Executive Course Impact Investing Executive Education

Executive Course Impact Investing

Our course brings together leading academics and practitioners in the field of impact investing. A team of experienced professionals, who work with both investors and entrepreneurs, enriches the content of this programme.

Curriculum

The course's approach transcends the traditional 'do no harm' paradigm. Instead, it advocates for an intentional approach that integrates sustainable development into investment decision-making. The course is designed to equip decision-makers in the finance and investment sector with knowledge that goes beyond the standard two-dimensional risk-return model, introducing impact as a critical third dimension.

The course is structured into five sessions, each designed to touch upon the most important elements of impact investing.

Please note: The final content is regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the latest developments in the field.

Format

Every week, participants receive video lectures presenting the conceptual and theoretical aspects related to that week's topic. After watching the videos, participants meet one day per week on campus for guest lectures by experienced professors and private sector experts on the corresponding topics. The activities in these sessions will vary from problem-solving to case studies and Q&A sessions.

Two optional online sessions will be provided for participants to share findings and ask questions about the final assignment.

Certificate
Participants will receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the course.

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5

Session 1: Impact Goals

Learning Objectives

Learning Objective 1: to develop a nuanced understanding of how to set meaningful and achievable impact goals.
Learning Objective 2: to understand how to align impact goals with broader sustainable development objectives and investment strategies.
Learning Objective 3: to understand how a theory of change helps to formulate an impact investing strategy.

Session 2: 3D Portfolio Allocation

Learning Objectives

Learning Objective 1: to understand how to integrate impact as a third dimension alongside risk and return in portfolio construction.
Learning Objective 2: to learn about strategies how to balance financial returns, risk management, and positive impact.
Learning Objective 3: to understand to what extend impact investors agree with lower expected returns

Session 3: Selection of Investees

Learning Objectives

Learning Objective 1: to learn about how to evaluate potential investees based on their capacity to deliver both financial returns and meaningful impact.
Learning Objective 2: to learn how impact due diligence is conducted and can inform financial and risk analysis

Session 4: Monitoring and Evaluation of Impact

Learning Objectives

Learning Objective 1: to develop skills to critically analyse and communicate impact performance to various stakeholders.
Learning Objective 2: to understand different approaches to measure impact.

Session 5: Final Presentations

Learning Objective

Final assignment

Session 1
Session 1: Impact Goals

Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: to develop a nuanced understanding of how to set meaningful and achievable impact goals.

Learning Objective 2: to understand how to align impact goals with broader sustainable development objectives and investment strategies.

Learning Objective 3: to understand how a theory of change helps to formulate an impact investing strategy.
Session 2
Session 2: 3D Portfolio Allocation

Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: to understand how to integrate impact as a third dimension alongside risk and return in portfolio construction.

Learning Objective 2: to learn about strategies how to balance financial returns, risk management, and positive impact.

Learning Objective 3: to understand to what extend impact investors agree with lower expected returns
Session 3
Session 3: Selection of Investees

Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: to learn about how to evaluate potential investees based on their capacity to deliver both financial returns and meaningful impact.

Learning Objective 2: to learn how impact due diligence is conducted and can inform financial and risk analysis
Session 4
Session 4: Monitoring and Evaluation of Impact

Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: to develop skills to critically analyse and communicate impact performance to various stakeholders.

Learning Objective 2: to understand different approaches to measure impact.
Session 5

Session 5: Final Presentations

Learning Objective

Final assignment

Faculty

Our faculty comprises academics with decades of hands-on industry experience and practitioners who have managed large funds and influence policy at the highest levels. This unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise ensures that participants receive a comprehensive, applicable education in impact investing.
Academic Advisors
- Dr Alfred Slager: Professor VU School of Business and Economics, ABP Pension Fund
- Dr Kees Koedijk: Professor of Finance Utrecht University
- Dr Ronald Huisman: Professor at Erasmus School of Economics and Utrecht University School of Economics. Entrepreneur
Dr. Mohamad Kaakeh, Assistant Professor of Finance at Utrecht University - School of Economics (U.S.E).
Guest Lecturers
- Dr Marcel Jeucken: Managing Director SustFin.
- Robin Claushuis: Manager Sustainability Consulting KPMG
- Geraldine Leegwater: Chief Investment Management and member of the Executive Committee PGGM
- Florian Bankeman: Fund Manager at Triodos Investment Management
Content manager
Bernarda Coello: Impact Advisor
Teaching approach
Our course employs a blended learning model. It consists of five on-campus sessions and learning activities to prepare for those sessions.
Preparation before each session.
- Watch a set of concise pre-recorded lectures from our academic staff and links to others covering theoretical foundations and current academic debates.
- Read literature and empirical studies to complement the video content.
On campus:
- Start the day with a Q&A session lead by one of our academic staff members about the theoretical content presented in the videos and discussed in the literature.
- Followed by a lecture provided by one of our guest lecturers focusing on practical implications.
- The day ends with a case study session: this addresses practical application of theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios through group work and problem-solving exercises.
This approach is designed to foster critical thinking and encourage participants to challenge existing practices and knowledge in impact investing.

Please feel free to contact us at impactinvesting@vu.nl

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

School of Business and Economics for Professionals

De Boelelaan 1105

1081 HV AMSTERDAM

Executive Course Impact Investing

Session 1

Learning Objectives

Session 2

Learning Objectives

Session 3

Learning Objectives

Session 4

Learning Objectives

Session 5

Learning Objective

Faculty and teaching approach

Faculty

Teaching approach

Executive Course Impact & Investing

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