Sustainability Dialogues | On-campus sustainability can’t remain in isolation, says SIMATS V-C

Educational institutions have a responsibility towards advancing sustainability, but this cannot be achieved in isolation. It must spread among both students and faculty, Ashwani Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), said on Tuesday.

At a fireside chat on ‘Sustainable Campuses-How Institutions can Lead India’s Green Transition’, hosted as part of The Hindu Sustainability Dialogues in partnership with SIMATS, Mr. Kumar said the onus now on the education system is to drive a responsible behaviour change and shape the thought processes of young generation.

Noting that conservation has been embedded in everyday functioning at the institution, he said SIMATS has extensive open spaces with greenery and harnesses solar energy to generate power. SIMATS plans to double solar energy capacity over the next five years, besides operating sewage treatment plants on the campus.

Highlighting the conservation efforts on the campus during the chat with Saptarshi Bhattacharjee, Assistant Editor (Reporting), The Hindu, Mr. Kumar said all institutions must adopt a similar sense of responsibility to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He also elaborated on the integration of the SDGs in the courses for various streams. Pointing out that about 250 modules across disciplines are linked to the SDGs, Mr. Kumar said engineering and medical students were involved in several SDG-related projects, including food waste recycling and organic fertilisers. Students are exposed to the SDGs not only through the curriculum but also through experiential learning, including on waste-recycling. There are also plans to initiate sustainability clubs to provide a platform for students’ innovative ideas. Describing SIMATS as one of the “happiest institutions”, he said it encouraged free thinking and offered multiple avenues for students to express themselves.

Recalling his experience working in collaboration with the Goa government while heading flagship projects on malaria, he said students were involved in encouraging parents on malaria control at the household level, an approach that yielded heartening results. Such small efforts can lead to a significant impact. He also underlined the efforts to execute bio-environmental control of malaria epidemics and author manuals on vector surveillance and control that were later adopted internationally.

Responding to questions from the audience about net zero emissions, Mr. Kumar said SIMATS is taking measures to reduce carbon emissions and use resources responsibly. The institution is preparing a road map to achieve net zero emissions in the coming days. While government-driven initiatives, like the promotion of electric vehicles, seek to reduce emissions, the growing number of vehicles continues to add to pollution. A shift in the mindset of the people is essential to cut emissions.