Kotak Mahindra Bank and IIT Kanpur collaborate to establish the Kotak School of Sustainability

15 Dec 2023 , 02:29 PM

The Kotak School of Sustainability was launched on Thursday, according to a statement released by Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K).

It will feature specialized centres of excellence (COEs) addressing several facets of sustainability, including clean energy, environment, ecology, circular economy, climate finance, sustainable societies, and policy. It is referred to as India’s first completely integrated school of sustainability.

Through its corporate social responsibility initiative, Kotak Karma, Kotak Mahindra Bank is providing funds to IIT-K for its founding with the goal of advancing outreach, research, and pedigree education.

The project will likely cost about Rs 200 crore in total. In the first phase, Kotak will contribute Rs 70 crore, according to Kotak Mahindra Bank’s full-time director Shanti Ekambaram. ‘We are committed to helping India’s skilled workforce grow in order to achieve long-term sustainable development, including its net-zero target by 2070,’ the Kotak School of Sustainability states.

She said that the bank’s CSR initiative, which is being carried out in collaboration with IIT-K, will be concentrated on strengthening internal resources to address sustainable development.

Prakash Apte, chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank, stated, ‘We believe the creation of this school provides both Kotak and IIT Kanpur with a timely opportunity to create a legacy and work towards sustainability, the most important survival challenge we face today.’ Apte described the partnership as a long-term commitment rather than just a selfless gesture.

The school will bring together IIT-K departments and COEs in order to create a conducive atmosphere for cooperative study on many aspects of sustainability.

‘One of the most important global challenges of our time is sustainability, which calls for collaboration amongst many stakeholders. Educational institutions such as ours play a critical role in achieving this goal,’ stated S Ganesh, director of IIT-K.

Ashish Garg, the school’s chief professor, stated: ‘The school’s emphasis on synergistic integration of different aspects of sustainability for greater educational, scientific, technological, environmental, and social impact will be key to the development of holistic end-to-end technology solutions for sustainable development.’

Under the direction of eminent academics and globally recognized industry professionals, the school will provide academic and skill-building programs for both undergraduates and postgraduates focused on various aspects of sustainability.

On the main campus of IIT-K, the school will be located in a platinum-rated green building with net zero energy, water, and waste management.

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