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Table of Contents

1.4.4 Does your university as a body participate in policy making at local, regional, national and/or
global level to implement programs and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions? .................... 3
participation in policy making at local, regional, national and/or global level: .................................. 3
4th UPES Intra- Dehradun Model United Nations Conference, 2022..................................................... 3
6th UPES International Model United Nations @ UPES, Dehradun [Prizes worth Rs. 1.26 Lakh, March
30-31]: Registrations Open ..................................................................................................................... 5
UPES Faculty Highlighted The Role Of Community Resilience Resource Centers (CRRCs) For Aiding
Post COVID Recovery At United Nation’s Global STI Forum 2023 .......................................................... 6
How UPES is contributing to SDGs .......................................................................................................... 7
Sustainable Development Goals ......................................................................................................... 8
SDG 1: No poverty............................................................................................................................... 8
SDG 2: Zero hunger ............................................................................................................................. 9
SDG 3: Good health and well-being .................................................................................................. 10
SDG 4: Quality education .................................................................................................................. 10
SDG 5: Gender equality ..................................................................................................................... 11
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation ................................................................................................... 11
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy ................................................................................................. 12
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth ...................................................................................... 12
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure ................................................................................ 12
SDG 10: Reduced inequality .............................................................................................................. 12
SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities .................................................................................... 12
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production ......................................................................... 13
SDG 13: Climate action ..................................................................................................................... 13
SDG 14: Life below water .................................................................................................................. 13
SDG 15: Life on land .......................................................................................................................... 13
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions ................................................................................. 14
SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the goal ......................................................................................... 14
Initiative of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ............................................................................ 14
Programs and policies done to end poverty and dealing the university with SDGs including SDG1:
.............................................................................................................................................................. 15
PROJECT PROTSAAHAN ......................................................................................................................... 15
Walking the talk: How UPES is building a better world through its CSR initiatives .............................. 15
Nurturing future leaders through learning centres at schools ......................................................... 16
Beating period poverty together ...................................................................................................... 17
The direct beneficiaries will include: ................................................................................................ 17
Supporting staff through UPES Skills Academy................................................................................. 17
Improving digital literacy through DigitalDhaam.............................................................................. 18
Spreading the joy of giving with DaanUtsav ..................................................................................... 18
UPES collaborates with NGOs to celebrate the joy of giving ................................................................ 18
How UPES scholarships are helping learners achieve their career goals ............................................. 21
1) Scholarship support for COVID warriors: ...................................................................................... 22
2) ‘Shakti’ scholarship for girl child: .................................................................................................. 23
3) Merit-based scholarship: .............................................................................................................. 23
4) Domicile scholarship: .................................................................................................................... 23
How UPES scholarships have benefitted students over the years ................................................... 23
Scholarships, beauty pageant titles, job offers…all thanks to UPES!.................................................... 24
Access to education – their springboard to a better life ...................................................................... 26
UPES CSR EDUDHURMA impacts communities in Dehradun ............................................................... 29
How a scholarship from UPES changed a student’s life........................................................................ 31
How has UPES shaped your life?....................................................................................................... 32
Who is your inspiration? ................................................................................................................... 33
What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far? ...................................................................... 33
What are your thoughts about UPES Shakti? ................................................................................... 33
Good Samaritan from UPES supplies free meals in Dehradun ............................................................. 33
Wellbeing of employees and students top priority for UPES ............................................................... 35
UPES gave me a chance to develop holistically .................................................................................... 38
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity .......................................................................................................... 40
Project Vriddhi ...................................................................................................................................... 42
Project Samwedna ................................................................................................................................ 42
Project Protsaahan ................................................................................................................................ 42
EDUDHURMA ........................................................................................................................................ 42
UPES CSR reshapes lives of young students ......................................................................................... 43
CSR initiatives of UPES aim to reshape lives of young students ........................................................... 44
UPES’ Project Protsaahan Supports Underprivileged Meritorious Students ........................................ 45
Project Naman ...................................................................................................................................... 48
1.4.4 Does your university as a body participate in
policy making at local, regional, national and/or global
level to implement programs and policies to end
poverty in all its dimensions?
participation in policy making at local, regional, national
and/or global level:
4th UPES Intra- Dehradun Model United Nations
Conference, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/upesmunclub/photos/a.821921274550378/4765473243528475/

The committees with their respective agendas to be simulated in the 4th UPES Intra- Dehradun
Model United Nations Conference, 2022 are out.

Committee: AIPPM

Mark your dates.


6th UPES International Model United Nations @ UPES,
Dehradun [Prizes worth Rs. 1.26 Lakh, March 30-31]:
Registrations Open
https://noticebard.com/6th-upes-international-model-united-nations/

About the Conference


The 6th UPES International Model United Nations conference will bring together determined
delegates to discuss problems of international importance and more importantly, brainstorm
solutions for the future with focus in delivering quality debate, interesting committees and an
experience worth remembering.

Committees and Agendas


 UNGA Plenary: High-level Meeting to discuss the gaps and challenges of middle-income
countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 UNESCO: Effect of protection of cultural heritage on development with special emphasis on
the comparison between Asia and Europe.
 UNSC Historic: Continuous Crisis Committee on the timeline of Kosovo war
 UNHRC: Review of universal declaration of human rights and the implications of universal
period review of HRC
 AIPPM: Discussion for strengthening the Agriculture Sector and way forward.
 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet Committee on Security
 UNFCCC: Capacity building for combating climate change in developing countries.

