ACC 351 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Business Administration

Course Name

Sustainable Accounting and Reporting

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
ACC 351	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	6

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Elective
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	Discussion Group Work Case Study Q&A Lecture / Presentation
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	Dr.Öğretim Üyesi Mustafa Reha OKUR
Course Lecturer(s)	Dr.Öğretim Üyesi Beyza GÜREL Dr.Öğretim Üyesi Mustafa Reha OKUR
Assistant(s)	Arş.Gör. BETÜL ÜNAL KAYA

Course Objectives	This course provides practical skills for sustainability reporting and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration. It introduces key frameworks, stakeholder engagement strategies, and reporting standards, equipping students to implement sustainable practices in modern business environments.
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; Compare historical developments of ESG and global sustainability initiatives. Analyse major sustainability reporting frameworks. Evaluate stakeholder engagement strategies and materiality concept in accounting. Prepare a comprehensive sustainability reporting process from data collection to presentation. Explain approaches for integrating sustainability management accounting into business decision-making.
Course Description	This course introduces students to the essential concepts and practices of sustainability accounting and ESG reporting. Covering global initiatives, reporting standards, and the reporting process from data collection to assurance, it combines theoretical foundations with practical case studies. Interactive discussions and project work will enable students to critically assess how sustainability practices drive corporate strategy and enhance stakeholder trust in today’s competitive market.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Introduction to course	Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, “Introduction to sustainability accounting and accountability”, chap. 1 in Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition (Abingdon and New York), 1-7.
2	ESG Developments - History & Foundation	- Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, “Sustainability reporting: History, frameworks and regulation”, chap. 5 in Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition (Abingdon and New York), 83-103. - “Big Business is Beginning to Accept Broader Social Responsibilities” - The Economist (Aug 2019) - HBS Technical Note: George Serafeim & Jody Grewal (2019), “ESG Metrics: Reshaping Capitalism?” - Porter, M.E., Serafeim, G., & Kramer, M. (2019), “Where ESG Fails”
3	Global Sustainability Initiatives and ESG Frameworks (UN SDGs, UN PRI, UN Global Compact)	- UN Global Compact - Guide to Corporate Sustainability (2015) - UN PRI – “An Introduction to Responsible Investment” (skim Principles 1-6). - SDG Compass (Guide for Business Action on the SDGs) – published by GRI, UN Global Compact, WBCSD. Read “Executive Summary” and one company example from the guide to see how businesses map SDGs to their reporting.
4	Key Concepts - Accountability, Stakeholders, Materiality, Externalities	- Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, “Accountability, stakeholders, materiality and externalities: Examining key concepts”, chap. 3 in Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition (Abingdon and New York), 34-54. - IFRS/ISSB Exposure Draft (excerpt) - Section on Materiality from IFRS S1 - Porter, M. & Kramer, M. (2011), “Creating Shared Value” – Harvard Business Review.
5	Sustainability Reporting Standards & Bodies - GRI, SASB, ISSB and Others	- GRI Standards Introduction (2021) – Read “How to Use the GRI Standards” and Universal Standards 2021: Principles (pages on stakeholder inclusiveness, materiality, etc.). - SASB Standards Overview (from Value Reporting Foundation) - IFRS/ISSB Project Summary – “General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information (IFRS S1)” - “The Global Reporting Landscape” – Chapter 2 of KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2022
6	The Sustainability Reporting Process – Data Collection to Publication	- Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, “The sustainability reporting process”, chap. 6 in Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition (Abingdon and New York), 103-123. - AccountAbility AA1000SES (2015) – Summary: read sections on planning and conducting stakeholder engagement. - “Double materiality. The guiding principle for sustainability reporting” – GRI
7	Assurance & Attestation of Sustainability Reports	- IAASB Guidance on Extended External Reporting Assurance (2021) - Global Survey of Sustainability Reporting – KPMG (2022) - Example Assurance Statement: EY’s Assurance Report on Siemens 2022 Sustainability Information - Yan, Jia, Chen & Yan (2022) Assurance process for sustainability reporting: Towards a conceptual framework
8	Midterm Week
9	Sustainability Management Accounting and Control	- Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, “Sustainability management accounting and control”, chap. 4 in Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition (Abingdon and New York), 57-82. - Case Study - Harvard Business Review (2016), “The Comprehensive Business Case for Sustainability” by T. Whelan & C. Fink - NYU Stern CSB ROSI Methodology (Brief)
10	Sustainable Investing - ESG in Capital Markets and Cost of Capital	- Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, “ESG investments and risk management”, chap. 7 in Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition (Abingdon and New York), 124-146. - CFA Institute Report (2020), “ESG Integration in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa” - Climate Bonds Initiative – Green Bonds Market Summary 2022
11	Impact Investing and Social Entrepreneurship	- Bugg-Levine, A. & Emerson, J. (2011). “Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference” - GIIN Annual Impact Investor Survey - Case Study: Triodos Bank, Social impact bonds (2017) - Impact Reporting Example: Excerpts from an Acumen Fund Investor Report
12	Greenwashing and Ethical Challenges in Sustainability Accounting	- Netto, Sobral, Riberiro & Soares (2020) Concepts and forms of greenwashing a systematic review - Yu, Luu & Chen (2020) Greenwashing in environmental, social and governance disclosures
13	Guest Speaker
14	Project Presentations
15	Semester Review
16	Final Exam

