Apply now for the 2025/2026 cohort

The Diploma is Social Responsibility & Sustainability is the longest standing and most respected program in Canada and recognized world-wide.

Graduates say this program is “Transformative” and “Inspiring”

Receive Mentoring from a Subject Matter Expert

Apply Social Responsibility, Sustainability & ESG to Your Work through a Capstone Project

Join a prestigious community of Alumni

Grads leave this program feeling better skilled for their career in this field and a whopping 50% are PROMOTED during the program or within months of graduation.


Apply for 2025/26 Cohort now to secure your space.

  • The 2024/2025 Cohort is now Full. You can apply now for the 2025/26 Cohort now to save your Space. The 2025/26 Cohort starts July 1, 2025 online. Our first in person session will be October 22, 23 and 24, 2025.

Take your Career in Sustainability, ESG, Social Purpose & CSR to the next level

  • Gain hands-on, practical experience through your ESG/Sustainability/Social Impact Capstone Project.
  • Benefit from a 1:1, 12 month Mentorship with a uniquely matched Practitioner & Thought Leader in ESG, Sustainability, & Social Responsibility.
  • Learn through a Blended, 11 day In-Person and 28 day (equivalent) On-line discussions, lectures & group cases  with ESG, Sustainability, Social Impact Practitioners and Thought Leaders.
  • Become part of a prestigious international changemaker community; more than 20 years in the making.
  • Work while you learn over a 16-month program; while making an impact with ongoing support of peers and practitioners. Fit this program into your schedule by taking up to 3 years to complete it.
  • Receive a recognized, professional, Post-Graduate University Credential with nominal letters (Dipl.SR&S) from a University with “Social Purpose” at its core.

Make your Career your Calling….

The 2024/25 Cohort is now Full. Follow us on Linkedin for Program Updates

New! – See Program Funding for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students and Newcomers and Refugees Here


Watch and learn about our program

Program Overview
Program Philosophy
Alumni Testimonial, Paul McQueen (Class 2023), VP Wealth Management, Libro Credit Union
Alumni Testimonial, Suzanne Pragg (Class 2023), Bus. Development & Donor Stewardship, Habitat for Humanity
Alumni Testimonial, Marley MacDonald (Class 2023), Director, Responsibility & Sustainability, Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Alumni Testimonial, Trish Tervit (Class 2022), Principal Owner, Tervit Communications

(Download the Information Session Presentation here)


News

Ron Knowles01

Ron Knowles Bursary Award Announced

Today David Sylvester, President, University of St. Michael’s College announced the establishment of the Ron Knowles Bursary Award, in memory of the late Ron Knowles, a beloved Mentor to students in the Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

A Season of Transformation for St. Mike’s CSR Program

For close to 20 years, University of St. Michael’s College has been the go-to school in Canada to study Corporate Social Responsibility, an operational philosophy also known by a variety of other labels, including ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), Corporate Citizenship, or Social Purpose and Social Innovation.

Dr. David Sylvester, President with Winners (centre - Alexandra Biron and Sarah Thirnbeck) and Honourable Mentions (Andrea McLeod and Nikki Byrne) of the President's Capstone Project Award

New Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability Recognizes Evolution of Social Impact at the University of St. Michael’s College

A name change, a new award and an enhanced academic designation mark a season of growth and transformation for the Corporate Social Responsibility program at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.


ESG, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility are common terms in this field: ESG is a subset of the field of Social Responsibility and Sustainability.  ESG focuses on the “financially material” Environmental, Social and Governance issues that impact an organization.  It focuses on the financial impact these external factors have on a company.  Social Responsibility and Sustainability focus on both how external factors “financially” impact a company and how a company might impact the Environment, Social and Economic systems of the world around it.  In Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Social Purpose is at the core of the strategy.

Other terms include: Corporate Responsibility, Corporate Citizenship, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Innovation, Social Purpose and Social Innovation. Community Investment is a field within Social Responsibility and Sustainability.


Proud participating companies include