Boost your career with Sustainability skills

Free program for students and recent graduates: flexible, high-impact learning program focused on energy and sustainability

Program overview

The Sustainability in Energy® Micro-Credential (SEMC) is a free learning program designed to boost skills and get you ready for the job market. The program gives you the key skills to tackle the most critical challenges facing energy today, including:

Climate change

Climate change

Environmental and <br/> socioeconomic sustainability

Environmental and
socioeconomic sustainability

Energy security

Energy security

Indigenous reconciliation

Indigenous reconciliation

Level up your skills to get a career in energy in Canada.

What is a
Micro-Credential?

  • High impact, short-term, flexible learning on key ESG and sustainability topics
  • A new way to develop specialized job-ready skills that help grow your career
  • An e-learning program that complements existing energy qualifications

This program is designed for students and new graduates in Canada.

Students in engineering, geoscience, technologists, IT and other STEM
Students in engineering, geoscience, technologists, IT and other STEM
Students in Trades (Mechanics, Pipefitters, Surveyors, Welders, etc.)
Students in Trades (Mechanics, Pipefitters, Surveyors, Welders, etc.)
Students in Corporate services (Legal, HR)
Students in Corporate services (Legal, HR)
Students in Business (Accounting, Finance, Marketing and Supply Chain)
Students in Business (Accounting, Finance, Marketing and Supply Chain)

Get ready for sustainability and ESG jobs!

This program equips students with the necessary skills needed to elevate a career in the energy industry.

Apply now

Hear from our learners

Here is what some of our learners have said about the Micro-Credential:

“This program exceeded my expectation. The content was very well developed and objective, balancing different views. The interviews of recognized experts are well done. The digital platform is intuitive. It helped prepare me to take on a sustainability role. I would whole heartedly recommend the program to others!”

“I advise energy focused clients on capital markets matters. The knowledge and skills gained in this program arm me with a more fulsome understanding of the issues energy producers are and will face in this country.”

“This course is designed perfectly in terms of course content. The curriculum includes in-depth knowledge about ESG and energy parameters. This micro-credential course will be helpful to everyone, who would like to transition their career in the energy sector.”

“This program has reshaped my understanding of climate change, its impact & sustainability drivers for the Energies sector. And how wholesome engagement & modern technologies are here to play a bigger role in addressing sustainability initiatives.”

Program structure

The Micro-Credential is a 35-hour interactive learning journey focused on developing an understanding of sustainability and ESG concepts in the energy industry.

The curriculum includes industry case studies, showing best practices in integrating sustainability and ESG into corporate activities, interviews with experts on current and future challenges, and in-depth spotlights for specific occupations showing how sustainability goals and ESG strategies could affect their responsibilities.

The Micro-Credential is divided into 12 courses covering four major focus areas:

  • Sustainability and ESG in the energy industry
  • Environment
  • Social
  • Governance

Participants will be assessed throughout to demonstrate their proficiency in the subject matter. They must pass all assessments before receiving the Micro-Credential.

Program Structure

Value for learners

The energy industry needs you!

There are interesting and high paying jobs in energy. This micro-credential equips you with the knowledge to compete for a role.

In-demand skills

Sustainability is a key challenge in the energy sector. Employers are looking for these skills. This Micro-Credential equips you to help the industry move towards a sustainable future.

Career path

There are many exciting roles focused on sustainability in the energy industry. This Micro-Credential sets you up for career in energy.

Apply now

Value for Employers

Employers will highly value the training provided by SEMC. Students are receiving training on the key issues impacting the energy industry.

Industry led, industry approved curriculum

We surveyed over 200 Canadian energy professionals to understand the impact of sustainability and ESG strategies on their roles. In-depth interviews with industry leaders, Indigenous voices, and sustainability experts helped shape our curriculum.

Experienced and knowledgeable

This program has been developed by geoLOGIC systems ltd., which provides industry specific courses for the Canadian energy industry. More than 850 learners have completed the Micro-Credential.

Contact us to learn more

Syllabus

Topic 1. Sustainability and ESG in the Energy Industry

Learning objectives:

  • Examine energy system challenges and opportunities that arise related to the energy trilemma (environmental/affordable/secure).
  • Explore the role of energy professionals in a rapidly evolving industry, and apply this to the concepts of climate change, sustainable development and Environmental/Social/Governance (ESG) impacts.
  • Identify shifting trends in measuring sustainability through ESG performance (i.e., financial and risk management metrics).

