Closing the Green Skills Gap 

The green transition is creating a growing skills gap. According to LinkedIn’s 2024 global green talent data, demand for green talent grew by 11.6% in a single year, while supply increased by only 5.6% – meaning demand grew at roughly twice the pace of supply. If current trends continue, the global green talent pool will need to at least double by 2050 to keep pace. 

The challenge is not limited to creating new “green jobs”. Existing roles across business, finance, government, risk, strategy, reporting, governance and operations are also changing as organisations respond to evolving sustainability requirements, technologies and market expectations. 

This creates a broader role for universities. Alongside formal degree education, higher education increasingly needs to support lifelong learning, continuing professional development, upskilling and reskilling – helping professionals, organisations and institutions build the capabilities required for the green transition. 

That is why the University of Sarajevo, through its Office for Climate Change and Sustainability, created the Sustainability Learning & Impact Platform – SLI. 

SLI brings together internationally recognised education and certification pathways, green skills and professional development, practical tools, advisory support and collaboration – helping turn sustainability knowledge into action. 

Based in Sarajevo, the platform is designed for individuals, organisations and institutions across sectors and disciplines, with learning and support available internationally.

Learning Connected to Global Standards and Professional Credentials 

SLI has formal provider relationships with leading international standard-setters and professional bodies through three specialised hubs. 

GRI Hub 

As a GRI Certified Training Partner with global delivery scope, the University of Sarajevo offers 12 GRI-licensed courses and preparation for the: 

• GRI Certified Sustainability Professional credential 
• GRI Certified ESRS Sustainability Professional credential 

Learning covers GRI Standards, ESRS disclosure requirements, impact materiality, double materiality, standardised sustainability reporting and external assurance readiness. 

Explore the GRI Hub:
https://thesli.unsa.ba/our-offer/courses-certifications/gri-hub/ 

IFRS Sustainability Hub 

University of Sarajevo is an FSA Credential Approved Education Provider, part of a select global network and the only one in the Western Balkans. 

Candidates can prepare for both required levels of the FSA® Credential: 

• Level I – Principles & Practices 
• Level II – Application & Analysis 

The learning connects the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and financial materiality with financial performance, corporate strategy, investment analysis and valuation. 

Explore the IFRS Sustainability Hub:
https://thesli.unsa.ba/our-offer/courses-certifications/ifrs-sustainability-hub/ 

GARP SCR Hub 

The University of Sarajevo is also a GARP Approved SCR® Exam Preparation Provider, the first in the Western Balkans to hold this status, with preparation available worldwide. 

The Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate covers areas including climate and sustainability foundations, sustainable finance, physical and transition risk, scenario analysis, nature risk, net zero and transition planning. 

Explore the GARP SCR Hub:
https://thesli.unsa.ba/our-offer/courses-certifications/garp-scr-hub/

From Sarajevo to Worldwide Learning 

SLI programmes are delivered through live online, face-to-face and tailored organisational formats, with learning available in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. 

Professional preparation is delivered by appropriately qualified trainers. GRI-licensed courses are taught by nominated trainers holding the active GRI professional credentials required for the courses they deliver, while FSA® and SCR® preparation is led by FSA Credential Holders and SCR® Certificate Holders. 

The University’s Office for Climate Change and Sustainability is also an Accredited Provider of The CPD Standards Office (UK). Participants completing accredited SLI programmes can earn approved CPD hours and formal CPD certificates. 

More Than Courses and Credentials 

SLI is broader than its three professional learning hubs. 

The platform also brings together: 

• green skills and professional development 
• training and webinars 
• advisory support 
• practical sustainability and climate tools 
• institutional capacity building 
• applied research and projects 
• international partnerships and collaboration 

Its purpose is to strengthen validated skills, workforce and organisational readiness, and enhanced employability, while connecting learning with practical implementation. 

One of SLI’s early priorities is to strengthen Sarajevo’s role as a regional centre of expertise for sustainability reporting and disclosure, connecting capabilities across GRI Standards, ESRS and the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. 

Who Is SLI For? 

SLI is designed for people, organisations and institutions across sectors and disciplines. 

Participants may come to build green skills, strengthen sustainability reporting or climate-risk expertise, prepare for an internationally recognised professional credential, develop organisational capacity or access practical support for implementation. 

Organisations can also request tailored programmes designed around their workforce, sector and sustainability priorities. 

Who Is Behind SLI?

SLI is developed and run by the University of Sarajevo’s Office for Climate Change and Sustainability, which coordinates and advances climate and sustainability work across the University while connecting academia with public institutions, business, civil society and international partners. 

Read more about the Office for Climate Change and Sustainability:
https://cir.unsa.ba/ured-za-odrzivost-eng/ 

What Comes Next 

In the coming weeks, we will take a closer look at SLI’s professional learning pathways, applied projects and new opportunities for collaboration. 

Explore SLI:
https://thesli.unsa.ba/ 

Explore Courses & Certifications:
https://thesli.unsa.ba/our-offer/courses-certifications/ 

Training, advisory or organisational enquiries:
contact@thesli.org 

[1] Source: LinkedIn Economic Graph, Global Climate Talent Stocktake 2024 https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/economicgraph/en-us/PDF/linkedIn-global climate-talent-stocktake-sept-2024.pdf