GRI
Training
Curriculum© GRI 2023

Table of contents

1 GRI Education ................................................................................ 3
Professional Certification Program .................................... 4
2 GRI1. Introduction
to Sustainability Reporting and the
GRI Standards ........................................................................................................5
2. Reporting with the GRI Standards .....................................................................6
3. Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI Standards .......................................7
4. Integrating the SDGs into Sustainability Reporting ...........................................8
5. Certification Exam ..............................................................................................9

Courses .............................................................................. 113 CEUsUnlocking the ESRS for GRI reporters ................................................................. 11External Assurance for Sustainability Reporting: A Comprehensive Guide .......12
Reporting with GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors ...............13
Transparency for Tomorrow: Decoding the Sustainability
Reporting Landscape ............................................................................................ 14
Mastery of Transparent Tax Reporting .................................................................15
Reporting on the Impact of Occupational Health and Safety .............................16
Waste Management Impact Reporting ................................................................ 17
Unveiling GRI Sector Standards: In-Depth Insights
and Real-world Applications .............................................................................. 18

Courses .............................................................................. 19
4 Other
A Beginner's Guide to Sustainability Reporting ...................................................19
GRI Content Index Course ...................................................................................20
Transitioning to the GRI Standards 2021 ............................................................. 21

1

GRI Education
The activities of GRI Education are closely linked to this focus area of GRI: to “Lead efficientand effective sustainability reporting: Improve the quality of disclosures made using the GRI
Standards.”

Online learning: GRI Academy
The GRI Academy is GRI's learning platformthat hosts various training courses covering
sustainability and sustainability reporting
using the GRI Standards. Individuals
worldwide can sign up and choose how,when, and where to start learning.The online
courses offer interactive and narrated
learning with intermediate checkpoints tomonitor progress and help you stay on track.

Blended learning: instructor-led
learning by GRI training partners
Learners who prefer a learning experience
with guidance from a trainer can opt to takeone or more of the certification courses with
one of the Certified Training Partners present
in our worldwide training network. This
blended learning path uses local and contextspecific materials and helps learners build
their network and broaden their perspectives
through knowledge-sharing with fellow
participants.

Professional Certification Program

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Sustainability professionals can obtain thetitle “GRI Certified Sustainability
Professional” by completing the Professional
Certification Program, which is a set ofcourses that cover the fundamentals of GRI
reporting and a final exam. They can do so
by following the entire program online at the
GRI Academy or by taking a part of the
program from a GRI Certified Training
Partner (CTP).

GRI wants to encourage sustainability
professionals to continue learning aboutsustainability reporting and the GRI
Standards. Therefore, we require individuals
who want to maintain their status as certified
professionals to periodically collect a specified
number of so-called Continuing Education
Units (CEUs). CEUs represent learning hours
in the field of sustainability reporting and canbe collected (a.o.) by completing CEUs
courses on the GRI Academy.

Page 3 of 23

2

GRI Professional Certification Program
Description
The GRI Professional Certification Program is designed to enhance the knowledge, expertise,and skills of sustainability professionals in implementing the GRI Standards to improve thequality of sustainability reporting. Based on the GRI Universal Standards, the program covers
the fundamentals of reporting with the GRI Standards in the context of the evolving
sustainability reporting landscape.

Included courses
1. Introduction to sustainability reporting and the GRI Standards
2. Reporting with the GRI Standards
3. Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI Standards
4. Integrating the SDGs into sustainability reporting
5. Certification exam

Page 4 of 23

Certification Learning Plan

1. Introduction to Sustainability Reporting and the GRI
Standards
Description
Climate change, human rights, poverty – sustainable
development addresses all these global issues and more. It
fosters a greener, equitable and inclusive world. The GRI
Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards) are thefirst and most widely used standards for sustainability
reporting. They help organizations to provide information on
their impacts on sustainable development in a way thatenables comparisons and creates transparency.
The course introduces learners to the practice of sustainability
reporting and explores key concepts for reporting using the
GRI Standards. It takes learners through the current
sustainability challenges our world is facing and explains how
these can be overcome through sustainable development. In
addition, the course introduces learners to the history of GRI
and explains the process by which the GRI Standards aredeveloped and updated. The course describes the benefits ofsustainability reporting and presents the main concepts of the
GRI Standards such as the reporting principles, stakeholder
engagement, impact, and material topics.

