Governance of Sustainability (MSc)

Career prospects

Acquired skills and competences

After completing the programme, you are able to analyse complex sustainability issues from both an environmental sustainability and governance perspective. You will know how to integrate these perspectives in order to develop and implement solutions. You will have acquired a wide variety of skills, including qualitative and quantitative research skills, and transferable skills. 

Alexander van Oudenhoven

Educational director and lecturer biodiversity & ecosystems, Faculty of Science, Leiden University

“Nature-based solutions are a hot topic in science and policy making. Students will obtain the skills to study biodiversity and human wellbeing outcomes of such nature-based solutions. They will also understand the role of different stakeholder perspectives and roles within collaboration processes. With this skills combined, our students will be able to act as a knowledge broker between the rapidly advancing scientific domain and the policy-making arena, both locally and (inter)nationally.”

Career

This programme prepares you for governance-related, analytic and strategic positions at (semi-) governmental and private-sector organisations. A high fraction of graduates work in government ranging from semi-governmental organizations that connect public and private actors, to international bodies like the European Union. Policy officers and advisors are popular professions in this category. These graduates issue advice to government bodies to facilitate an informed decision making process. Key policy areas include water management, agriculture and renewable energy. 

Consultancy has also emerged as a popular profession among graduates. Most of these consultancies tackle sustainability-related topics like climate adaptation and the energy transition. Additionally, some consultants specialise in risk assessment and ESG (environmental-social-governance), which involves monitoring company compliance with local and international sustainability directives.

The corporate/private sector professions are more diverse, ranging from (sustainable) finance to supply chain and manufacturing, and renewable energy. Positions include project leaders, managers and coordinators, demonstrating opportunities to pursue leadership.

Some graduates opt to pursue more academic or research-oriented professions. They primarily pursue a PhD or land positions at research institutes. Salient PhD research topics include food systems and sustainability-based transitions.  

The NGO category includes both non-profit and non-governmental organizations. Working in this sector typically involves advocacy and coordinating complex stakeholder networks. 
 
Finally, some graduates follow an entrepreneurial path and start their own businesses or organizations.