux Peere margaux.pere@uliege.be