Dehradun, Feb 18 : UPE S, in collaboration with HESCO, organised a national-level Expert Workshop on Environmental Education, bringing together academic leaders, sustainability experts and policymakers to shape a robust, actionable ‘curriculum framework’ for embedding sustainability across Indian higher education. Designed as a high-impact, outcome-oriented ‘build room’ rather than a conventional seminar, the workshop focused on reimagining environmental education as a practical, interdisciplinary competency. The deliberation focused on moving beyond textbook awareness to enabling measurable student competencies rooted in India’s ecological realities and development priorities.
Central to the discussions was a national imperative: as India advances growth, climate resilience and sustainability transitions, higher education must equip students to balance ecology and economy. Participants endorsed a nature-led, experiential, locally anchored curriculum connecting learners to air, water, soil, forests and ecosystems through real problem-solving, field immersion and community-linked learning, tailored to regional environmental realities.
The program commenced with an inaugural address by one of the most trusted voices on sustainability – Dr Anil Prakash Joshi, Founder of HESCO, followed by a welcome and institutional overview from Dr Sunil Rai, Vice-Chancellor, UPES. The Chief Guest, Dr Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, NAAC, delivered a keynote address, highlighting the alignment of the workshop’s recommendations with national quality frameworks and the broader transformation of curricula. The workshop brought together a strong cross-section of education and sustainability leadership, including Dr Rajendra Shende, Founder Director, TERRE Foundation; Dr Dharam Buddhi, Vice-Chancellor, Uttaranchal University; Prof Bineesha Payattati, Executive Director, MRAI and IIWM; Dr Sanjay Jasola, Vice-Chancellor, DBS Global University;Prof Naveen Kumar Nawani, Dean—Bio Sciences, IIT Roorkee; Prof Dr Himanshu Arora, Vice-Chancellor, Subharti University; Dr Shalini Bhalla, Managing Director, ICCE; Shri Kamal Ahuja, Principal, The Doon School;Dr Manoj Panda, Director, WIT; Prof Mahavir Rawat, Director, Shri Dev Suman,Ms Vidhushi Nishank, Director, Lekhak Gaon and Dr Suneet Naithani, Assistant Professor, Doon University.
The deliberations focused on making environmental education a core, application-driven discipline across programs, with region-specific learning pathways reflecting India’s ecological diversity—from Himalayan fragility to urban air pollution and water scarcity. A key theme was institutionalising solution-oriented skills, enabling students to identify local issues, design context-relevant interventions, and measure impact, so sustainability becomes an essential professional capability across governance, industry, entrepreneurship and community leadership.
Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Sunil Rai, Vice-Chancellor, UPES, said,
“The institution is actively addressing sustainability challenges through practice, research, and contribution. It aims to increase its solar energy production from 18% to 30% in the next three years while promoting a culture of avoiding waste. Around 30–35% of researchers are working on environmental sustainability, including projects on plastic-to-fuel conversion, EV life enhancement, green fuel, and grid optimisation. In collaboration with HESCO and under the guidance of Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi at HILL, the institution is committed to environmental education and addressing urgent issues like glacier melting due to climate change.”
Dr. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, NAAC, emphasised the importance of a balanced, nature-aligned approach to education,
“Challenges vary from place to place, which is why solutions must be rooted in local realities. When we understand a region’s conditions, develop locally relevant, innovative responses, and embed them into policy, the impact is far more meaningful and lasting.”
The workshop concluded with a consensus that environmental education must become a national capability, shaping citizens and professionals who can balance development with ecological integrity. Reinforcing its institutional direction and leadership, UPES reiterated its commitment to take the initiative forward through campus practices, research priorities and region-linked partnerships, including its continued collaboration with HESCO, with a focused lens on pressing Himalayan concerns such as glacier melting due to climate change.