IE University students from 140 countries promote environmental and social impact projects during IE Sustainability Week

This week will see IE University students from 140 countries take part in IE Sustainability Week starting today, Monday, International Day Against Climate Change. The protection of the planet, the promotion of projects that promote the circular economy and social volunteering will be the focus on IE University campuses until October 29.

“Here at the Sustainability Office we fighting every day for a sustainable future. This week we want to share this goal, inspired by our students, alumni and faculty to drive change through education, exchanging ideas and developing impact projects to create a sustainable present and achieve a sustainable future,” says Isabela del Alcázar, Global Head of Sustainability at IE University.

“IE Sustainability Week 2022 focuses on environmental challenges, social and governance components, all interrelated, in line with the UN SDGs.”
Isabela del Alcázar, Global Head of Sustainability at IE University

IE Sustainability Week begins today, Monday, with a screening of the film 'Rouge' to promote debate on sustainability in industry, an initiative organized by the IE Arts & Humanities Division and the Alliance Française de Madrid. Students will also take part in a 'hackathon', a competition to design space that promote community, wellness and connection with the environment.

IE University will host the volunteer fair on the Madrid and Segovia campuses. Participating NGOs will inform students about how they can collaborate in projects to support cancer patients, people with disabilities or vulnerable groups, among others. In addition, social impact companies will present their business projects and development opportunities to students interested in promoting their careers in this field.

Students will work in the Nurture Hub, an ecosystem located on the Segovia campus that promotes genetic diversity through pollination. They will also promote the sustainable economy and will be able to recycle or donate clothes to Project Revamp, the recycled fashion studio led by IE University students.

IE Sustainability Week will end on Saturday 29th with nature protection projects. In Segovia, students will join forces with the city of Segovia to collect waste on the banks of the Eresma River. And in Madrid, tree planting will take place in a space on the outskirts of the capital.

Each year, IE University promotes the ‘10 Year Challenge’, a strategic project that poses challenges to drive sustainability for 2020 and 2030. The 2022 challenge focuses on understanding, measuring, reducing and neutralizing the institution's carbon footprint. In addition, as part of its academic commitment, IE University faculty members dedicate 12,712 hours per year to training undergraduate and graduate students in areas related to sustainability. The institution plans to double this figure by 2030.

IE University students participate in a range of sustainability initiatives such as the Social Impact Lab, which supports social enterprises in South Africa and Spain through consulting projects; Financieros sin Fronteras (FsF), an NGO that promotes financial inclusion in Africa; the IE Net Impact Club, which works to raise awareness, inspire and train the IE community to promote socially responsible business management; the IE Alumni Sustainability Club, which promotes awareness of the United Nations SDGs; and the IE University Social Responsibility Forum, which brings together senior executives every year to analyze the challenges of CSR.