Lucerne – The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) will offer a Master of Advanced Studies program called Net Zero in Business starting in January. It is designed to produce skilled workers who will take overall responsibility for implementing climate targets in small and medium-sized enterprises.
HSLU is launching a new degree program to provide small and medium-sized businesses with experts from their own operations to guide them through the net-zero process. To build these internal competencies, it is offering a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) degree training program starting in January 2024 under the title Net Zero in Business, according to a statement. The first information session is scheduled online on June 15.
The background to this is the corresponding change processes that all Swiss companies must undergo in order to have net zero emissions by 2050. However, small and medium-sized companies in particular lacked specialists who could take on this goal, according to the HSLU. This is where it wants to remedy the situation.
There is a need for action at numerous levels, such as energy, mobility and building concepts, solutions for green IT, for sustainable procurement or financial investments. For this reason, the 24-month MAS has an interdisciplinary structure and is aimed at people with a technical background, from management or corporate development, those responsible for sustainability, and independent consultants.
“In many companies, a change in thinking will have to take place – this can be uncomfortable and also trigger resistance,” says co-program director Prof. Dr. Christine Bratrich. “It therefore takes a deeper understanding of how to make internal culture change work. And it needs leadership skills.” ce/mm
