Training on sustainability
The Ethos Foundation offers trainings on sustainability and socially responsible investment (SRI) to pension fund representatives (boards of trustees, management and investment committees).
Sustainable finance fundamentals
Available online and in three languages (French, German and English), the Ethos Foundation's foundation course covers the fundamentals of sustainable finance. This comprehensive e-learning course, which lasts approximately one and a half days, is divided into five modules to allow participants to learn at their own pace.
Description of the five modules
Introduction to sustainability
CHARACTERISTICS:
This introductory module will give you an overview of key environmental and social trends and their impact on investments, society and the planet. It proposes measures to address sustainable development challenges through your actions and investment decisions.
Duration of the e-learning programme : approx. 2 hours.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the global dynamics of sustainable development ;
- Strike a balance between economic, social and environmental challenges ;
- Recognise obstacles (real or perceived) and identify approaches to overcome them.
Fiduciary duty
CHARACTERISTICS:
This module examines how fiduciary duty has evolved in a rapidly changing world. It enables pension fund administrators to evaluate the role of environmental and social issues in their fiduciary responsibilities and act accordingly.
Duration of the e-learning programme : approx. 2 hours.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Explore the links between sustainability and fiduciary duty ;
- Evaluate different responsible investment approaches that enable sustainability and climate risks to be managed within portfolios ;
- Propose concrete measures to develop your pension fund's sustainability strategy.
Regulations
CHARACTERISTICS:
This module provides an understanding of regulations related to sustainability and sustainable finance. It focuses on current and developing legislation in Switzerland and the European Union.
Duration of the e-learning programme : approx. 3 hours.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Be familiar with the main national and international legislation relating to sustainability;
- Understand their impact on investment management;
- Identify the role investors can play in regulatory developments.
Investment decisions
CHARACTERISTICS:
This module helps institutional investors integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into their investment processes to manage sustainability risks and enhance their impact.
Duration of the e-learning programme : approx. 3 hours.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Explain how and why sustainability analysis enhances financial analysis and investment decisions;
- Identify the SRI strategies that are best aligned with your investment and sustainability objectives;
- Understand how pension funds can take sustainability issues into account in their strategic asset allocation, selection of external managers and supervision of active managers.
Stewardship
CHARACTERISTICS:
This module provides a better understanding of various stewardship approaches (in particular the exercise of voting rights and dialogue with companies) in the context of investment management and as a way to promote sustainability.
Duration of the e-learning programme : approx. 3 hours.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand and evaluate the different stewardship approaches your organisation can use and know how they support each other;
- Develop a stewardship strategy tailored to your objectives and the specific characteristics of your pension fund;
- Communicate your preferences to external asset managers to improve the overall effectiveness of your stewardship efforts.
Our prices
The foundation course SUSTAINABLE FINANCE FUNDAMENTALS (e-learning course) :
- CHF 400.- per person (gives access to the five modules of the foundation course).
- CHF 300.- per person for members of the Ethos Foundation (25% discount).
- CHF 360.- per person for members of partner institutions (e.g. SSF) (10% discount).
- Discounted rates for groups of 5 or more.
Contact us for more information.
All prices are exclusive of VAT.

Continuing education (upcoming)
To support continuing education, a library of micro-learning modules available online will be expanded over time to include more advanced modules on specific SRI topics related to current events.
Pension funds interested in further advancing the implementation of SRI practices or to discuss the challenges associated with certain ESG issues can contact us to organize webinars and workshops.