Course Notes/Textbooks

Matias Laine, Helen Tregidga, Jeffrey Unerman, Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd Edition, Routledge, New York, ISBN: 978-1-032-02310-6.

Suggested Readings/Materials

“Big Business is Beginning to Accept Broader Social Responsibilities” - The Economist (Aug 2019)
Serafeim, George, and Jody Grewal. “ESG Metrics: Reshaping Capitalism?” Harvard Business School Technical Note 116-037, March 2016. (Revised April 2019.)
Porter, Michael E., George Serafeim, and Mark Kramer. “Where ESG Fails.” Institutional Investor (October 16, 2019).
UN Global Compact - Guide to Corporate Sustainability (2015)
UN PRI – “An Introduction to Responsible Investment”
SDG Compass (Guide for Business Action on the SDGs) – published by GRI, UN Global Compact, WBCSD
AccountAbility AA1000SES (2015)
“Double materiality. The guiding principle for sustainability reporting” – GRI
IAASB Guidance on Extended External Reporting Assurance (2021)
Global Survey of Sustainability Reporting – KPMG (2022)
EY’s Assurance Report on Siemens 2022 Sustainability Information
Yan, M., Jia, F., Chen, L., & Yan, F. (2022). Assurance process for sustainability reporting: Towards a conceptual framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 377, 134156.
Case Study - Harvard Business Review (2016), “The Comprehensive Business Case for Sustainability” by T. Whelan & C. Fink
NYU Stern CSB ROSI Methodology (Brief)
CFA Institute Report (2020), “ESG Integration in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa”
Climate Bonds Initiative – Green Bonds Market Summary 2022
Bugg-Levine, A., & Emerson, J. (2011). Impact investing: Transforming how we make money while making a difference. John Wiley & Sons.
GIIN Annual Impact Investor Survey
Triodos Bank, Social impact bonds (2017) site: https://www.triodos.co.uk/articles/2018/social-impact-bonds
Impact Reporting Example: Excerpts from an Acumen Fund Investor Report

de Freitas Netto, S. V., Sobral, M. F. F., Ribeiro, A. R. B., & Soares, G. R. D. L. (2020). Concepts and forms of greenwashing: A systematic review. Environmental Sciences Europe, 32, 1-12.

Yu, E. P. Y., Van Luu, B., & Chen, C. H. (2020). Greenwashing in environmental, social and governance disclosures. Research in international business and finance, 52, 101192.

Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation	1	15
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury	1	30
Project	1	25
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	1	30
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	4	100
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	14	3	42
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments			0
Presentation / Jury	1	30	30
Project	1	25	25
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	1	30	30
Final Exam			0
		Total	175

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to solve problems with an analytical and holistic viewpoint in the field of business administration.	-	-	-	X	-
2	To be able to present the findings and solutions to the business problems in written and oral formats.	-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to interpret the application of business and economic concepts, and philosophies at the national and international levels.	-	-	-	X	-
4	To be able to use innovative and creative approach for real-life business situations.	-	-	-	-	-
5	To be able to demonstrate leadership skills in different business situations.	-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to interpret the reflections of new technologies and softwares to business dynamics.	-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to integrate knowledge gained in the five areas of business administration (marketing, production, management, accounting, and finance) through a strategic perspective.	-	-	X	-	-
8	To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to business administration.	-	-	X	-	-
9	To be able to work efficiently and effectively as a team member.	-	-	-	-	-
10	To be able to have an ethical perspective and social responsiveness when making and evaluating business decisions.	-	-	X	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the area of business administration and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to their field of expertise.	-	-	-	-	-