Im­pacts of In­vest­ment: The Ef­fect­ive­ness of In­sti­tu­tion­al In­vestors in Pur­pose-Driv­en Fin­ance

Course content

Outline:

• Part 1: Introduction to investment, its purpose and why it matters for the economy, society and the environment.
• Part 2: The rise of responsibility and sustainability in investment, critically evaluating purpose, ESG integration, stewardship, impact, materiality, and stakeholder theory.
• Part 3: Achieving impacts through investment; values, metrics, and accountability.
• Part 4: Assessing the interdependence of financial markets, regulation, culture and personal ethics, identifying the forms of leadership and culture required for the investment industry to fulfil its purpose.

Objective:

The aim of the course is critically to evaluate the impacts of investment, the purpose of the investment industry and the extent to which it is fulfilled. We will assess the influence of institutional investors as stewards of capital on companies and economies. The elective will also consider how course participants can achieve impact in business and investment.

The course will critically review traditional economic assumptions and the qualities of investment management as a profession, analysing current and emerging issues and the context within which the investment industry operates. It will strengthen course participants’ understanding of their own responsibilities and opportunities as investors and business leaders and how these relate to the economy, society and the environment. Moreover, it will help them to develop their understanding of institutional investment, as well as their judgment and ability to reflect on their own values in the investment choices they make. It will encourage openness and confidence both in supporting and questioning convention.