Sustainability Reporting Standards Education Workshop at Frankfurt School

On January 20 - 21 Frankfurt School hosted the inaugural Sustainability Reporting Standards Education Workshop, organised jointly by the European Accounting Association (EAA), EFRAG, and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

The two-day workshop brought together educators from universities and higher education institutions across Europe, focusing on the integration of sustainability reporting into academic curricula. With an increasing emphasis on sustainability in global and European contexts, the event addressed how educators can equip students to meet the evolving demands of sustainability reporting standards within the accounting profession.

The workshop offered technical and conceptual guidance to educators, focusing on EU and global sustainability reporting standards. Participants learned about the educational tools and resources available from global standard-setting organisations, and representatives from EFRAG, ISSB, EAA and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) delivered detailed insights into their respective frameworks and standards. Key sessions featured overviews of general and sector-specific requirements, SME standards, and non-EU standards. Discussions also covered activities supporting implementation, such as guidance on materiality, value chain and data points.

On the second day, the focus shifted to teaching practices, featuring practical insights into how sustainability reporting standards can be integrated into higher education syllabi. Academics from Tilburg University, Bocconi University, Universidad de Burgos, Universität Bamberg and from Frankfurt School shared their perspectives, fostering a dialogue about the connection between academic research and real-world applications. This exchange provided valuable new ideas and tools for educators to enhance their teaching and research.

Martin Wambach, Managing Partner at Rödl & Partner, shared his practitioner’s perspective in his keynote Lessons for educators: a perspective from practice. He outlined the competencies Rödl & Partner seeks in the fields of auditing and consulting to address the challenges and opportunities posed by regulations for reporting clients. His insights underscored the importance of embedding these topics into academic curricula to better prepare students for the evolving demands of the profession.

The event concluded with a collaborative session focused on next steps, emphasising the importance of ongoing partnerships between academia and standard-setting organisations.