The higher education institutions have profound moral responsibility to increase awareness, knowledge, skill and values needed to create Sustainable Future. The distinctiveness of DYPIMCAM has been elucidated through Encouragement and Promotion of Sustainability in the Institute by engaging and motivating Stakeholders towards Sustainability.
EPSS mainly includes four dimensions.
Dimension 1: Fostering Culture of Sustainability
The institute nurtures Sustainable Culture amongst stakeholders by carrying out following exercises:
The institute promotes sustainable practices amongst the Students, teaching as well as Non-Teaching Staff members by adopting Green Practices on Daily basis like Saving Energy, Use of Bio-waste Plant, Conservation of water (Rain harvesting), Use of LEDs/ White Light with low wattage bulbs, Use of Solar Panel etc.
Sustainability themes like Save Water, Save Earth, Save Girl Child are given as themes for various Competitions and Extracurricular Events which are conducted throughout the year.
The institute has regular practice of conducting Green Audit / Environment Audit as well as Energy audit to ensure conservation of energy and to sustain the environment.
To save paper, trees and environment the institute always encourages paperless work through implemented ERP System at the Institute level.
The Institute Policy Document on Environment and Energy Usage is in place to manage energy and reduce its negative environmental effects.
Dimension 2: Establishment of Sustainability Development Forum (SDF)
The institute has established Sustainability Development Forum(SDF) to promote sustainability at the Institute level amongst Stakeholders. The SDF has organized various activities namely Seminars, Faculty Development Program, Tree Plantation Drive and Community Outreach Programs etc. as described below:
In pursuit of knowledge, the institute has organized Faculty Development Program Knowledge Sharing Sessions. All the Faculty members of MCA and MBA department shared their knowledge on 17 Goals of Sustainability. The impact of the Faculty Development Program has increased awareness on Sustainable Development Goals.
With the aim of Sustainability Development, the Institute organized a Poster Making Competition where students actively participated and showcased their creativity towards environmental awareness and Sustenance of Earth.
The Environment and Climate Change Department, Gov. of Maharashtra has taken a holistic initiative, Majhi Vasundhara (My Earth), to make citizen aware of the impact of the climate change, environmental issues and to encourage them to make a conscious effort towards the improvement of the environment. The Outcome of the Majhi Vasundhara activity is the stakeholders have learned the conservation of natural scarce resources and the importance of waste management. All the participants felicitated with e-Certificate.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India initiated a Pledge in association with NITI Ayog. The Institute propagated the activity “Life Style for the Environment Pledge” to all students and faculty members. The Students and faculty members had taken the pledge and imbibed the sense of maintaining and preserving the environment through their long term environment friendly habits.
To tackle the global warming issues, the institute always initiates green practices like tree plantation drives around the college surroundings.
Dimension 3: Promoting Curriculum Enrichment and Research Development for Sustainable Future
The Institute integrates sustainability in Curriculum and organises Conferences on Sustainability to raise awareness about Sustainable Practices. Also, the Institute focuses keenly on the research development to create innovative environmental solutions.
The MBA Programme curriculum of affiliating University has provided a scope for selecting a University Level Course for final semester MBA students on “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability”. The subject focuses on the approach of the corporate world over the issues and requirements of social and environmental factors. The students are sensitized on Sustainability through various case studies on CSR and sustainability initiatives of different companies. Moreover, Green Computing is chosen by the Institute as an Open Course for MCA Program to inculcate and to motivate the stakeholders of education organizations to think green for sustenance of computing, society and globe. The Green Computing practices are lessening greenhouse gas releases however by keeping utilization of computing as it is in our everyday life.
The Institute has organized an International Conference on Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals in association with Asia-Africa Development Council. The objectives of this conference is to deliberate on current Research Trends on Sustainability. The conference outcomes are to Increase Awareness of Sustainability and Global Collaboration. The Faculties and the Students also actively participated and presented research papers at the conference.
The Institute encourages the faculties to contribute their research efforts to solve the societal problems and spread awareness towards Sustainability approach for betterment of the society.
The Research Centre fosters research work towards achieving Sustainability Development Goals and ensures innovative solutions to promote environmental stewardship, social equity and economic viability. By encouraging such research, the Institute aims to cultivate researchers who are equipped to tackle the complex challenges of sustainability and drive positive change in their communities.
Dimension 4: Collaboration with Industries to encourage Sustainability
The institute has taken an effort to collaborate with esteemed organizations like EvolvingX Services (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. and National Agriculture Higher Education Project CAAST, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agriculture University, Parbhani to encourage sustainability. EvolvingX Services (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. is a capacity building and youth empowerment partner, which works to empower students through skill based training and research. National Agriculture Higher Education Project CAAST, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agriculture University, Parbhani is integrated by three interdisciplinary research divisions such as Agribots, Agri-Drones and Agri-AGV’s.
Conclusion:
The distinctiveness of “Encouragement and Promotion of Sustainability among Stakeholders (EPSS)” ensures that the seed of Sustainable Development is firmly planted, leading to long-term benefits for the Institute and Society at large. The institute ensure that the Stakeholders have motivated towards sustainable development and are able to lead socially responsible lives towards a more Sustainable Future.