PANAJI: Goa Institute of Management (GIM) has won the title of “Highly Commended- Sustainability Institute of the year” in the International Green Gown Awards 2022 during a virtual ceremony. It is the only academic institution in India to win this prestigious global award, states a press release.
GIM was among the 56 participating teams from 19 countries like Canada, Australia, U.K, Morocco, etc, to reach the finals. The winners were declared as a part of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
The International Green Gown Awards, which recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by the world’s universities and colleges, raise the bar and place every learning institution at the heart of delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Judging Panel took note of the B-school’s extensive program of activities across the majority of sustainability areas. GIM strives to work towards SDG Goal #7 affordable and clean energy, SDG Goal #11 sustainable cities and communities, SDG Goal #12 responsible consumption and production, and SDG Goal #13 climate action. The myriad of eco-friendly methods which are adopted by them include the use of solar energy through a rooftop solar PV plant, using water from the 800 cubic-meter rainwater collection pond present on campus, protecting and promoting the growth of 150 plant species on campus, etc, all of which were considered by the Judging Panel.
The Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Development at GIM has been the impetus behind achieving this success. Adding to its list of ecologically sound deeds, It has also introduced the “Give Goa” program, which aims to encourage social responsibility among GIM students and work toward a more inclusive society. The “Sustainability Horizon” newsletter, which is published by this centre, aims to address the sector’s altering dynamics with regard to environmental sustainability. The Panel also appreciated the Center’s outreach initiatives and examples of student engagement, especially the Sustainability Hackathon.
Prof. Ajit Parulekar, Director of GIM, said “GIM has always been conscious about its impact on the ecosystem and has continuously strived to reduce its carbon footprint. With the intellectual capabilities we are endowed with, we strive to ensure that “Grass is always Greener on our Side”. This Green Gown Award is a reassurance of our collective efforts towards sustainability.”
The awards have established themselves as the most prestigious recognition of best practices in further and higher education. The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) administers the Green Gown Awards, and each region is governed by a local cross-agency steering group. The judging panel consists of representatives from sector organisations in each region.
Fiona Goodwin, CEO of EAUC and Green Gown Awards Secretariat, says, “We hope that universities and colleges from all around the world will take inspiration from our winners and raise the bar on climate action. From India to Colombia to Malaysia and Canada and many more, our winners show how important it is for universities and colleges to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.”
This award ceremony was organised in association with Allianz Global Investors and was supported by UN Environment.
