Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Honoured for Sustainability Efforts at Green Gown Awards

Shaping a Greener Future: Amrita University’s Award-Winning Sustainability Initiatives

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is a distinguished multidisciplinary university, accredited with an A++ rating by NAAC and ranked 81st in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024. With nine campuses across five states, it holds two UNESCO Chairs focused on Sustainable Innovation and Gender Equality. Founded by Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the university embodies her vision of education guided by universal values and engages in over 500 global collaborations, including partnerships with Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

The International Green Gown Awards recognize best practices in higher education and showcase 95 finalists from 28 countries across eight categories this year, emphasizing universities' efforts toward sustainability and global change. Founded in 2004 and endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), these awards celebrate exceptional sustainability initiatives and honor institutions that are leading global sustainable development, with support from organizations like the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). The university received the prestigious International Green Gown Award 2024 in the Benefitting Society category for its impactful Live-in-Labs initiative. This recognition underscores the university’s multidisciplinary approach to experiential learning, which addresses challenges faced by rural communities while promoting sustainability.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham also received recognition in three additional categories:

• Highly Commended in Creating Impact for its "My Village, Our Water" initiative.
• Finalist in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability for the E4Life PhD in Sustainable Development project.
• Finalist in Nature Positive for its "Nurturing Nature" initiative, part of Amma’s Sustainability Initiatives.

Launched in 2013, the Live-in-Labs initiative bridges the gap between academic learning and practical community engagement. This program allows students to immerse themselves in rural life and address real-world challenges. By collaborating with local governments, communities, and subject matter experts, Live-in-Labs delivers scalable, affordable solutions that promote sustainable development.

Dr. Maneesha V Ramesh, Provost and Dean of the Amrita School for ‘Sustainable Futures’ expressed immense pride in receiving the International Green Gown Award 2024. She noted that the Live-in-Labs initiative exemplifies the university’s commitment to sustainable development through experiential learning. By empowering students to engage with rural communities, the initiative addresses pressing challenges and fosters a sense of commitment to building resilient communities. This recognition reinforces the belief in education’s transformative power to create lasting societal change.

The Live-in-Labs initiative focuses on understanding the community’s perspective rather than merely finding solutions. It is a win-win situation for both students and the communities they serve. In the remote village of Guptapada, Odisha, the initiative tackled issues related to water access, sanitation, and health risks stemming from unsustainable cooking practices. It developed modular water filtration systems, smokeless cookstoves, and skill-training centers, demonstrating the profound impact of collaborative and sustainable solutions.

Editor's Note:

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham's recent achievement of the International Green Gown Award 2024 highlights its commitment to sustainability and social impact through innovative initiatives like Live-in-Labs. This initiative understands the community’s perspective to provide sustainable solutions to pressing problems, such as sanitation and water access, addressed through modular water filtration systems. 
Students also immersed themselves in rural life and were trained to tackle real-world challenges through this program. 

Skoobuzz congratulates Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham for this achievement, which not only underscores the university's dedication to addressing the challenges faced by rural communities but also positions it as a leader in environmental stewardship within the global higher education landscape.