Course content
The course is structured as follows:� Sustainability challenges
� Sustainability reporting� GRI and the GRI Standards
� Self-assessment

Audience
This course is aimed at anyone who wishes to know more about sustainability, sustainability
reporting, and how the GRI Standards can help organizations increase their transparency andcommunicate their sustainability contributions and impacts.

Page 5 of 23

Certification Learning Plan

2. Reporting with the GRI Standards

Description
This self-paced online course is designed for individuals seeking
to gain a comprehensive understanding of the GRI Standards
and how to use the Standards for best practice impact reporting.
The course delivers a tailored learning experience that blends thetheory of the GRI Standards with suggestions for their practicalapplication.
The course explains the structure and purpose of the GRI
Standards and introduces the requirements for reporting inaccordance with the Standards. It describes the process for
identifying impacts and determining material topics, as well as
how to report on impacts associated with each topic.

Course content
The course is structured as follows:� Part 1: GRI Standards Basics• Main features• Standards-specific terminology• The corporate reporting landscape� Part 2: The system of GRI Standards• Key concepts, reporting principles, and “in accordance” requirements
� Part 3: Reporting using the GRI Standards• Step-by-step guidance on reporting using the GRI Standards
� Part 4: Determine material topics
� Part 5: Report information
� Part 6: Final steps

Audience
This course is aimed at a wide range of users, from sustainability consultants, CSR specialists,and reporters, to C-suite executives and students in the field of sustainability and CSR reporting.

Page 6 of 23

Certification Learning Plan

3. Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI Standards

Description
This course is self-paced, providing an in-depth overview andanalysis of how to report on human rights with the GRI
Standards. The course offers a holistic view of the relevance ofhuman rights and human rights transparency for organizations. It
describes the key concepts and the process for identifying
impacts and determining material topics in the GRI Standards
related to human rights. In addition, the course discusses thedisclosures in the GRI Standards related to reporting on humanrights. Through case studies and examples, the course provides
practical insights on how to report on human rights using the
GRI Standards. It uses knowledge checks and assessments toensure the material has been properly understood.

Course content
The course is structured as follows:� Introduction to the course� Part 1: Introduction to human rights and human rights reporting� Part 2: Fundamentals of the GRI Standards
� Part 3: Reporting expectations and disclosures for human rights set out in the GRI Standards
� Final takeaways and wrap up

Audience
This course is aimed at new and existing reporting practitioners as well as the sustainability
professionals that assist them. Other users of the GRI Standards, such as students, academics,
data users, or policymakers who want to understand and gain practical knowledge on how toreport on human rights using the GRI Standards are also welcome to take this course.

Page 7 of 23

Certification Learning Plan

4. Integrating the SDGs into Sustainability Reporting

Description
This training course explores the global sustainability challenges
addressed by the Global Goals and defines the business case forengaging with the SDGs. It explains the role of sustainability
reporting and how it contributes to sustainable development andthe achievement of the SDGs. In addition, it interprets thecurrent trends, challenges, and opportunities facedby organizations when it comes to reporting on the SDGs.
It takes a deep dive into practical aspects of integrating theSDGs into existing sustainability reporting processes byfollowing the four-step approach outlined in the revised GRI
Universal Standards 2021. The course also explores howorganizations can disclose the integration of sustainable
development considerations into their company strategy andmanagement decisions.
During this course you will be encouraged to reflect on subjects
related to the Global Goals, test the knowledge you have gained,
and hear from practitioners about the value of reporting on the SDGs
and recommendations based on their own reporting experience.

Course content
The course is structured as follows:� Introduction to the course� Part 1: How the SDGs and sustainability reporting enable sustainable development
� Part 2: Reporting on the SDGs: current trends, challenges, and opportunities� Part 3: Integrating the SDGs into Sustainability Reporting� Part 4: Manage impacts and implement change� Conclusion and key take-aways

Audience
This course is aimed at sustainability professionals who want to get a better understanding of how
the UN Sustainable Development Goals could be integrated into sustainability reporting practices
or are trying to embed the SDGs in sustainability reports.

