Blended Intensive Programme (BIP): Sustanability, Finance and Taxation

Module objectives and intended study results

The students

• acquire in-depth knowledge of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) concepts as well as green finance and energy taxation from a European perspective, in particular through virtual events organized by partner universities of the EU GREEN initiative;
• engage with international research in the fields of sustainable finance and taxation and become familiar with current academic approaches;
• gain practical experience through a one-week international programme with student groups from EU GREEN partner universities at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg;
• apply their acquired knowledge and skills in a business game that takes both financial and non-financial objectives into account;
• present and discuss their results in front of an international audience of students and researchers.

Contents

The module is designed as a Blended Intensive Programme and consists of a virtual preparatory phase followed by a one-week on-site phase in Magdeburg.
Virtual Phase
The virtual phase comprises six online sessions, which take place every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (German time) and start on 22 April 2026. The sessions are conducted via Zoom.
The online sessions consist of thematic presentations combined with interactive discussion segments (approximately 15–30 minutes). Each participating partner university organises one virtual session. The content focuses in particular on the following topics:

• fundamentals of sustainable finance (ESG criteria, green finance, sustainable finance),
• sustainability in the financial sector, including sustainable bank management, balance sheet management and greenwashing,
• sustainable corporate finance and sustainable investments,
• ESG compliance, risk management and regulatory frameworks,
• environmental taxation and fiscal instruments, in particular carbon pricing and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS),
• European and international perspectives on sustainable finance and sustainability policy.

The virtual phase serves to prepare students for the on-site phase and provides theoretical foundations as well as insights into current academic research.
On-site Phase
Following the virtual phase, a one-week on-site programme takes place at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
During this week, students participate in an international business game in international teams, which integrates strategic and financial decision-making with sustainability and ESG objectives. In addition, further presentations and practice-oriented insights into locally based companies are offered, enabling students to deepen their knowledge in relevant areas of sustainable finance, taxation and regulation. The on-site phase is complemented by group work, discussions and student presentations and promotes international academic exchange.

References

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• Rogge, K.S., Hoffmann, V.H. (2010), The impact of the EU ETS on the sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies – findings for Germany, Energy Policy 38, 7639-7652.
• Rogge, K.S., Schneider, M., Hoffmann, V.H. (2011), The innovation impact of the EU Emission Trading System — findings of company case studies in the German power sector, Ecological Economics 70, 513-523.
• Schmidt, T.S., Schneider, M., Rogge, K., Schuetz, M.J.A., Hoffmann, V.H. (2012), The effects of climate policies on the rate and direction of innovation: A survey of the EU ETS and the electricity sector. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 2, 23–48.
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