Venue
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
Bidholi, Dehradun-248007

Prizes
For each committee, the cash prizes are as follows:

 Best Delegate: Rs. 8000


 High Commendation: Rs. 6000
 Special Mention: Rs. 4000

How to Register
 For Delegate applications, click here.

Registration Fee
 Delegate Fee (Without Accommodation): Rs. 1500
 Delegate Fee (With Accommodation): Rs. 3200

Contact
 Elwyn Elango (Deputy Secretary General): 9967850029
 Kumar Utkarsh (Head of Delegate Affairs): 8579082133
UPES Faculty Highlighted The Role Of Community
Resilience Resource Centers (CRRCs) For Aiding Post
COVID Recovery At United Nation’s Global STI Forum
2023
https://indiaeducationdiary.in/upes-faculty-highlighted-the-role-of-community-resilience-resource-
centers-crrcs-for-aiding-post-covid-recovery-at-united-nations-global-sti-forum-2023/

By India Education Diary Bureau Admin On May 10, 2023

Share

Delhi: UPES, a leading private multidisciplinary university participated in the eighth annual Multi-
Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) as the
knowledge partner along with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Wildlife Institute of India. The
University has also been an implementer of the CRRC programme of the Department of Science and
Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) India.

Dr. Neelu Jyothi Ahuja, Professor and Cluster Head Department of Systemics, School of Computer
Science represented UPES as the knowledge partner and implementer of the programme. She is
leading the project in the capacity of Principal Investigator and highlighted the role of Community
Resilience Resource Centers (CRRCs) for socio-economic post-COVID recovery through science and
technology interventions. With 2022 being an important year for several technological innovations,
the STI Forum 2023 theme was also rooted in how these innovations can be leveraged to accelerate
the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development at all levels. Dr Ahuja shared the stage with Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar,
Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Ms Shoko Noda, UNDP
Resident Representative India.

The day-long virtual side event organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, together with United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) India, showcased India’s thought leadership in setting up CRRCs
for building STI capacities and capabilities of the communities for improved resilience and livelihood
systems. The Forum was convened by the President of ECOSOC Her Excellency Lachezara Stoeva
with two appointed two co-chairs Her Excellency. Ms Mathu Joyini, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and His Excellency. Mr Thomas Woodroffe,
United Kingdom Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council.

“Science, Technology, and Innovation play a critical role in building such community resilience.
Diverse fields of science generate new knowledge that improves understanding of the processes for
bringing community resilience. New market-ready technologies create innovative opportunities for
increasing economic, social, and environmental resilience, and innovation can bring together non-
traditional actors to unite their efforts and pool their resources towards community resilience,” said
Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of
India.

“The harrowing brush with COVID-19 underlined the need to build long-term societal, economic and
environmental resilience to withstand such crises and bounce back from its impact. As an
innovation-focused institution, we are committed to offering instrumental support through our
various projects and initiatives like Project Sakhi, Eklavya, Ayushman, and Narayani to accelerate
recovery and ensure better preparedness,” said Dr Neelu Jyothi Ahuja, Professor and Cluster Head
Department of Systemics, UPES School of Computer Science.

“To create sustainable societies, UPES also runs a unique social internship program called Srijan. The
program aims to create empathetic and compassionate future leaders. To work towards change and
create a positive impact in people’s lives, students have been working with more than 1100+ social
sector organizations like Smile, Teach for India, End Poverty, Educate Girls and others to solve
various community issues,” she added.

The STI forum 2023 emphasized enabling community-centred innovations for building advanced
collaborative global research platforms for the development of scientific tools that to develop a
resilient planet by addressing new and emerging challenges.

As the official knowledge partner, UPES demonstrated its commitment to the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its interest in advancing the use of science, technology,
and innovation to achieve these goals through its academic programs and research initiatives.

How UPES is contributing to SDGs


https://blog.upes.ac.in/how-upes-is-contributing-to-sdgs/

EKTA KASHYAP · NOVEMBER 24, 2022


Sustainable Development Goals

UPES is building a network of experts for finding sustainable solutions to both local and global
problems

Over the years, UPES has adopted several transformational policies such as Project UK, Waste Paper
Recycling Laboratory, Project Artisan, and We Care to name a few, to achieve inclusive, prosperous
and sustainable development

In 2015, 193 member states of the United Nations made a historic decision. They unanimously
adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda, with 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), provides an internationally agreed-upon blueprint for world peace and
prosperity, for both now and the future.

In the processes of development, education institutions have always played a significant role by
shaping the next generation of leaders and committing to growth. As a university, UPES is conscious
of its role in transforming the youth and igniting the spirit of sustainable development in their minds
and hearts.

Recently, UPES organised a four-day ‘Sustainability Fair’ highlighting several solutions that can
address today’s most pressing problems. Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. General Gurmit Singh
(Retd.), visited the campus for unveiling the ‘Conference Proceedings’ of the fair. The Governor
congratulated UPES for its contributions in stimulating the sustainable economy and encouraged the
university to continue its commitment towards meeting the SDGs.

Further, UPES has adopted various initiatives that align with the SDGs to help achieve inclusive,
prosperous development while preserving the stability and resilience of the planet.

SDG 1: No poverty
Project Naman is a social impact initiative to reach out to the kin of valiant martyrs from
Uttarakhand. Under the project, besides financial assistance to the family of the martyrs, UPES
provides complete funding of school education for one martyr’s child every year; supports the
dependent of the martyr in finding job opportunities, provides special training and development to
the martyr’s widow under Shakti – a women’s empowerment initiative; and offer full higher
education scholarships to the children of five martyrs from Uttarakhand every year.

