Foundations and Frameworks in ESG

Understanding Global Standards and AccountAbility’s  AA1000 Series

Powered by DQS Academy | Duration: 5 Days 

Why Take This Course?

In an era of heightened environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scrutiny, organizations must evolve their sustainability practices or risk falling behind. This immersive, practical course is your essential roadmap to mastering ESG frameworks, navigating global regulations, and applying the internationally recognized AA1000 Series standards.

Whether you're an ESG practitioner, internal auditor, compliance professional, or consultant this course will elevate your impact.

Course Objectives

• Demystify ESG: Grasp the fundamentals and why ESG matters now more than ever.

• Decode Global Standards: Explore GRI, IFRS S1 & S2, and regulatory trends shaping corporate ESG.

• Master AA1000: Apply the AccountAbility principles to real-world stakeholder strategies and assurance processes.

• Drive ESG Readiness: Align ESG strategies with organizational goals and assurance frameworks.

• Learn by Doing: Engage with scenario-based group activities, peer discussions, and quizzes for practical skill building.

Course Breakdown:

Day 1: ESG Foundations & Global Context

Explore:

• What ESG really means past, present, and future

• The pillars: Environmental, Social, Governance

• Global trends, institutional pressures, and regulatory landscapes

Day 2: Reporting Frameworks – GRI & IFRS

Explore:

• GRI Standards: Universal, Sector-specific, Topic-specific

• IFRS S1 & S2: Core concepts and reporting logic

• ESG disclosure trends and legal obligations

Day 3: AA1000APS – Principles for Stakeholder Strategies

Explore:

• History & relevance of AccountAbility standards

• Deep dive: Inclusivity, Materiality, Responsiveness, Impact

• Integrating AA1000APS into ESG and stakeholder engagement

Day 4: AA1000AS & AA1000SES – Assurance & Engagement

Explore:

• What ESG assurance means—and why it matters

• Type 1 vs Type 2 assurance explained

• Effective stakeholder engagement practices

Day 5: ESG Strategy, Alignment & Wrap-up

Explore:

• Building ESG systems across governance, risk, and reporting

• Aligning AA1000 and ESG with strategic goals

• Assurance readiness roadmaps

Who Should Enrol?

• ESG Officers & Sustainability Professionals

• Internal Auditors & Compliance Teams

• Consultants & Strategy Advisors

• Corporate Reporting Specialists

BENEFITS

• Downloadable DQS certificate, with a certificate number that can be verified on the portal.

• Content is supplied and reviewed by international DQS Technical Experts/ Lead Auditors.

• Registration on the eLearning Portal is valid for 1 year with access to live updates, subject matter experts/instructors.

• Final exam with a 100% pass rate.

  Contact Us:

  To learn more about registration on the portal, watch this YouTube introduction video

  Contact us at elearning.sa@dqs.de for more information.