PGE CSR

No, you don’t need to have a scientific or technical background to join the CSR Grande Ecole programme. The programme welcomes a wide range of students from business schools and universities specialising in management, human sciences, law or communications, after 2 or 3 years of higher education. While knowledge of the environment or sustainable development is an advantage, the course will enable you to gradually acquire the necessary expertise in CSR strategy and ecological transition.

The courses cover climate change, the circular economy and social impact in an educational and accessible way. The aim is to train managers capable of driving sustainable transformation, not environmental engineers. What counts most is your commitment to societal issues, your ability to lead change and your interest in responsible innovation.

The experience gained during the work-study year or the work-study contract in different organisations gives practical insight into the CSR professions and helps develop operational skills.

Absolutely. Corporate social responsibility has become a major strategic issue for all organisations in the face of climate and social challenges. Companies, local authorities and associations are actively seeking CSR experts to steer their sustainable transformation and comply with new European regulations. The sector is experiencing strong growth, with the proliferation of CSR departments, specialist consultancies and impact start-ups.

PGEs specialising in CSR prepare students for major changes: decarbonisation, the circular economy, sustainable finance and inclusion. The knowledge provided covers emerging professions in climate strategy, impact measurement and social innovation.

The regulatory framework is constantly being strengthened, creating new needs for expertise.

CSR activities now permeate all corporate departments: purchasing, HR, marketing and finance. The course aims to train professionals capable of reconciling economic performance and positive impact in a world in the throes of ecological and social transition.

Absolutely. The programme includes working professionals from CSR departments, sustainable development consultancies, mission-driven companies and players in the social economy. These lecturers bring their practical experience to bear through practical courses, real-life case studies and simulations of transformation projects. They share their vision of current issues: climate strategies, extra-financial reporting, circular innovation and change management.

This proximity to the professional world allows students to discover the methodologies used in higher education and facilitates access to work-study opportunities and professional training contracts. Their expertise covers various areas of CSR and sustainable management. The curriculum is firmly rooted in the field, enabling students to acquire directly applicable knowledge.

The tools and practices presented reflect the realities of the professional environment. Continuous assessment also includes projects carried out with corporate partners to ensure the relevance of the teaching.

Yes, organisations in all sectors are actively looking for young talent to structure and develop their CSR initiatives. Companies, consultancies and high-impact start-ups are recruiting trained people who can bring a fresh perspective to sustainable transformation and societal issues.

Young graduates of the Grande École CSR specialisation programme quickly find a job in the months following their graduation. Apprenticeships and work-study contracts make this easier: a large majority of graduates are taken on following their work-study programme. The sector values profiles with a mastery of strategy, management and impact measurement tools. New opportunities are opening up in sustainable finance, the circular economy and social innovation.

Whether as a CSR consultant, transition project manager or sustainable development manager, there are plenty of opportunities. The programme gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience during their year of training, through professional assignments that make it easier to apply for jobs with committed organisations. The level of skills acquired corresponds to the expectations of recruiters.

In addition to the technical skills in CSR strategy and project management acquired during the course, you will develop essential human qualities: the conviction to convey transformation issues to senior management, the ability to influence to mobilise teams around sustainable issues, and the empathy to understand the expectations of stakeholders.

You will strengthen your systemic vision so that you can grasp the complexity of environmental and social issues, your creativity so that you can design innovative solutions, and your resilience in the face of resistance to change. The sustainable management programme also helps you develop the agility to navigate a changing regulatory framework and the leadership to inspire responsible commitment.

The soft skills developed during the year are decisive for success in the CSR professions and advancement to management positions. Continuous assessment and field projects reinforce these human skills in real-life professional contexts, in contact with experts in sustainable development and transformation management.

The students who excel in this programme combine a commitment to societal issues, a sense of strategy and the ability to lead change. They come from a wide range of backgrounds after 2 or 3 years’ higher education: business schools, universities in management, human sciences, law or communications.

Profiles with previous experience in the voluntary sector, social entrepreneurship or impact projects are particularly successful. The most important thing is to have an appetite for transforming organisations, a curiosity to understand environmental and social issues, and an ability to convince in complex environments. The objectives of the programme are to train managers capable of combining performance and responsibility in a demanding professional environment.

The programme welcomes students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, the main criteria being motivation and a desire to work in a field related to sustainable transformation. Apprenticeships or professional training contracts enable students to rapidly develop sector-specific knowledge and tools specific to CSR management.

At the start of their career, graduates of the PGE specialising in CSR can expect to earn attractive salaries, generally between €30,000 and €45,000 gross per annum, depending on the position and the structure. Junior CSR consultants, sustainable development project managers and transition officers start out in this range.

After 3 to 5 years’ experience as a CSR manager, senior consultant or social innovation project manager, remuneration ranges from €50,000 to €60,000. Experienced profiles holding positions as CSR director, sustainable development director or innovation director in large companies, international groups or consultancies can earn €60,000 to €45,000 and more. The sustainable finance, transformation consulting and social innovation sectors often offer the most attractive packages.

Profiles in CSR strategy, project management and change management all combine to offer rapid career progression. The level of the degree (Master’s) and the experience acquired during the work-study programme mean that you will be able to enter the CSR profession at the highest professional level.

There are several ways of financing this course. Apprenticeships or professional training contracts are the most advantageous solutions: your tuition fees are largely covered by the company and you receive a salary while gaining practical work experience in a committed organisation. The programme can also be taken as an initial course, with long-term placements in CSR departments, consultancies or impact companies.

You may be eligible for grants based on social criteria, student loans or regional aid. Work-study applications are particularly encouraged in management programmes, as they allow you to acquire knowledge while being paid during your course.

This option offers an excellent training opportunity with no major debt, while immersing you in the professional world of CSR and sustainable development. Working in a company enables you to rapidly develop the tools and skills targeted by the programme.

Yes, CSR and sustainable development skills are in demand internationally, particularly in multinational organisations and global consultancies. Many courses include an international dimension on ESG standards, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and global extra-financial reporting practices.

You can do your work-study or work-study contract in foreign subsidiaries, international organisations or groups operating on several continents. Graduates work in organisations in Europe, America and Asia, managing global climate strategies and international impact projects. New opportunities are emerging in international sustainable finance and development cooperation programmes. Fluency in professional English is essential for these international careers in CSR management.

The programme enables you to develop a 360° vision of sustainable issues and build an extensive network. The knowledge you acquire and the tools you master can be applied in different cultural and regulatory environments, preparing you to do business anywhere in the world.

Yes, parallel admission is possible at different levels depending on your background. You can apply for the Évolution 1 competitive entrance exam after 2 years’ higher education and enter the first year (L3 level) if you have or are in the process of obtaining a DUT, BTS, Licence 2, level III certified qualification, or are enrolled in the second year of an IEP.

You can also apply for the Évolution 2 competitive entrance exam after 3 years’ higher education and enter the Grande École programme directly in the second year (M1 level) with a diploma attesting to at least three years’ higher education or a level II or III certified qualification.

The process assesses your academic record, your experience in societal issues and your CSR project. This flexibility allows us to welcome a wide range of profiles from business schools and universities in management, human sciences, law or communications. The key is to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable transformation.