Project Vikalp economically empowers rural womenfolk in the local community through
manufacturing of environment-friendly ‘woodless pencils’, tech-assisted handicrafts, and growing
medicinal and aromatic plants suitable to the climate and soil in the region.

Empowering local women to create eco-friendly products

Project Artisan empowers local communities, especially women weavers, in a remote village of
Ladakh. They are imparted design skills for collective production and sales of back-strap loom
carpets, while considering responsible consumption and production that uses affordable-clean
energy. The project, which focuses on creating income opportunities, is a partnership between
education institutes and local NGOs. It sustains their cultural heritage, without migration to cities
from villages, an issue faced in the Ladakh mountains.

Project UK (India Sustainable Development and Research Collaboration) is aimed at building a


network of experts to find sustainable solutions, starting with reviving, modernising, and enhancing
the small watermills for rural income enhancement. This networking plan directly addresses the
issues of remote community poverty in India and is aimed primarily at the hill communities in
Uttarakhand.

SDG 2: Zero hunger


UPES provided ‘Dry Ration Family Packs’ to 1000 migrant workers families at six rural locations
during the COVID-19 lockdown. Each pack contained dry ration for around 8-10 days for a family of
four. The initiative helped over 4000 workers.
SDG 3: Good health and well-being

UPES started ‘We Care’, a 24×7 counselling support for students, faculty, staff and their families to
address issues related to emotional well-being. Through another health initiative Sanjeevani,
students and employees can avail all services of Practo – a patient focused, independent medical
website with over 100,000 doctor profiles from across India and Singapore at no cost.

Healthcare camps, multiple awareness drives in government schools and villages, promotion of good
menstrual hygiene through sensitisation and distribution of menstrual cups, annual voluntary blood
donation camps, eye donation camp, and several projects including the ‘Assessment of Nutritional
Status’ in three districts of Uttarakhand, further contribute to realising the goal of good health for
all.

Free healthcare camps

SDG 4: Quality education


The University provides several scholarships to students in financial need, including those from low-
income areas and underprivileged backgrounds. Uttarakhand bonafide residents are eligible for 33%
concession in tuition fees; up to 100% merit scholarships; sports scholarships; freeships to
underprivileged students; and Shakti scholarships for girls.

The UPES curriculum facilitates a broad-based, experiential, and multidisciplinary knowledge and
learning experience. It enables students to ‘Design their own Degree’, giving them the opportunity
to choose from a range of diverse courses.

Through EDUDHARMA – Education for Developing Humans for Righteousness and Mindful Actions –
UPES has impacted the lives of over hundred families, students from underprivileged backgrounds,
government teachers, locals as well as local schools in Dehradun. There are four projects under
EDUDHURMA– Protsaahan, Utkarsh, Dronasthali and Utthan – which aim to elevate the lives of
citizens and communities around the university’s Bidholi campus.
Project Abhilasha identifies meritorious students from marginalised regions of the state and invites
them for a month-long residential coaching camp on campus. The focus is on strengthening subjects
such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, thereby preparing them for engineering entrance
examinations.

Project Vriddhi offers academic and infrastructural interventions, Project Raftaar aims at the holistic
development of students, and Project Bodh promotes comprehension amongst students at the eight
adopted government primary schools in the local community.

Project Samvedna provides day care and education to the children of migrant construction workers,
mostly women, engaged in construction activities on UPES campuses.

SDG 5: Gender equality


UPES’ program Shakti aims at developing the leadership capabilities of emerging women leaders by
taking them through a carefully-designed intervention focused on adaptive skills, emotional
intelligence, communication effectiveness, and multiple other competencies needed to be successful
in the future. The program is spread over nine months and is based on real empowerment.

Project Payal promotes education of the ‘girl child’ in the local community.

Through Project Vikalp, the UPES Rural Women Technology Park empowers women of neighbouring
villages surrounding the university campus. The project supports initiatives pertaining to recycled
paper products; ICT-assisted art and craft design; and the identification and cultivation of medicinal
and aromatic plant species. It also encourages budding entrepreneurs for the marketing of their
products. UPES also conducted an awareness drive in 16 local government schools in Dehradun to
make them aware about the concept of equality.

SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation


As per Central Ground Water Authorities, UPES is a ‘Zero Water Discharge’ campus. The University
recycled 250 KL of water in the horticulture section, has a 550 KLPD (Kilo Litre Per Day) of recycling
capacity, and all rainwater harvesting pits have water flow metres to ensure the feeding of rainwater
to the ground, leading to 89% savings of water.

Project Swachhata focuses on contributing to ‘Clean India’ mission through sustained cleaning of the
adjoining community areas.
SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
UPES has installed solar power plant of capacity 100 kW. In the last five years, 8% demand of the
total power consumption has been catered by the solar power plant. The solar plant is also being
utilised for the training and project purposes for the students.

Research by UPES has contributed to clean energy projects by the United Nations Development
Program. The university has also conducted capacity-building programs as well as social impact
reviews in the field.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth


Through Skill India Mission, UPES provided upskilling opportunities for Dehradun District Jail inmates
to enhance their livelihood options.

Project ‘Craft Story Making’ promotes and creates opportunities for Indian artisans impacted by the
pandemic. Spreading cheer among the underprivileged, UPES in collaboration with Dehradun-based
NGOs organised a fair, which displayed products made by orphaned children, marginalised women,
and promising artists.

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure


UPES conducted workshops on value-added product development with bamboo, and research
projects on the development of novel and sustainable products from textile waste generated in
garment industry, electric amphibious vehicle for nature parks, strategy to use waste wood for
creating plastic and chemical-free toys, to name a few.

