Chitkara University proudly celebrated United Nations Day 2024 with great enthusiasm at its Punjab Campus, marking a tribute to the establishment of the United Nations on October 24, 1945. Organized by the Centre of Excellence for Sustainability under the leadership of Sqn Ldr (Dr) Rina Angel, the event aimed to promote global citizenship, sustainability, and cultural awareness. Highlights of the celebration included a Sustainability Fair featuring nearly forty stalls, a fireside chat on global sustainability trends, and a thought-provoking fashion show themed around the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event not only showcased Chitkara University’s commitment to sustainability but also encouraged students and faculty to be active participants in achieving the SDGs. With support from esteemed guests, including Dr. Sumit Chowdhury, the day was a meaningful journey toward environmental and social responsibility. This celebration reinforced Chitkara University’s dedication to nurturing change-makers for a sustainable future.
At the Sustainability fair, with each stall overflowing with ideas and actions undertaken on Sustainability, it was a fair that was one of its kind, where all colleges, schools and departments of the Campus showcased their contributions towards keeping the Earth Green! Hon’ble and Revered Pro Chancellor of Chitkara University, the very elegant Dr. Madhu Chitkara, inaugurated the Fair and was at each stall to encourage the students, staff and faculty. As always, she patiently understood what each contribution was, and shared her thoughts on how they could contribute even better and other ideas that they could work on!! She encouraged each participant to continue to work as passionately as they were towards the noble cause of staying green. The Special guest for the day Dr. Sumit Chowdhury, Founder and CEO of GreenEarthX and a serial entrepreneur in Global Sustainability, also visited all the stalls. While he interacted with all the students as they explained their projects, he went on and tried many of the projects created by the students, appreciated research projects, happily availed some of the health checkups at the Fair, and understood the efforts of Infrastructure operations.
Students, faculty and staff from all colleges and schools visited the Fair and so did the International Faculty of Global Week. Students showcased projects and ideas…. there were startups that were fully based on the ideologies of sustainability…while one team performed a _nukkad naatak, some departments organised games to convey the message of Sustainability!
In the visit to the Yellow Point Farm by Dr. Sumit Chowdhury, the officials showcased the different sustainability ventures (more than a dozen ventures) including Miyawaki forest, biogas plant, mushroom production, organic farming, mechanised decomposer, vermicomposting pits, the STP plant, and much more.
A fireside chat featuring Dr. Sumit Choudhary moderated by our esteemed Vice Chancellor, Dr. Sandhir Sharma, delved into global trends, sustainability, and the crucial role of educational institutions in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This insightful conversation, which was attended by our students and faculty, including the international faculty who are on campus as part of the Global Week, emphasized the power of education in driving transformative change.
The event then transitioned to an impactful fashion show themed around the 17 UN SDGs. Each ensemble illustrated the significance of these goals, while also addressing the dire consequences of neglecting them. This visual presentation, where models of Panache from the Office of Student Affairs worn costumes created from discarded clothes by the School of Fashion Design captivated the audience with its thought-provoking portrayal of environmental and social responsibility.
This UN Day celebrations marked yet another milestone in the university’s commitment to global citizenship, cultural understanding, and sustainability.