| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-25 | - |
Program Overview
The Director Climate Journey is a Climate Governance Initiative-approved program by Vlerick Business School in partnership with Chapter Zero Brussels. It equips directors with the knowledge and tools to understand and act upon climate risks and opportunities. The blended program combines online and in-person sessions, featuring expert presentations, group discussions, and simulations. Post-program support includes quarterly discussions, an online forum, and a one-year review.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Director Climate Journey is a Climate Governance Initiative approved program offered by Vlerick Business School in partnership with Chapter Zero Brussels. It aims to equip directors with the knowledge, tools, and network necessary to understand and act upon climate risks and opportunities. It emphasizes the crucial role of boards in effective climate governance. The program is designed for board members and senior executives, ideally with two directors per company participating to foster a shared approach. Aspiring board members may also be considered upon inquiry. The program's overall goal is to develop climate competency within a safe and confidential environment, facilitating learning from experts and peer networking. Post-program support includes quarterly discussions, an online forum, and a one-year review.
Outline:
The Director Climate Journey is a blended program consisting of 2 live online sessions and 4 in-person sessions. The program utilizes expert presentations, group discussions, curated reading lists, and simulations to deliver its content. The six sessions are structured as follows:
- Session 1: The evolving role of boards in the context of climate change: This session explores how climate change is altering the traditional role of boards, examines sustainability-related disruptions to business models, and clarifies how evolving environmental responsibilities impact board duties and potential director risks.
- Session 2: Climate context - science, causes, impacts and implications (online): This online session provides a global overview of climate change physics and consequences, exploring potential technological solutions.
- Session 3: Building and executing a climate strategy: This session covers materiality, stakeholder engagement in setting sustainability priorities and targets, building effective climate strategies, integrating environmental strategies with emission targets, the role of carbon markets, and board influence on decisions regarding pollution costs versus low-carbon technology investments.
- Session 4: Forest and climate walk: An in-person session exploring the impact of climate change on Belgium's Sonian forest, focusing on the benefits of forest ecosystem protection in climate change mitigation.
- Session 5: Achieving net zero (online): This online session prepares companies for climate action, addresses common misunderstandings in climate target setting, helps avoid greenwashing, explores relevant regulations and stakeholder initiatives, and examines emission reduction case studies across key sectors.
Teaching:
The program employs a blended learning approach combining online and in-person sessions. Teaching methods include expert presentations, group discussions, curated reading lists, and simulations. The faculty includes experts in climate science, corporate governance, business, and sustainability.
Other:
The program is organized in partnership with Chapter Zero Brussels and is a Climate Governance Initiative Approved Course, signifying a rigorous review process to ensure relevance for board directors. The program offers a safe and confidential learning environment, fostering networking among like-minded peers. Post-program support includes quarterly discussions, an online forum, and a one-year review. Testimonials from past participants highlight the program's value in providing science-based knowledge, best practices, and a network of experts and peers.
Vlerick Business School is a prestigious Belgian institution with campuses in Brussels, Ghent, and Leuven. Established in 1999 through the merger of MBA programs from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Ghent University, it has evolved into a leading European business school.
The school holds the distinguished "triple crown" accreditation, being recognized by EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB. This places Vlerick among a select group of business schools worldwide that meet the highest standards in management education.
Vlerick offers a range of programs, including MBA, Masters, and executive education courses, emphasizing a practical, hands-on approach in close collaboration with various companies.
The institution is particularly renowned for its expertise in digital transformation, entrepreneurship and innovation, healthcare, energy, and financial services.
In terms of rankings, Vlerick is recognized as a top-tier school by both the Financial Times and QS. Notably, it is ranked number one in the Benelux region for executive education and 19th in Europe.
The school's international outlook is further enhanced by partnerships that allow students to pursue double Masters degrees, spending one year in Belgium and another abroad, at institutions such as the Darla Moore School of Business in the U.S. and EDHEC Business School in France.
With a network of over 25,000 alumni in 99 countries, Vlerick Business School continues to make a significant impact on the global business community.