Page 8 of 23

Certification Learning Plan

5. Certification Exam

Description
The Certification exam is the final element of the GRI
Professional Certification Program. It has a defined learning paththat includes four courses that cover the fundamentals ofreporting using the GRI Standards. Passing the exam grants
individuals the status of ‘GRI Certified Sustainability
Professional’.
The exam tests learners’ knowledge of the content covered in
the four courses of the Professional Certification Program.
If candidates fail the exam, they can retake it three times with a
7-day cooling-off period between attempts. The Certification
exam can only be taken online, through the GRI Academy.
Candidates are required to install a proctoring software programon their computer before taking the exam to ensure the integrityof the exam attempt. No resources are allowed to the consulted
during the exam.

Course content
The exam consists of 40 questions of various types (single choice, multiple choice, true/false,
complete the sentence). It has a passing score of 75% and must be completed in one hour.

Audience
All individuals who have signed up for the GRI Professional Certification program, havecompleted the required courses and wish to obtain the status of ‘GRI Certified Sustainability
Professional’.

Page 9 of 23

10

CEUs & Other courses

3

CEUs Courses

Unlocking the ESRS for GRI reporters
Description
This course introduces learners to the Corporate Sustainability
Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the instrument for achieving
CSRD compliance, the European Sustainability ReportingStandards (ESRS). It explains how existing GRI reporters canleverage their current reporting processes and practices toreport with the ESRS. The course further explains how the two
sets of standards are aligned, how organizations can reportusing both to disclose their impacts, risks and opportunities,
and how to apply the existing mapping documents between thetwo standards.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: Getting to know the CSRD and the ESRS� Part 2: Exploring the ESRS further� Part 3: Leveraging the GRI process to determine material topics for ESRS reporting� Part 4: Comparing ESRS and GRI disclosures� Part 5: Publishing ESRS reports
� Part 6: Where do you go from here?
� Wrap-up

Audience
This course is aimed at GRI reporters and those who support them in all organizations that are
affected by the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Page 11 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

External Assurance for Sustainability Reporting: A
Comprehensive Guide
Description
This course offers a broad introduction to the practice of
assurance of sustainability reporting and addresses how
assurance can contribute not only to the quality of public
disclosure, but also to improvements in an organization’s internal
systems and processes.

250€

The course guides participants through essential aspects ofsustainability information assurance, highlighting distinctions
from financial auditing. It addresses stakeholder concerns,
explores internal reporting systems, and outlines the assurance
process. The final segment provides guidelines for selecting an
apt third-party provider, emphasizing the unique considerations
compared to appointing a financial auditor.

3h
Access: one year
No specific priorknowledge isrequired to follow
this course
EnglishCertificate ofcompletion
2 CEUsCourse content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: The what and why of external sustainability reporting assurance� Part 2: Preparing your organization for external assurance� Part 3: Understanding the assurance process� Part 4: Finding the right assurance provider
� Final knowledge check� Wrap-up

Audience
This course is aimed at sustainability management and reporting professionals who have had little
experience of any third-party assurance (including financial auditing), and who will have to workwith external auditors assuring their sustainability reporting.

Page 12 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Reporting with GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing
Sectors
Description
This course starts by looking into the significance of the GRISector Standards, their purpose and their objective. Addressing
often-raised concerns surrounding the limitations ofsustainability reporting, it shows how the GRI Sector Standards
can strengthen the reporting process.
The course presents a detailed examination of Sector Standard
GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing Sectors 2022. It
presents the Standard's structure and analyses thesustainability context and impacts on the respective sectors.
By taking the course, you will learn how GRI 13 comes intoplay in the reporting process using the GRI Standards.
Through the lens of a reporter within an aquacultureorganization, you will gain insights into the practical applicationof the Standard and see how the GRI 13 can be integrated into
your reporting process.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: What is the value of the GRI Sector Standards?
� Part 2: GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors – context, structure, and impacts
� Part 3: How to report using GRI 13: Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors?
� Wrap up

Audience
The course is intended for seasoned reporting practitioners and consultants supporting reporters
working in the agriculture, aquaculture and fishing sectors who are familiar with the GRI Standards
and the reporting process in accordance with the Standards.