SDG 10: Reduced inequality


UPES Skill Development Program upgrades the skills of support staff including security guards and
housekeeping staff on campus in building their capacities in English, Computers, and life skills.

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities


Project Utthan aims to transform Dhalani and Koti villages of Dehradun into model smart villages,
with special focus on healthcare, education and livelihood. These will be first of many villages to
reap the benefits of this program, bringing more development and prosperity to the Indian rural
landscape.

UPES Waste-Paper Recycling Laboratory aims to help rural women from the indigenous community
earn a fair wage by teaching them how to make high quality goods using waste-paper viz, paper,
pencils, jewellery and stationery items.
Further, UPES students have developed flagship engineering projects such as Flying Cars, Electric
Cycle, Waste Management, Water Security, First Aid, Fire and Safety, Women Empowerment
through Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Solar Driers, and Biochar Bio Briquette.
Students have also designed anon-tracking solar tree, which is furnished with 3-Watt and 6-Watt LED
light, multiple USB 2.0 port and basic electrical socket to charge laptop as well as mobile phone.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production


UPES has solar water heating plants of capacity 61500 litres. The university has made it a policy to
retrofit all conventional lights on the campus. All the conventional lighting fixtures are being
replaced to ensure energy savings. Unity Power Factor is maintained at UPES sites to ensure zero
energy loss.

Solar power

SDG 13: Climate action


Through awareness campaigns and project-based learning, students are encouraged to develop eco-
friendly products such as edible cutlery, which are nutritious as well as have significant potential to
replace plastic menace.

SDG 14: Life below water


UPES has worked on a project with the Wildlife Institute of India for designing appropriate mitigation
measures to reduce fishnet entanglement of dugongs.

SDG 15: Life on land


UPES was a contributing organisation in the Leopard Report 2018, which was released by the central
government. The university has also established polyhouse and nurseries for the cultivation of
medicinal and aromatic plants. Under this project, UPES gives training and technical backup support
to rural women farmers to cultivate medicinal and aromatic plant species such as Tulsi, Chamomile
Lemongrass and Stevia in nearby villages.
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
UPES’ Legal Aid Society raises awareness about societal issues and increases access to justice for all.
The university also conducts various seminars, lectures, panel discussions, and skill development
events to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the goal


UPES has signed several MoUs with non-governmental organisations to work toward improving the
nutritional status of villagers in rural Uttarakhand.

UPES also has tie-ups with 44 international universities for student exchange program, internships
and research collaborations spread across the globe. 600+ NGO tie-ups are in place for Srijan, the
Social Internship Projects.

It is the question of the century: Can we leave the world a better place than what we inherited? Can
we meet all the SDGs by the stipulated timeline? Can we write a sustainable chapter for the planet
and the future generations? Through collaboration, education, and will of people, institutions and
governments, we can.

Initiative of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals


https://in.linkedin.com/posts/upesdehradun_uttarakhand-guv-applauds-upes-contributions-activity-
7002203663540621313-KEIU

Can we leave the world a better place than what we inherited? Today's pressing problems require
collaborative efforts from academia, industry and governments. In this direction, UPES has taken
several initiatives to meet all 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in
2015. Read more about how these initiatives have empowered people and strengthened society >>
https://lnkd.in/d9kwwYX8
Programs and policies done to end poverty and dealing
the university with SDGs including SDG1:

PROJECT PROTSAAHAN
https://www.upes.ac.in/social-impact/project-protsaahan

One of the biggest reasons students drop out of college is because of lack of funds to keep going.
This project supports meritorious underprivileged students of PYDS Academy of Learning, Purukul –
Dehradun, for their higher education beyond Class XII. It admits two students annually from PYDS –
one boy and one girl – who qualify the UPES Entrance Examination, into any of its programs and
gives annual cumulative academic scholarship of Rs.20 lakh.

Walking the talk: How UPES is building a better world


through its CSR initiatives
https://blog.upes.ac.in/walking-the-talk-how-upes-is-building-a-better-world-through-its-csr-
initiatives/

EKTA KASHYAP · FEBRUARY 22, 2022


UPES volunteers creating a Learnshala at a government school in Uttarakhand as part of CSR
initiative

UPES volunteers creating a Learnshala at a government school in Uttarakhand

Building learning centres at government schools, beating period poverty by distributing menstrual
cups, and nurturing support staff through a skill development program, are some of the university’s
upcoming CSR initiatives

The world is interconnected through globalisation. Yet, the benefits and burdens of this
phenomenon are not equally distributed among people. The result? Inequality in education, health,
and access to resources. The pandemic has further aggravated these deep-seated disparities among
the most vulnerable sections of society.

Therefore, it becomes the duty of institutions to work towards building a more equitable and
sustainable world as envisioned in the internationally-accepted Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).

UPES, the ‘University of Tomorrow’, has always stood at the forefront of giving back to society,
especially to the state of Uttarakhand. Continuing to fulfil its responsibility, the university, with a
renewed focus, has added a series of initiatives to its extensive list of Corporate Social
Responsibilities (CSR). The CSR work will encompass issues such as education, health, safety and
women empowerment.

Nurturing future leaders through learning centres at schools


Government primary schools around UPES have poor infrastructure, which has implications on
children’s education. It often leads to abysmal learning outcomes.

To make education fun and meaningful for children, UPES is building learning centres known as
LearnShalas in four government primary schools: Kandoli, Misraspatti, Donga and Phulsani. These
LearnShalas are lively learning spaces made with vibrant colours and engaging learning material.
Through these centres, UPES hopes to nurture curious, creative, and critical thinking citizens of the
future.

