Objectives

The Summer School “Research approaches in sustainability management and reporting” is an advanced program explicitly designed as a research-oriented training experience, with a strong focus on research methodology applied to sustainability. Its goal is to provide participants with solid and advanced methodological skills to analyze sustainability challenges in a rigorous and structured way. 

In a context where Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues are becoming increasingly central to organizational strategies and European policies, the program provides tools to design, conduct, and critically evaluate research in sustainability management and reporting. 

The main focus will be on the various research methods that can be applied to the field of sustainability reporting and management, equipping participants with the tools to explore these disciplines in depth, develop rigorous research designs, and further investigate them through independent and applied research projects. Particular emphasis is placed on methodological approaches, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as empirical and data-driven analysis. 

The Summer School is co-funded within the European DIGI-ME project, which supports the development of digital skills for sustainable innovation, with a specific focus on their application in research and data analysis. 

The program is delivered in a blended format, combining an online component (June 1–5, 2026) with an in-person session at the Università di Pavia (June 8–12, 2026), for a total of approximately 40 hours of teaching activities. Participants can earn 6 ECTS credits. 

A key feature of the program is its strong international academic dimension, fostering exchange across different research traditions and methodological approaches through collaboration with European partner universities. 

The program is structured into two complementary modules: 

Module A – “Digital Tools for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship” 

This module explores the role of digital technologies in social innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship, with particular attention to their use in research design, data collection, and empirical analysis.  

Module B – “Advanced Digital Technologies in Sustainable Management and Reporting” 

This module focuses on advanced technologies for measuring, analyzing, and validating ESG data, with a specific emphasis on research methodologies applied to sustainability reporting and non-financial disclosure.  

The Summer School is aimed at master’s students, PhD candidates, researchers, and professionals interested in deepening their knowledge of research methodologies and their applications in sustainability. Its main objective is to provide advanced knowledge in sustainable management and reporting, while also training participants to adopt a rigorous research-oriented approach, in response to the growing demand for these skills in both academia and the job market. 

Teaching activities include lectures, methodological workshops, group work, and contributions from academic and industry experts, with a strong focus on: 

• Research question development  

• Research design  

• Qualitative and quantitative methods  

• Data analysis and interpretation  

The program is a learning experience and research training opportunity, enabling participants to develop critical skills and actively contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of sustainability.

University of Pavia

Are you interested in knowing more about this Summer School? 

Are you interested in being informed about future activities?