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Portfolio · January 2026
Why have ESG investments become less attractive?
An analysis by Vivien Csapi and Attila Zoltán Nagy on perceptions of ESG stocks and market risks.
Sustainability Center
Turning knowledge into impact.
Turning ideas into change.
For us, sustainability is more than a research topic: it means learning together, making responsible business decisions and responding to real-world challenges. We connect students, researchers, businesses and society.
About us
Sustainability beyond the university walls.
The Sustainability Centre brings together the expertise of the University of Pécs Faculty of Business and Economics in ethical, responsible and sustainable practices. We turn research findings into learning experiences, business partnerships and societal impact.
Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we explore ESG, sustainable finance, resilience, corporate transition and the economic decisions that will shape the future.
What we bring together
Three pillars. One shared mission.
01 / Research
ESG Research Hub
International research, methodological development and accessible knowledge sharing.
02 / Learning
Sustainability vCampus
Courses, digital content, student challenges and skills development.
03 / Practice
Impact Living Lab
Working with partners to address real environmental and social challenges.
Find your way to get involved
What does sustainability mean to you?
Whether you want to learn, research, collaborate or simply find out more, there is a way for you to get involved.
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For students
Courses, ESG programmes, student research (TDK), theses, hackathons and business challenges.
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For researchers
ESG research group, research topics, publications, and collaboration on data and methods.
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For businesses
ESG readiness, joint projects, data-driven research and student-developed solutions.
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For everyone
ESG explained, analyses, articles, talks and public engagement with research.
Our core activities
Three paths towards a shared future
RESEARCH◈
ESG Research Hub
Research into ESG finance, corporate sustainability and resilience. Academic publications, methodological tools, research partnerships and accessible explanations of our latest findings.
LEARN◎
Sustainability vCampus
A sustainability learning ecosystem: ESG specialisations, professional development programmes, micro-credentials, digital learning materials, student projects and open knowledge.
ACT✳
Impact Living Lab
Real business, community and university challenges addressed jointly by students, researchers and partners through testing, measurement, intervention and impact evaluation.
Sustainability is a business issue, too. Our discussions of ESG, risk and sustainable finance are grounded in data and scientific evidence.
Sustainability vCampus / For students
Learn it. Try it. Research it.
Sustainability comes to life beyond the lecture hall through practical assignments, research mentoring and real business challenges.
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ESG and sustainability programmes
Learning from ESG advisory training, developing data analysis and reporting skills, and exploring ESG learning pathways at master's level.
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Projects and challenges
Hackathons, business cases, sustainability challenges and interdisciplinary project work.
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Student research (TDK), theses and PhDs
Choose a topic in ESG awareness, corporate resilience, green finance, biodiversity or sustainable decision-making.
ESG Research Hub / Research
Research that becomes practical knowledge.
The work of the Faculty's ESG Finance Research Group connects responsible transition, corporate adaptability and the financial implications of sustainability decisions.
ESG and SMEs · Sustainable finance · Resilience · Green bonds · Real options · Biodiversity · AI and ESG data
Current research areas
Businesses
SME ESG awareness and competitiveness
What factors shape ESG readiness and corporate adaptability?
Strategy and finance
Sustainable investment and flexibility
How can we make better decisions under uncertainty?
International collaboration
Green bonds, ESG and financial markets
Exploring sustainability information, capital market pricing and risk.
Knowledge sharing · Dissemination
Sustainability explained
Expert analyses, research explainers and educational resources — not just for researchers. Choose a topic and explore the related materials.
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Portfolio · March 2026
What drives the prices of gold, silver and copper?
Market uncertainty, the green transition and commodity prices: a research-based analysis for investors.
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Knowledge hub · Faculty overview
ESG: why does it matter to businesses?
The role of environmental, social and governance factors in business decisions.
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Research · Faculty background
How do we research a sustainable future?
The activities of the ESG Research Group and the Faculty's sustainability research connections.
Impact Living Lab · Projects / References
Real questions. Answers developed together.
Explore our research areas and planned Living Lab project formats below.
01
SME ESG and resilience research
Corporate readiness, shocks, competitiveness and decision support. Research Hub
02
ESG data analysis challenge
Student data projects based on corporate sustainability indicators. vCampus · proposed project format
03
Sustainability hackathon
A real partner challenge → student prototype → expert feedback. Living Lab · project format
04
Sustainable investments and green bonds
International research collaborations, research findings and knowledge transfer. Research Hub
Impact Living Lab / For businesses
Partner with us for a responsible transition.
We see ESG as more than a reporting task: it is a matter of risk, strategy and competitiveness. Business challenges, data and experts can all contribute to our research and educational collaborations.
ESG data and indicators · Sustainability readiness · Student case studies · Joint pilot projects · Professional workshops
Value for our partners
Let's do more than talk about impact. Let's measure it.
The proposed Living Lab process: identify the problem → co-design a solution → pilot → indicators and impact evaluation → a public case study sharing the lessons learned.
ESG Research Hub / For researchers
Open research collaborations
The ESG Research Hub connects thematic research and international collaborations. Together, we can develop measurement tools, produce comparative analyses and publications, and involve doctoral students and undergraduate researchers.
Public engagement / For everyone
Clear answers to the big questions of the future.
Why is a green investment not always truly green? What does corporate resilience mean? How can we measure social impact? The Centre brings research closer to the public through accessible articles, short videos, public talks and events.
A quick guide to ESG — frequently asked questions
What does ESG mean?
Environmental, Social and Governance: factors that help assess organisations' impacts, risks and operations.
Why does a business school focus on sustainability?
Because sustainability involves investment, financing, business strategy, consumer and societal decisions.
What is a Living Lab?
A collaborative, experimental approach in which researchers and stakeholders jointly design, test and evaluate solutions in real-world settings.
Our team and community
The people behind our research and initiatives
RP
Dr. Petra Eszter Rácz-Putzer
Head of the Centre
putzerp [at] ktk.pte.hu (putzerp[at]ktk[dot]pte[dot]hu)
CV
Dr. Vivien Csapi
ESG Research Group Lead · sustainable finance, ESG and corporate resilience
NA
Attila Zoltán Nagy
ESG Finance Research Group · investments, capital markets and sustainability analysis
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Our team and partners
Researchers, lecturers, doctoral students and business partners working together for a sustainable future.
Contact
Have an idea, a research question or a sustainability challenge?
Whether you are a student, researcher, business or civil society partner, we welcome the opportunity to explore ideas together.
University of Pécs Faculty of Business and Economics
Rákóczi út 80, Pécs 7622, Hungary
Contact: Dr. Petra Eszter Rácz-Putzer, Head of the Centre
putzerp [at] ktk.pte.hu (putzerp[at]ktk[dot]pte[dot]hu)
putzerp [at] ktk.pte.hu (subject: Sustainability%20Centre%20-%20enquiry) (Email us ↗)
How would you like to get involved?
Choose a topic: the button opens a pre-filled message in your email application.
A shared framework
Sustainable Development Goals
Our strategic pillars, events and activities are shaped by the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From education to responsible business practices, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.