UPES student volunteers will engage children in a variety of learning activities through LearnShalas.
They will make the classroom experience interesting and exciting using relevant content and
storytelling methods while encouraging a culture of asking questions. The goal is to make learning a
joyful experience for the school community, particularly in a language they understand.

Further, UPES will conduct learning camps, especially in Math and Science, through these learning
centres. One learning centre at Upper Kandoli village is ready, while others are in the pipeline.
Beating period poverty together
UPES has funded an organisation called DivIn Pro, an impact and strategy-driven BPO managed by
women and other marginalised sector professionals, to fill the critical gap of availability of
sustainable material to manage menstruation. This project aims to eliminate period poverty, while
contributing to sustainable development. The present proposal focuses on benefitting about 1200
women from UPES ground staff and UPES CSR supported and identified villages. The objective is to
empower women with menstrual cups and fulfil the basic need for hygienic and safe protection
during menstruation.

The direct beneficiaries will include:

Ground staff of UPES and women from identified villages, including Bakarna, Kharakhet, Pulsani,
Dhaulas and other menstruators (trans men/non-binary individuals), belonging to underprivileged
and vulnerable sections of the society.

Frontline peripheral health workers such as ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nursing &
Midwifery/Anganwadi workers will volunteer for the project in their respective areas.

Cup dominant communities produce less menstrual waste and therefore, the environment of these
communities is benefited indirectly.

Families of beneficiaries will benefit as they would be saving money spent on pads each month.

Through this project, UPES will create awareness among the beneficiaries to change their behaviour
for safe, healthy, and sustainable, hygienic menstrual practices and solutions. Around 1200
menstrual cups (each cup can be reused for ten years) will be distributed to the target population.
Training sessions on the usage of menstrual cups will be conducted. It will be succeeded by on-field
and telephonic follow-up and beneficiary support through BPO for 90 days (starting from the day of
cup distribution).

Supporting staff through UPES Skills Academy


This is a Skill Development Program, which aims to uplift support staff such as security guards and
housekeeping staff on campus. As per a survey conducted by the university, the primary
requirement of the support staff was Computer skills and English speaking and writing skills. The
sessions under the training framework will, therefore, focus on:

 Need for effective communication


 Understanding non-verbal communication
 Learning the etiquettes to greet staff and visitors
 Enhancing endurance during a conflict and resolving the same amicably
 Conveying difficult messages to the audience
The initial batch will comprise 20 trainees. Eventually, the program will be extended to community
members from the nearby villages as well. The training will help the support staff to develop a better
understanding of their roles and responsibilities, improve their communications skills and
personality, understand the importance of teamwork, and learn to write answer applications,
emails, messages, and other written communication.

UPES firmly believes that every member of the organisation should have pathways to do better in
life. The Skills Academy is focused on working with the support staff to build their capacities and
help them for better roles at UPES and elsewhere.

Improving digital literacy through DigitalDhaam


This program is intended for all teachers, middle school students, homemakers or anyone from
nearby villages to learn how to use computers and the internet for various day-to-day functions like
accessing information.

Spreading the joy of giving with DaanUtsav


A book can turn someone’s life around; a garment can bring happiness to someone’s life. UPES
celebrated a first-of-its-kind festival called DaanUtsav where the university’s staff and students
donated vast amount of clothes, books, stationary, toys, and electronic items, which were
distributed to the underprivileged in a nearby slum. UPES will also kickstart a student and staff
volunteering program soon.

The CSR initiatives by UPES are an attempt to achieve greater economic, social, and gender equality
and tackle the disproportionate barriers that hold the disadvantaged further behind. Ultimately,
building a better world will require systemic changes. These initiatives are a step in that direction.

UPES collaborates with NGOs to celebrate the joy of


giving
https://blog.upes.ac.in/upes-collaborates-with-ngos-to-celebrate-the-joy-of-giving/

EKTA KASHYAP · OCTOBER 28, 2021


An NGO displaying products made by the underprivileged at the UPES fair

Spreading cheer among the underprivileged, UPES Social Internship Team in collaboration with
Dehradun-based NGOs organised a two-day fair, which displayed products made by orphaned
children, marginalised women and promising artists

Sometimes, the biggest changes begin with a simple act of selflessness. Lives can be transformed,
and futures built by restoring hope among the most vulnerable. Such deeds are anything but
ordinary.

To celebrate the spirit of giving, UPES’ Social Internship Team under the Career Services Department
organised a two-day fair, wherein Dehradun-based NGOs exhibited their products made by the
underprivileged communities. Other attractions included ‘Rangoli-making’ competition, ‘Best-out-of-
waste’ contest and a ‘nukkad natak’.

Image credit: Law student Divya Vasudev

The Diwali Mela was held on October 26 at the Kandoli campus and October 27 at the Bidholi
campus. Displayed products included exquisite handicrafts, candles and other gift items.

Products made from waste

Ayurvedic Product
The response of students and faculty was overwhelming as they came out wholeheartedly to
support the cause.

A student performing at the ‘Diwali mela’; Image credit: Divya Vasudev

BBA LLB student Divya Vasudev was happy that she got a chance to give back to the society and
connect with various NGOs. She says, “We need to bring consciousness to remove unconsciousness
from within us; we need to bring wisdom to remove ignorance from within us. This can happen if we
all help each other in whichever way we can.”
Highlighting the intention behind the fair, Kirti Chandani, student of School of Computer Science,
says, “The main motive of this initiative was to help less privileged people and small-scale business
by promoting their work. UPES gave a wonderful platform to them for showcasing their work.”

