Planet Budapest and UP: Setting an Example in Sustainability

2021

Dec

09

At the Planet Budapest sustainability expo and summit, Hungary's greenest university, UP, has also showcased its numerous projects. The exhibition, which run from 29 November to 5 December, has introduced a number of interesting and innovative solutions in the thousands of square metres of educational, eco-friendly experience centre, where even the stands were made from recyclable materials.

Participants in Planet Budapest 2021 were able to learn not only about the University of Pécs' climate, environmental and sustainability initiatives, such as the Green University, the Green AURA project and MoonBike, but also about the institution and the city itself. With the use of an exciting, interactive field table and an app helped in this mission, which made the presentation a worthwile experience with its 3D virtual visualisation. On the other hand, the awards won by the university were displayed on the cardboard shelves, including the latest one: the PR Excellence Hungary Award, UP's national award for admission and onboarding.

On the other hand, after downloading the ‘Irány a PTE’ app, in addition to the training palette, visitors could find out more about what the University of Pécs is doing for the planet by completing the daily thematic quiz, and what green projects, activities and achievements have helped it to win the title of Hungary's greenest higher education institution, and to move up to 59th place in the world ranking in this respect. This way, participants could learn more about insights into water and wastewater, transport and the built environment, energy, waste, green surfaces and the environment, and well-being and health.

The greenery was provided by the Botanical Garden of the University of Pécs. The participants at expo, who answered the quiz question correctly, could also win tiny cacti. The team entering the Solar Decathlon, Lungs of the City has also introduced their project.

We asked dr. Katalin Szili, member of the Board of Trustees of the Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation, about the significance of the University of Pécs' participation at the event: "One of the most important motives is that

the University of Pécs is ranked first among the green universities in the country, which says that we have earned our place here, we have to show why we are the first in Hungary and the fifty-ninth in the world"

- emphasized the alumna of the Faculty of Law, University of Pécs.

In her opinion, the university did well at the Planet Budapest sustainability expo: "the field table itself, which displays our green projects, as well as a kind of digitalisation and technological innovation, is fantastic!" – highlighted dr Katalin Szili. At the event, which showcased forward-looking, feasible solutions, the curator added: "I am confident, and I think the most important thing is, that the sustainable development and artificial intelligence strategy we are starting to develop will set goals that will make it possible for us

to be among the top 20 green universities in the world in six years' time."

It is no coincidence that several higher education institutions participated in the Sustainability Expo, as green education is a priority for our common future: “I believe that we will only be able to achieve the seventeen sustainable development goals that the world has set, if we set an example as a university and if we integrate them into our education as a multidisciplinary discipline at all academic levels," summarized dr. Katalin Szili, member of the Board of Trustees of the Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation.