Accounting and Finance PGRs join global doctoral reading group on climate finance
PhD researchers in Accounting and Finance at Leeds University Business School are participating in a prestigious global doctoral course on climate finance led by Harvard University.
Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) from the Accounting and Finance Department at the University of Leeds have been given the opportunity to participate in a prestigious global doctoral course on climate finance, organised by the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University.
The course, Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability (FECS), brings together PGRs and leading academics from institutions across the world to explore the rapidly evolving field of climate finance. Delivered through a series of interactive sessions, the programme examines how financial systems can support the transition to more sustainable and low-carbon economies, while addressing the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.
Participation in FECS provides Leeds PGRs with access to cutting-edge research and teaching from internationally recognised scholars. The course explores core areas of finance, including asset pricing, corporate finance, and banking, through the lens of climate finance and sustainability.
At Leeds, the initiative is coordinated locally through the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance (CASIF), enabling PhD students to engage with the global sessions while benefiting from local academic support.
Professor Danilo Mascia, Deputy Director of the Accounting and Finance PhD Programme at CASIF and local coordinator of the initiative, said:
We are delighted to offer our PGRs the opportunity to participate in this outstanding global initiative. The FECS programme provides exposure to frontier research and connects our students with an international community of scholars working at the forefront of climate finance. It is an excellent platform for developing new research ideas and contributing to one of the most important areas in modern finance.
The following PhD researchers from Leeds are currently participating in the programme: Fangqi Guo, Fida Muthia, Rúben Goncalves Belchior, and Zhoutong Cao.
Participants have already highlighted the value of the experience for their research development, particularly in shaping new ideas and perspectives. Zhoutong Cao commented:
The course has been extremely insightful, particularly in areas such as impact investing in private markets. Engaging with recent academic work and real-world case studies has really broadened my perspective. It has also been especially helpful as I develop ideas for my next thesis chapter, giving me new directions and inspiration for my research.
By taking part in FECS, CASIF continues to strengthen its commitment to developing future researchers equipped to address global challenges in finance and sustainability.