The profits earned were channelized towards social causes of the participating NGOs such as:

 I.D.E.A.L Foundation: Inclusive Development for Education and Learning (I.D.E.A.L) is an


initiative formed and led by activists from different spheres of life. It works towards climatic
resilience and conservation of environment by focusing on building sustainable societies.
 Building Dreams Foundation: Promoting the social development of disadvantaged children
and communities, Building Dreams Foundation serves the deprived sections in India. Their
focus areas include food, education, environment and empowerment.
 Him Foundation: The institution was established in the year 2013 to bridge the gap between
contributors and the underprivileged. Anybody who wants to help others can freely walk
into their centre and discuss the ways in which he/she can contribute towards the cause
they care for.
 Shuruwat Foundation: This NGO has been working consistently on some of the most
pressing issues of society such as education, environment protection, animal welfare and
healthcare. Their list of initiatives includes Shuruwat ki Paathshala that promotes education
among the disadvantaged groups; creating awareness on cleanliness and environmental
protection among the local residents; supporting street animals by providing them food and
shelter; and organising regular events and camps with doctors and health experts to
facilitate proper medical help to those who cannot afford to pay for medical facilities.
 Vichar Samiti: This NGO works towards improving ecological, economic, social as well as
cultural aspects of the lives of the needy. They aspire to create a model of sustainable,
participative development through awareness and social action for overall growth leading to
better living standards.

Through such programs, UPES intends to do its part for the community and inculcate among
students a sense of compassion. To make the world better, education must be inclusive and
equitable and work towards eliminating all forms of discrimination.

How UPES scholarships are helping learners achieve


their career goals
https://blog.upes.ac.in/how-upes-scholarships-are-helping-learners-achieve-their-career-goals/

EKTA KASHYAP · JULY 27, 2021


UPES truly believes that students can achieve great things despite the odds against them; no one
should be deprived of education due to financial limitations. Hence, the university offers four kinds
of scholarships that students can avail subject to the eligibility criteria

When a scholarship is awarded to a student, a chain of change begins. The students receiving the
scholarships go on to live fulfilling lives and create a positive impact in the society. There is a clear
effect of financial aid on the retention, academic success, and graduation rates of students in higher
education.

UPES truly believes that students can achieve great things despite the odds against them; no one
should be deprived of education due to financial limitations. Hence, the university offers various
scholarships, enabling more and more students to pursue their passions.

The scholarship programs are designed to ensure that economic circumstances do not prevent a
student from being able to enrol at UPES. There are four kinds of scholarships that students can avail
themselves of depending on the eligibility criteria.

1) Scholarship support for COVID warriors:


Honouring the selfless and dedicated services of COVID warriors such as teachers, health workers,
doctors, paramedics, military, paramilitary and police personnel, and civic workers, UPES is offering
scholarships to their wards. The financial aid can also be availed by the ward of the individual who
lost his/her/their life and was the sole breadwinner of the family and left behind the said ward.

The scholarship is being launched for students into undergraduate and postgraduate during the
academic year 2021-22, which shall be awarded for one year of the program only.

For details, please visit https://www.upes.ac.in/corona-warriors-scholarship-scheme


2) ‘Shakti’ scholarship for girl child:
Bridging the opportunity gap from classroom to the boardroom, UPES is providing a 20% scholarship
for girl students for intake in undergraduate programs for the academic year 2021-22.

This scholarship will be offered for the first year on the tuition fee to all girl students taking
admission in UPES in the year 2021 subject to a minimum of 70% marks in the 12th board exams.

For details, please visit https://upesforshakti.upes.ac.in/

3) Merit-based scholarship:
UPES offers up to 100% merit-based scholarships to eligible students in specific programs. These
scholarships are allotted for the first semester in order of merit to eligible candidates. For details,
please visit https://www.upes.ac.in/scholarships

4) Domicile scholarship:
UPES is one of the few universities providing attractive scholarships for Uttarakhand bonafide
residents. It provides a 33% concession in the tuition fee of Uttarakhand state board toppers. For
details, please visit https://www.upes.ac.in/aspiring-students

How UPES scholarships have benefitted students over the years


“I am a little shy but very ambitious. I want all my dreams to come true, and UPES, through its
‘Shakti’ scholarship is supporting me to do that and more. UPES was already popular in my family.
The scholarship further reaffirmed my decision of coming here,” says Alisha Farheen, a student at
the School of Health Sciences. “One day, when I narrate my story to someone, I would tell them how
this scholarship changed my life forever,” she gleams.

Talking about the culture at UPES, Farheen adds, “Everyone in the university is exceptionally
welcoming; faculty are a class apart. If I ever get stuck, whether in my assignments or while
understanding a concept, my professors explain it till I completely understand it. UPES is not just
about academics; it nurtures us to live a purposeful life – both professionally and personally. I am
happy to be a part of such an institution.”

“My father was about to take an education loan for my under graduation. Just when hope seemed
to recede, I learnt about the ‘Shakti’ scholarship UPES was offering. I am honoured to have received
it. It has not only been an immense financial help for my family, but it has also provided me with the
ease of mind to pursue engineering to the best of my abilities. I appreciate the financial support
given to me to pursue my educational dreams,” says Tisha Goswami from UPES School of
Engineering.
In 2016, after her father had a paralytic attack, life took a new turn for Aayushi Verma. “There was
hardly any hope and I could barely see any light coming through. But as they say, good things
happen when we least expect them. The same happened to me when I got a chance to study at
UPES with a 100% scholarship. The scholarship covered hostel fees, uniforms, books, industrial visits
and other expenses.”

Aayushi, a student of BBA Core, UPES School of Business, has done an internship with Bajaj Health
Insurance, where she gained expertise in skills like human resource management and teamwork.

These are some of the several brilliant and confident students who have made the most out of the
UPES scholarships. As an institution, UPES sees the scholarships as a partnership between the
students, their families, and the university. The range of scholarships is designed to help passionate
and meritorious students realise their study dreams and enhance their higher education experience.

Scholarships, beauty pageant titles, job offers…all


thanks to UPES!
https://blog.upes.ac.in/scholarships-beauty-pageant-titles-job-offersall-thanks-to-upes/

My childhood fascination towards automation and robotics took wings as I became the topper of my
class and received a scholarship of Rs. 62,000 from UPES. I won Miss Uurja in 2019 and received job
offers from three companies. This is my story

I secured 96% in 12th standard and received a scholarship from the State Government for excellence
in academics. However, like every other student, I was worried about my future and confused about
which college to pick and which course to choose. My research led me to UPES. I was amazed to see
the number of specializations the university offers in a wide a variety of fields. I visited the campus in
August 2016 and immediately knew what I wanted. I enrolled in B.Tech. Mechatronics, School of
Engineering.
I started with my academics and got involved in several student chapters at UPES. The first year,
however, did not go well (grade-wise), but I did not give up. I made it a point to work harder.
Gradually, I got better. My rank in the class improved, and I became the topper of my class and
received a scholarship of Rs. 62,000 from UPES.

Along with academics, the university encouraged me to get involved in extra-curricular activities. I
already had a Diploma in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam. I started working on
grooming myself, participated in beauty pageants and model training as well. I won Miss Uurja 2019
and was also the first runner up in Miss Rendezvous 2019 at IIT Delhi.

I won Miss Uurja 2019 and was also the first runner up in Miss Rendezvous 2019 at IIT Delhi

In the final year of engineering, companies started visiting the campus. Thanks to the Career Services
team at UPES, we were trained in different aspects of industry readiness by the experts. I am
grateful that I received job offers from LTI, Cognizant Technology Solutions and HCL Technologies in
January this year. In July, I received another job offer from Addverb Technologies, a company which
focusses on industrial automation. This was like a dream come true for me. I knew, as a student of
Mechatronics, I had to contribute to an area where there was an amalgamation of automation along
with my field of study.

My father is immensely proud of what I am doing and how I have journeyed so far
On August 19, 2021, UPES marked its 18th convocation, and students from all its seven schools were
being conferred with their degrees. I received a silver medal for being the batch topper. It was a
proud moment for my family. I am grateful to my faculty for their constant support.

At present, I am working at Solutions Consulting and Engineering. I work on high impact projects
where I analyse the plant processes of customers from various E-commerce and FMCG companies. I
also look into the prospects of automating the processes with the help of latest automation
technologies and robots. I design solutions specific to customer’s requirements and bring about
positive changes to the ecosystem such as high productivity, better safety, reduction of manpower,
cost efficiency through automation and robotics.

In the future, I want to make this world a secure place by upgrading and optimizing the current
processes in various industries with automation and robotics. Many people still use conventional
methods for various processes which involve more manpower and resources. I want to educate
people, make them aware of the latest robotics and automation technologies which will improve
efficiency and productivity at work and help them increase their income.

I owe a big thanks to UPES for everything – boosting my spirits, giving my career an edge and making
me what I am today. My father often reminisces about the day he first reached the UPES campus for
my admission and was fascinated by its beauty. He is immensely proud of what I am doing and how I
have journeyed so far. Undoubtedly, UPES gave me the pedestal to take off and soar high.

Access to education – their springboard to a better life


https://blog.upes.ac.in/access-to-education-their-springboard-to-a-better-life/

SHAILJA KATYAL VERMA · FEBRUARY 20, 2023

Student beneficiaries of Purkal Youth Development Society who are now receiving full scholarships
at UPES
They defied the odds and indigent circumstances to redefine their future. Nurtured by Purkal Youth
Development Society (PYDS) and UPES, they are progressing in their academic journey and rapidly
transitioning into skilled professionals, ready to take on the world

Astha Rana is a 3rd-year student of B.Com. (Hons) in Banking, Management and Insurance. Her dad
is an electrician, while her mother runs a shop that sells cosmetics and bangles in Gajiyawala Village
in Sahaspur Block of Dehradun, besides supplementing the family income through her tailoring work.
After she starts working, she wants to take her mother for a vacation as she is fond of travelling.

Akash Pal, a 2nd-year student of B.Tech. Automotive Design Engineering, has won several state-level
painting competitions and is also a member of the basketball team. He finds the environment at the
university liberating as it gives him free access to the labs which had restricted entry in school. His
mother is an artisan who makes cushions and quilted blankets under Project Purkal. He aspires for a
well-paying job so that his mother does not have to toil to make two ends meet.

Amisha Chauhan, who is in the 4th year of BA LLB, is specialising in Energy Laws. She envisions her
future as a corporate lawyer or a civil servant and wants to ensure a “stable life” for her sisters and
her mother.

Anchal Tailwal is a 2nd-year student, pursuing B.Tech. CSE with specialisation in DevSecOps. She is a
member of several student chapters, including the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). She likes to play basketball and participate
in personality development workshops in her free time. Her family owns a groceries shop.

They are all students who were nurtured in their early years by Purkal Youth Development Society
(PYDS), a non-profit in Dehradun, and are now receiving full scholarships from UPES to continue
their higher education journey.