Learning objectives:

  • Relate comprehensive ESG measurements to improved ESG performance, increased investor confidence, and reduced regulatory risk.
  • Understand the process of ESG materiality assessment and ESG factor selection (stakeholder engagement, regulatory requirements, standardized frameworks, etc.).
  • Identify key ESG indicators for the Canadian Energy Industry, including Scope 1&2 CO2e emissions, water management, land management, and recognition of Indigenous rights.

Learning objectives:

  • Identify key components of building a comprehensive ESG narrative, including accuracy, comparability, and credibility.
  • Evaluate robust ESG reporting communication modes (e.g., quantitative, qualitative) and apply these to fit-for-purpose communication media (e.g., internal communication, websites, dashboards, reports).
  • Compare and understand frames of reference for common ESG standards (UNSDG, GRI, SASB, CDP, TCFD).

Learning objectives:

  • Identify key regulatory issues, including the evolving regulations on GHG emissions, asset retirement obligations, and fresh water use and management.
  • Examine the Canadian dichotomy of aligned/differing/conflicting provincial and federal regulations as it relates to current regulations.
  • Explore varying regulatory approaches, categorized through ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ models.

Topic 2. Environment

Learning objectives:

  • Apply the energy trilemma (environmental/affordable/secure) to assessing climate change risks and opportunities.
  • Evaluate climate change risks for the energy industry, including catastrophic incidents, severe weather, climate activism, and geopolitical unpredictability.
  • Discuss climate change opportunities such as built-environment resilience, carbon reduction partnerships, carbon capture and storage, and liquid natural gas as a worldwide transition fuel.

Learning objectives:

  • Explore emissions reductions approaches in the categories of increased efficiencies, emissions reduction technologies, and environmental services.
  • Identify emissions reduction ‘low hanging fruit’ technologies, including addressing fugitive emissions, process optimization, and fuel switching.
  • Explore potential hydrocarbon demand in new markets and products and energy system shifts incorporating renewables, electrification, and efficiency improvements.
  • Identify potentially transformational emerging technologies, including carbon sequestration (CCUS), and renewable natural gas and hydrogen as fuel sources.

Learning objectives:

  • Differentiate between direct and indirect GHG emissions (Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions).
  • Identify the common standards for measuring GHG emissions.
  • Examine GHG emissions profiles that are sector-specific and recognize correlation between sector performance and Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions profiles.

Learning objectives:

  • Examine key land and air quality management concerns for the energy sector, including land disturbance, tracking biodiversity, hydrocarbon spill prevention, and asset retirement.
  • Identify best practice land and air quality management metrics, including area of land disturbance, biodiversity indicator species health, and volumes of hydrocarbon spills and recoveries.
  • Identify best practice land and air quality management approaches, including project life cycle and cumulative effects land use planning, and planned management of retired assets.

Learning objectives:

  • Identify best practice water management metrics, including volume of fresh water consumed, intensity of freshwater usage, volume of produced water, and flowback volume of produced water.
  • Explore key approaches to managing produced water, combining recycling, technological reclamation, and biological reclamation. Identify technologies reducing freshwater intensity, including steam replacement, utilizing saline sources, and alternate cooling processes.
  • Examine differences in water management for oil sands mining, in situ oil sands operations, hydraulic fracturing, and conventional drilling.
  • Recognize circular economy potential, particularly in critical mineral recovery, and electricity generation through geothermal technology.

Topic 3. Social

Learning objectives:

  • Relate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to building organizational resilience and innovation. Examine the accompanying disadvantages of potential organizational discord and social complexity.
  • Identify key factors that have advanced the safety culture of the Canadian Energy Industry, including emergency management, and workplace health and safety systems.
  • Explore the potential for unintended consequences (e.g., human rights violations, historical resource impacts) arising from the large scale and interconnected nature of energy.

Learning objectives:

  • Examine the historical context of interactions between the Canadian Energy Industry and Indigenous peoples. Recognize potential areas of trust/mistrust among the interacting parties.
  • Explore the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and frameworks for Indigenous consultation based on principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
  • Examine contrasting approaches to Indigenous engagement (e.g., legal approach, regulatory approach, relationship approach) and understand the evolving nature of Indigenous consultation.
  • Explore how the lack of standardized ESG metrics for Indigenous engagement reveals an opportunity for global leadership.

Topic 4. Governance

Learning objectives:

  • Examine best practice ESG governance practices that incorporate effective ESG oversight throughout the entire organization.
  • Identify and apply common risk categories, including compliance risk, legal risk, strategic risk, operational risk, security risk, and financial risk.
  • Draw connections between ESG governance and tools to evaluate ESG performance.
Download syllabus

Looking to get started?

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