Page 13 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Transparency for Tomorrow: Decoding the Sustainability
Reporting Landscape
Description
This course offers a deep dive into the sustainability reporting
landscape. It covers the latest trends in sustainability reporting,including concepts crucial to understanding the differences
between the various instruments that populate the landscape.
The course presents an overview of the main sustainability
reporting instruments, including the GRI Standards, European
Sustainability Reporting Standards, IFRS Sustainability
Disclosure Standards, U.S. SEC Climate Disclosure Rule, TCFD
recommendations, and TNFD recommendations.

195€
3hAccess: one year
No specific priorknowledge isrequired to follow
this course
EnglishThe course also delves into the alignment between these
instruments, describing how they can be used in conjunction with
the GRI Standards to enhance reporting effectiveness.

Certificate ofcompletion
2 CEUsCourse content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: State of play� Part 2: Key concepts
� Part 3: The main players in sustainability reporting� Part 4: A deeper dive into each reporting instrument
� Part 5: Where do you go from here?
� Wrap-up

Audience
The course is aimed at reporting practitioners and those supporting sustainability reporting
practices including consultants, management boards, and other sustainability professionals.

Page 14 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Mastery of Transparent Tax Reporting

Description
The GRI 207: Tax 2019 Standard is the first global public
reporting Standard for tax transparency. It enables
organizations to better understand and communicate
information about their tax practices publicly. This Standard
combine management approach disclosures on tax strategy
and public country-by-country reporting on business activities,
revenues, profit, and tax.
This course explains some tax-related concepts and clarifies
why tax is a sustainability issue. It discusses tax-related
impacts and presents the stakeholder groups asking for taxrelated information. The course also explains the GRI 207: Tax
2019 disclosures and how to use this Standard in the context
of sustainability reporting based on the GRI Standard.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: The GRI Standards
� Part 2: Tax – sustainability and transparency
� Part 3: GRI 207: Tax 2019 disclosures� Part 4: Using GRI 207 in the context of the GRI Standards
� Part 5: GRI 207 in relation to other reporting tools� Part 6: Reflections and conclusions

Audience
This course is aimed at a wide range of users, from report preparers to other stakeholders
interested in reporting on tax as a sustainability issue, such as academics, investors, civil society,and government representatives.

Page 15 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Reporting on the Impact of Occupational Health and Safety

Description
This course provides guidance on how to report on the GRI
403: Occupational Health and Safety Standard, which was
updated in 2018. The course explains the features of and key
concepts in the Standard, as well as the requirements of the
management approach and topic-specific disclosures.
The course also provides general information on trends in
Occupational Health and Safety (referred to as OHS) and how
to manage the impacts on data collection related to the
COVID-19 pandemic.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Part 1: Trends and challenges related to OHS management
� Part 2: The GRI Standards
� Part 3: GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety 2018
� Part 4: Scope of 'workers'
� Part 5: Topic management disclosures� Part 6: Topic disclosures

Audience
The course is for sustainability professionals who want to know how to include occupational healthand safety impacts in their sustainability report based on the GRI Standards.

Page 16 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Waste Management Impact Reporting

Description
GRI 306: Waste 2020, which updates previous GRI disclosures
on waste, requires organizations to report on waste generated
throughout the value chain, and disclose detailed information
on its composition and how it is managed.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of GRI 306:
Waste 2020, including key concepts and disclosure
requirements. It also reflects the revisions made to theStandard following its update. Through a combination oftheoretical insights and practical examples, it offers in-depth
guidance on the application of the Standard.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: The GRI Standards
� Part 2: GRI 306 Background� Part 3: GRI 306 Key features� Part 4: Topic Management disclosures� Part 5: Topic disclosures
� Wrap-up

Audience
The course is aimed at professionals with a role in advancing waste management in theirorganization, business representatives with a role in sustainability or CSR reporting, and anyone
interested in learning more about waste management and reporting.

