A Global Learning and Awarding Program for Student Innovation Projects
Since 2018, we've ignited the minds of 3,000+ global youth, sparking over 500 groundbreaking sustainable ideas. Join us in this transformative journey and showcase your innovative ideas.
"Sustainable development has become an important agenda for universities since the Brundtland Report, so it is up to universities to ensure that they produce hundreds of graduates who fully understand sustainable development and its role in society, and do what they can."
Hilligje van't Land
Secretary General of the International Association of Universities
Executive Director of the International Universities Bureau
In the realm of higher education, there is a reverence for "long-term thinking," and sustainable innovation stands as an excellent embodiment of this capability.
Globally, an increasing number of top-ranking universities, constituting 80% of the QS World University Rankings' top 50, are actively incorporating sustainable development strategies. On March 24, 2021, university presidents from 30 countries, including Harvard, Yale, University of Toronto, and others, jointly endorsed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations.
This marked the first-ever collective statement on sustainable development goals from leading universities across six continents. The higher education community inherently values long-term thinking, with prestigious institutions seeking students demonstrating potential for lasting success. Active involvement in sustainable innovation projects and a genuine concern for community well-being signal a commitment to long-term perspectives.
Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, Cornell, and other notable universities have established United Nations divisions for Sustainable Development Management, and maintain sustainability websites to share information and news, enhancing student awareness of sustainable development initiatives.
The United Nations unveiled seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit. This declaration explicitly outlined a collective commitment from 2015 to 2030, urging the international community to adopt a unified standard for addressing the triad of development issues: social, economic, and environmental. The overarching goal was to catalyze a global shift towards sustainable development.
Next Sustainable Idea aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, motivating students to actively contribute to environmental challenges outlined by the SDGs.
The Harvard Graduate School of Education published a report titled "Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through College Admission," signaling a shift in admission criteria for top universities. The emphasis is transitioning from personal achievements to a greater focus on altruism and the common good. Community service has long played a pivotal role in applications to esteemed global universities, as higher education seeks to instill in students a sense of responsibility to society and an aspiration to make a positive impact through their education.
Rather than fixating on distant issues, it is more pragmatic to show concern for the present circumstances and the progress of the communities in our immediate vicinity.
Students who authentically care about their surroundings and actively contribute to the betterment of neighboring communities are recognized for their community responsibility and care.
At Next Sustainable Idea, students are urged to identify, care for, and address sustainability challenges within their local communities. When selecting sustainability innovation topics, the issues should originate from the communities where team members reside and directly impact the daily lives of community members.
Students are required to form teams of 5 to 10 members for the Next Sustainable Idea project, where they will choose and address a sustainable development issue within their community.
1
Define Project Topic
2
Conduct On-site Investigation
3
Analyze Root Causes
4
Design and Test Solutions
5
Write Project Report
6
Produce Project Vlog
