KPMG launches global ESG Academy, in collaboration with Microsoft

KPMG has launched the KPMG ESG Academy in collaboration with Microsoft and some of the world’s leading universities and institutions. The scalable, turnkey academy leverages the KPMG Learning Enablement and Analytics Platform – a preconfigured platform enabled by Microsoft 365, Azure, Teams and Microsoft Viva Learning that helps to deliver learning directly in the flow of work. It can be offered as a standalone virtual learning tool or can be integrated into clients’ in-house learning platforms, helping organizations support their ESG initiatives by delivering foundational and advanced learning on a wide range of ESG topics and disciplines.

The Academy course material is structured around the latest business thought leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics, with content developed by globally recognized ESG specialists from leading universities and institutions, in collaboration with KPMG subject matter professionals in sustainability.

The course content is fully customizable and scalable. Executive-level leadership, mid-management and/or non-management learners can be engaged in the business client’s choice of basic-level ESG training, comprehensive ESG training, and/or advanced ESG-focused training in specific topics of interest, such as circularity, reporting and risk. With a powerful combination of business and academic learning, the KPMG ESG Academy delivers both foundational and advanced learning on a range of ESG topics, with the option to focus on specific business sectors and functions.

The KPMG ESG Academy builds on the expanded global alliance between KPMG and Microsoft and investment to accelerate global digital solutions for ESG issues.

In a time of deep uncertainty, business leaders are seeking information and insight to inform their decision making and futureproofing. The combination of economic, geopolitical and climate crises is making planning for growth more challenging than ever before. KPMG and Microsoft’s shared commitment to innovation and sustainability is what’s driving us to deliver new products and initiatives. In my conversations with business leaders, I routinely hear that complexity, a lack of understanding and the challenge of actually accessing information and insights is what’s holding them back on their ESG journey. The launch of the KPMG ESG Academy is about bringing that much needed information together in one place – to empower decision makers to deliver positive change.

John McCalla-Leacy

Head of Global ESG at KPMG International

The KPMG ESG Academy is part of a range of innovative new digital solutions KPMG and Microsoft have launched to support businesses on their ESG journey. Earlier this year, the longstanding global alliance was further strengthened with the release of the KPMG Circularity Tracker – a solution designed to provide even greater depth of ESG understanding for clients – including automated data collection and model-based data calculations using standards, regulatory reporting metrics and universally accepted measurement frameworks for circularity performance.

Since 2015, nearly 6,000 companies have announced science-based sustainability targets, representing a third of global market capitalization. Skilling is a vital prerequisite for driving progress. To meet their commitments, these companies need to gain insights, take action, and ultimately transform their businesses. We're proud to collaborate with KPMG on closing the skilling gap. The KPMG ESG Academy, powered by the Microsoft Cloud, provides the knowledge and tools that corporate leaders and their teams need to build more sustainable businesses that meet today’s critical climate challenges and tomorrow’s.

Shelly Blackburn

VP Cross Solutions at Microsoft

For more information, visit: www.kpmgesgacademy.com

For media queries, please contact:

Brian O’Neill, Senior Manager, Global External Communications
T: +44 7823 668 689
E: Brian.O’Neill@kpmg.co.uk

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 143 countries and territories with more than 265,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

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