Page 17 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Unveiling GRI Sector Standards: In-Depth Insights andReal-world Applications
Description
The course starts by discussing the role of the GRI Sector
Standards in general, their purpose, objective, anddevelopment process. It addresses often-raised concerns
about the limitations of the sustainability reporting process anddemonstrates how the Sector Standards can strengthen thisprocess.
Then, to illustrate the concepts related to the Sector
Standards, the course takes a deep dive into the first GRI
Sector Standard, GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector 2021, its likely
material topics and the context and impacts of the oil and gas
sector. It also presents in detail how GRI 11 comes into play inthe reporting process using the GRI Standards.
Finally, the course contains case studies of two organizationsin the oil and gas sector that share their experience of using
GRI 11.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: What is the value of the GRI Sector Standards?
� Part 2: GRI 11 - Context, structure and impacts
� Part 3: Reporting with GRI 11
� Wrap-up

Audience
This course is a mandatory CEUs course for all GRI Certified Professionals who wish to extend
their certification. Like all CEUs courses, the course can also be taken outside of the certification
program as a standalone course by anyone familiar with the GRI Standards and the process ofreporting in accordance with the GRI Standards.

Page 18 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

4

Other Courses

A Beginner's Guide to Sustainability Reporting
Description
A Beginner's Guide to Sustainability Reporting is an e-learning
course specifically designed for individuals who are new to theconcepts of sustainability in business and sustainability
reporting. Whether you are a student, or represent a small to
medium enterprise, or a professional transitioning into asustainability role, or are simply curious, this course provides
an ideal starting point for your learning journey in this field.
Throughout the video and interactive parts in this course, youwill explore five distinct questions, each focusing on essential
aspects of sustainable development and sustainability
reporting. By completing this course, you will gain a solid
foundational overview of sustainability concepts and reporting
practices, for you to build upon with more specialized
knowledge. At the end of each part, there is a short knowledge
check, and upon completion of all knowledge checks, learners
will receive a certificate.
Please note that parts one to four of this course are video
format, and part five is interactive format.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Part 1: What are sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals?
� Part 2: What role can my organization play in building a sustainable future?
� Part 3: What actually is sustainability reporting?
� Part 4: Why should my organization undertake sustainability reporting?
� Part 5: How do I use the GRI Standards in the sustainability reporting process?

Audience
The course is aimed at those who are new to the field of sustainability and sustainability reporting
and are interested in gaining insights into the value of reporting on impacts transparently.

Page 19 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

GRI Content Index Course

Description
This training course provides information about how to prepare
a GRI content index based on the GRI Standards. It alsopresents and discusses the GRI Content Index Template,which helps to prepare a high-quality GRI Content Index
quickly and easily.

50€
1hAccess: one year

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Overview of the GRI Standards 2021
� What is a GRI content index?
� GRI content index requirements
� Best practices when building a GRI content index
� How to build a GRI content index using the Content Index
Template

Knowledge ofthe structure andapplication of the
GRI Standards, aswell as practicalexperience withsustainability
reporting using
the Standards isrecommended
EnglishCertificate ofcompletion

Audience
This training course was prepared for all types of sustainability reporters who use the GRI
Standards.

Page 20 of 23

CEUs & Other courses

Transitioning to the GRI Standards 2021

Description
In October 2021, the revised GRI Universal Standards 2021
were launched, to improve the quality and consistency ofsustainability reporting as well as how organizations use theStandards to disclose their impact.
The Transition course provides an overview of the recent
updates to the GRI Standards, including the revision of the
Universal Standards series, and the release of the first GRI
Sector Standard for oil and gas. The course explains why therevisions to the Universal Standards took place and how therevision process was concluded. It also describes what
learners can expect to find in the new Universal Standards,
and explores how these changes were carried through to the
GRI Topic Standards.
The course also briefly introduces the new GRI Sector
Standard for oil and gas, GRI 11: Oil and Gas Sector 2021.

Course content
This course is structured as follows:� Introduction
� Part 1: Changes to the GRI Universal Standards
� Part 2: Adaptations to the GRI Topic Standards
� Part 3: GRI Sector Standards
� Conclusion

Audience
The course is intended for seasoned sustainability professionals who are familiar with the GRI
Standards, and its purpose is to give a high-level overview of what has changed in the revised
Universal Standards 2021.

Page 21 of 23

Page 22 of 23

The GRI Academy is GRI’s learning platformthat hosts various training courses covering
sustainability and sustainability reporting
using the GRI Standards. Individuals
worldwide can sign up and choose how,when, and where to start learning. The online
courses offer interactive and narrated learningwith intermediate checkpoints to monitor
progress and help you stay on track.

Stay in touch
For more information:
griacademy@globalreporting.org
https://griacademy.globalreporting.org/