Shillong: St Anthony’s College and GIZ India teamed up to bring United Nations sustainability goals to the grassroots level. They hosted a three-day event on August 20, 21, and 28. Students from 11 local colleges swapped passive lectures for hands-on research and problem-solving. This move aligns with the National Education Policy 2020.
The Economics Department led the charge. Students tackled issues like sustainable livelihoods, digital transformation, and food systems. Participants represented diverse fields including Psychology, Biotechnology, Sociology, and Mass Media. They displayed their findings through photography, film, and research papers. Organizers pushed for interdisciplinary thinking to help students view environmental challenges from multiple angles.
Practice mattered as much as theory. The college eliminated single-use plastics and bottled water. They used jute and bamboo instead of synthetic materials. They even planned for the afterlife of event banners by recycling them into bags. A faculty member noted, “All this reflects an important principle. Sustainability is not only about asking, ‘What material are we using?’ It is also about asking: Can we reduce it? Can we reuse it? Can we give it a second life?”
Forty student volunteers managed the event logistics. This taught them leadership and teamwork. The initiative connected campus life with government representatives and local enterprises. It broke the mold of isolated academic work.
The event concluded on August 28. The Shillong Times Editor, Patricia Mukhim, awarded prizes to students in front of an audience of 350. Selected research and films will reach a wider public through local OTT platforms like Hello Meghalaya. Organizers insist the effort is ongoing. Sustainability remains a system, not a one-time project.
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