Teaching

As an applied, practitioner-oriented master's, the programme is designed to support personal and professional development.  

The programme comprises a blended approach to learning, with four week-long residential workshops in Cambridge (broadly every six months) and remote learning coordinated through a virtual learning environment. In addition to attending the workshops, it is estimated that participants need to undertake at least three to four hours of work every week to complete the programme successfully.

Four key principles underpin our distinctive approach to learning:

• Flexibility – The programme is designed for an internationally diverse cohort, working full-time. Residential time is kept to a minimum, blended with a flexible E-learning programme and dedicated tutor support for assignments.
• Peer-learning – Participants come from a wide range of functions, sectors, and locations. Sharing experiences and insights builds a deeper understanding of how the business world can respond to the challenges of sustainability. 
• Practical relevance – The programme equips students with the skills to translate cutting-edge academic insight and research, into practical relevance. Assignments are focused on professional or institutional contexts.
• Personal application – Participants are encouraged to identify personal opportunities for leadership and engage in reflective practice throughout the programme, supported by peers and tutors.

The primary approaches to teaching and learning are:

• taught plenary and small group sessions by academics and practitioners, who are thought leaders and/or case study contributors;
• group work, involving dialogue, debate and presentations throughout the taught modules, as well as a group research assignment;
• experiential techniques including role plays, simulations, debates and field trips;
• individual work, involving structured reading and reflection, research, and written presentation of findings on selected topics;
• support and facilitation by a CISL-led team of faculty, tutors and supervisors from within the University; and
• a collaborative E-learning programme, including three online modules, webinars and content-based discussions to maximise knowledge sharing.

Feedback

Students are given formal feedback on their assignments and informal feedback throughout their course, including during supervisions. First-year tutors give an annual progress report at the end of Year 1 and dissertation supervisors provide termly reports during Year 2.

Assessment

Thesis

In Year 2 of the programme students undertake:

• a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words, including footnotes and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee. The assessment of the dissertation will include an oral presentation of the project work on which the dissertation is based.

Examples of previous dissertation topics, articles produced based on dissertation research undertaken during the master's programme, and example group project topics are available on Assignments and Dissertation page on the CISL website.

Essays

In Year 1 of the programme, there are three written assignments:

• A 3,000-word Analysis Paper which takes the form of a detailed, critical analysis of a sustainability challenge or opportunity for a specific organisation, culminating in clear strategic recommendations
• A 3,000-word Strategic Action Plan, building on the Analysis Paper, developing a practical implementation plan for taking forward one or more of the recommendations, supported by a sound rationale and existing literature and cases.
• A 7,000-word Group Project (undertaken with five to seven other students) on an issue relevant to sustainability, business and leadership, producing an original piece of research that draws upon the group’s collective interest and experience.