Department of Finance, Information Systems and Modeling for Business at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (WOMAN) of UVT initiates the postgraduate studies program “ESG Reporting and Sustainable Finance”, a project that directly responds to the current market dynamics and an objective need in the development of specialized skills in the field of sustainability and ESG reporting (Environmental, Social, Governance – sustainability and business ethics). This program is a first for the academic environment in Romania, being the result of collaboration and a strategic partnership between the West University of Timișoara and UniCredit Bank.
In recent decades, climate change, the need to mitigate social inequalities and the need to adopt and implement transparent corporate governance systems have become priority topics on the global agenda. These challenges have led to an increased demand for specialists who can integrate ESG factors into business strategies and who can report according to international standards.
A driving factor in the initiation of this program is the recognition of the need for continuing education among financial and business professionals. In a constantly changing economy, the skills and knowledge acquired during initial university studies are no longer sufficient to meet new challenges and opportunities.
Therefore, the new initiative of the Western University of Timișoara, developed in partnership with UniCredit Bank, integrates into the generic continuous professional training process, which becomes essential to maintain relevance and competitiveness on the labor market in Romania and Europe.
UVT rector, Marilen Gabriel Pirtea said: “We are honored to announce the initiation of the new postgraduate study program, aligned with future European trends. The students of this study program will integrate a set of knowledge and applications that come in line with the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Romania, through public environmental policies, has assumed a series of commitments for the transition to a green and sustainable economy, which are embodied in measures to reduce carbon emissions, promote the circular economy and integrate ESG principles (Environmental, Social, Governance – sustainability and business ethics) in all sectors of the economy. The new postgraduate study program focuses on this new approach in sustainable business ethics, an innovative concept important for the European area of education and research. We thank the partners at UniCredit Bank for their openness and involvement, in an evolved spirit of preparing the financial culture of the future.”
The organization of the new postgraduate study program responds to a real market demand for training and professional development in the field of ESG reporting and sustainable finance. In the current context of the global economy, companies and financial institutions face increased pressure from investors, regulators and civil society to adopt sustainable and responsible practices. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is a set of essential criteria for evaluating the impact and performance of an organization in terms of sustainability and business ethics.
Anca Ungureanu, Director of Marketing and Communication at UniCredit Bank said: “One of the most important pillars for the UniCredit group is our commitment to the community, and involvement in education projects is a priority because in this way we can contribute to the progress of society and a better future for the generations to come. That is precisely why the partnership with the Western University of Timișoara came naturally and I am glad that we are able to launch the postgraduate course ESG reporting and sustainable finance together with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. We strongly believe that it will make a significant contribution to the training of future sustainable business professionals, helping them build their careers and opportunities to be not only part of the change, but also part of the solution.”
