Maximize Your Summer: 20 Sustainability Externships and Simulations to Enhance Your Resume
- Molly Sneddon
- Jun 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 17
Not sure how to build your resume this summer? Looking for something to add to your experiences in lieu of an internship? Our list of 20 externships and simulations available for free online can help keep your mind fresh and prepare for the upcoming semester!
Coursera:
The “Design for the Circular Economy” microcredential and graduate certificate are developed around the educational goals of providing technical, business, and leadership knowledge and skills that inspire the transformation towards a more circular economy.
Time Commitment: 20 hours
Instructor: Christy Bozic, PhD, PMP
"Alain Grandjean and his colleagues from Carbone 4 will bring you the fundamentals of the subject, scientific bases to clarify the stakes, but also and above all, methodological elements to help you put your company on the path of the 2 degrees.With my fellow professors from ESSEC, we will bring you complementary views and a synthesis of all the contents."
Time Commitment: 12 hours
Instructor: Thierry Sibieude
"This beginner-friendly course provides a foundational introduction to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and their critical role in addressing global environmental and societal challenges. Participants will explore ESG’s growing importance in business and policy, learn key terminology, and gain insights into major players in the ESG landscape. Designed for individuals across all roles and industries, this course equips learners with the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving world of sustainable practices and lay the groundwork for impactful ESG initiatives."
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Instructor: Duke Corporate Education
"The course is designed and taught by Professor Katherine Richardson, who is a member of the 15-person panel appointed by the UN General Secretary in 2016 to write the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report. In each lecture, Katherine interviews experts who provide insights relevant to the topic at hand."
Time Commitment: 10 hours
Instructor: Katherine Richardson
"This course offers an engaging and easy-to-follow exploration of reducing carbon emissions and achieving net zero. It’s perfect for those passionate about sustainability, especially sustainability professionals looking to minimize environmental impact through their work. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of climate change science and the major sources of carbon emissions. The course covers a variety of strategies to reduce carbon emissions, including renewable energy solutions, energy efficiency improvements, and innovative carbon capture technologies."
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Instructor: Anna Delgove Alday
"This course introduces you to the rapidly evolving world of sustainable finance and its transformative role in driving positive environmental and social impact. You'll explore how sustainable finance differs from traditional finance and discover the key products and instruments that are reshaping the financial landscape, from green bonds to sustainability-linked loans and impact investing."
Time Commitment: 14 hours
Instructor: Amir Amel-Zadeh
"The MOOC introduces learners to key environmental health and natural resources management challenges associated with the rapid growth in international tourist arrivals into low-income countries. Since infrastructural and regulatory capacities in such countries are often limited they are more exposed to the negative implications of such development. The MOOC will present experiences and potential avenues to develop a more sustainable form of tourism."
Time Commitment: 14 hours
Instructor: Flemming Konradsen
Forage:
"In this job simulation you will complete tasks focused on human rights risks that our clients may face. You will learn how you, as a lawyer, can advise clients on how to approach such challenges."
Time Commitment: 6-7 hours
Company: Clifford Chance
"In this program - you'll be working with our client Fast Cars to help them reach their Carbon Emissions Reduction targets. We're so excited for you to gain insight into our world of work - so go ahead and get started!"
Time Commitment: 3-4 hours
Company: Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
"In this programme you will complete tasks focused on climate change risks that our clients may face. You will learn how you, as a lawyer, can advise clients on how to approach such challenges."
Time Commitment: 5-6 hours
Company: Clifford Chance
"During this programme, you will get the opportunity to step into the shoes of a TCS team member and complete tasks that replicate the work that our ESG team does every day. You’ll learn how to understand and analyse a client and their needs, identify sustainability solutions for them and then present a final value proposition and matrix presentation."
Time Commitment: 4-5 hours
Company: Tata
"During this program, you will get the opportunity to step into the shoes of a consultant at Oliver Wyman and replicate our team's everyday work. You'll learn key skills in data analysis, benchmarking, effectively communicating complex information, and more."
Time Commitment: 4-5 hours
Company: Oliver Wyman
"During this program, you will get the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Mayer Brown team member and complete tasks that replicate the work that our team of lawyers in the Renewable Energy practice does every day. You’ll learn or improve on your analytical thinking, legal analysis, and communication skills."
Time Commitment: 6-7 hours
Company: Mayer Brown
"Clifford Chance has collaborated with Swiss Re to create a program that aims to help you develop skills in several areas, including building a foundational understanding of insurance and reinsurance, preparing a global communication email, identifying and assessing ESG issues to develop a strategy to mitigate climate change risks and gain an understanding of the different types of insurance and reinsurance policies available to cover climate risks."
Time Commitment: 3-4 hours
Company: Clifford Chance and Swiss Re
"In this programme you will complete tasks focused on sustainable finance to help our clients. You will learn how you, as a lawyer, can advise clients to future-proof their businesses and identify risks and opportunities."
Time Commitment: 6-7 hours
Company: Clifford Chance
"This program will help you to build your practical skills and provide you with unique insight into the industry. We hope you enjoy!"
Time Commitment: 5-6 hours
Company: ACCA
"The world is facing unprecedented challenges. Runaway climate change and rampant inequality are causing rifts in society and costing a fortune. Business must play a critical role in building a better future. Even in harder times, a new kind of business is emerging, one that improves the well-being of everyone it touches. Join former Unilever CEO Paul Polman and sustainable business guru Andrew Winston as they explore what it means to be a “net positive” business and a new kind of courageous, humane, and adaptive leader. Explore why change is hard, what leading from the middle looks like, and how to get started toward a much better path for business and your career."
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Instructors: Andrew Winston and Paul Polman
"Sustainability is a major concern across all realms of commerce these days. And as it turns out, the majority of greenhouse gas emissions are found in the supply chain: Product sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and delivery have a huge impact on air, soil, and water. So when it comes to sustainability, it’s largely the responsibility of supply chain professionals to identify areas of impact where small changes can make a big difference. In this course, Sarah Barnes-Humphrey shares case studies, real world examples, and lessons from her 20 years of experience to give you practical advice on what you need to do to start building an effective and measurable sustainability plan that your whole business buys into."
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Instructor: Sarah Barnes-Humphrey
"We’ve all experienced how supply chains can break down, but what can you do to keep your organization’s supply chains ethical, sustainable, and competitive? In this practical course, instructor Eddie Davila guides you through the process of building supply chains that are great for the planet and your business! Eddie begins with some definitions to help you understand how ESG (environmental, societal, and governance) concerns relate to your supply chain. He explains several ESG opportunities and challenges, then goes over organizational roles and the competitive advantage of green supplier networks. Eddie presents a road to sustainable supply chains, then shows how you can put ESG into practice."
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Instructor: Eddie Davila
"In this course, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez introduces you to groundbreaking tools and techniques to make your projects more sustainable, including the Triple Bottom Line, which can help you start turning challenges into sustainable outcomes. Antonio provides clear and actionable guidance on how to plan, execute, and monitor your projects in the most sustainable ways possible, allowing you to go beyond small, one-time improvements and drive sustainability on your projects to come."
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Instructor: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
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