UPES’ association with PYDS began in 2018 under Project Protsaahan, and to date, 15 students have
benefitted from the initiative. These students belong to families with meagre means. Their will to
succeed despite their impoverished circumstances has made them an inspiration not just for their
families but for the community at large.

Says Rahul Nainwal, Director-CSR, UPES, “It’s heartening to see how they have transformed and are
now leading fulfilling lives. The impact of this initiative is evident in the success stories of these
students, who have overcome significant barriers and are now contributing to society. This initiative
not only provides access to education but also empowers young minds to dream big and achieve
their goals, regardless of their background.”
Protsaahan was institutionalised in 2019 and now supports two PYDS students every year. The
courses for which support is available include all programs of B.Tech., Integrated LLB, BBA and B.Des.
Under the project, UPES bears all costs, including academic and tuition fee, hostel charges, uniforms,
laptops, one-time charges as well as the refundable security, for the entire duration of the course.
The annual bursary under this project is ₹ 10-15 lakh per PYDS candidate. This includes a stipend of ₹
20,000 to be given to the candidate during his industry internship as per the curriculum.

The project takes care of the entire fees of two students, provides stipend during internships, a
faculty to mentor and monitor academic and co-curricular progress, and a member from the Career
Services team to assist in internships and placements.

Priyanka Bhatt, who did her B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering (2018-2022) at
UPES, is today working as Associate Engineer with Silicon Labs in Hyderabad. “I joined this company
in June 2022, and I have had a good experience so far since it is related to my core domain. Later on,
I might think of pursuing M.Tech.,” she says.

Aayushi Verma, who studied BBA (Core) at UPES School of Business, is now Head Coach at Leverage
Edu in Noida. In 2016, after her father had a paralytic attack, life took a new turn for Aayushi Verma.

“There was hardly any hope and I could barely see any light coming through. But as we say, good
things happen when we least expect it. The same happened with me when I got a chance to study at
UPES,” recounts Aayushi Verma. After detailed applications, written assessments, followed by a
Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GDPI), Aayushi got the confirmation of a 100%
scholarship. The scholarship covered hostel fees, uniform, books, industrial visits and other
expenses.

For most of these kids it is about securing a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

Lucky Singh, a native of Haridwar who joined B.Tech. CSE this year, is determined to meet the
diverse group of learners on campus and enhance his social skills. His father, a farmer, is responsible
for the family of six, including his two sisters, mother and grandmother. He wants to work towards a
career in cyber security, besides learning to play the guitar.

Anshit Mamgain’s story is no different. He joined UPES with the dreams of “expanding his horizons”.
His father, a schoolteacher, wanted him to join the defence forces, but he could not make the cut
due to medical issues. And it was just as well, because he had dreams of becoming a coder. He now
wants to ensure a secure future for his grandmother, mother and two younger sisters.
The shadows of their past have not dimmed their spark. They are banking on education to give them
an egress from hardships. They may have had humble beginnings, but their aspirations are sky high.
And UPES, upholding its cherished values of inclusion, equity and diversity, is leaving no stone
unturned to ensure that they realise their dreams.

UPES CSR EDUDHURMA impacts communities in


Dehradun
https://blog.upes.ac.in/upes-csr-edudhurma-impacts-communities-in-dehradun/

A team from UPES donated 30 chairs and 30 tables to RPV Bidholi under its CSR EDUDHURMA
initiative

A team from UPES donated 30 chairs and 30 tables to RPV Bidholi under its CSR EDUDHURMA
initiative

UPES runs four projects under its CSR EDUDHURMA policy – Protsaahan, Utkarsh, Dronasthali and
Utthan – which aim to elevate the lives of citizens and communities around its Bidholi campus

UPES has impacted the lives of over a hundred families, students from underprivileged backgrounds,
government teachers as well as local schools in Dehradun under its CSR EDUDHURMA initiative.

EDUDHURMA stands for Education for Developing Humans for Righteousness and Mindful Actions.

It is UPES’ CSR policy and it aims to elevate the lives of the citizens and communities by building a
better place to live a blissful, purposeful life.

As part of EDUDHURMA, UPES runs four projects: Protsaahan, Utkarsh, Dronasthali and Utthan.
Protsaahan

Project Protsaahan was launched in 2018 to help the underprivileged meritorious students of Purkal
Youth Development Society (PYDS) Learning Academy, Dehradun, pursue higher education at UPES.

Protsaahan was institutionalized in 2019 and now supports two PYDS students every year.

The courses for which support is available include all programs of B.Tech., Integrated LLB, BBA and
B.Des.

Under the project, UPES provides all costs, including academic and tuition fee, hostel charges,
uniforms, laptops, one-time charges as well as the refundable security for the entire tenure of the
course.

The annual bursary under this project is Rs 10 to 15 lakh per PYDS candidate. This includes a stipend
of Rs 20,000 to be given to the candidate during his industry internship as per the curriculum.

Utkarsh

Project Utkarsh aims to achieve overall progress of the society through holistic education to the
neediest segment of the society.

The project aims to support overall development of 14 local schools, which include eight RPVs, one
Gurukul, one Samvedna school (another of UPES CSR initiatives) and four schools in the village of
Dhalani Koti.

The project will focus on developing school infrastructure, apart from providing academic and co-
curricular activity support as well as career counselling sessions.
Dronasthali

Dronasthali aims to support the professional development of government schoolteachers.

It organized its first workshop on June 4-5, 2021, on “WhatsApp – A Tool for Teaching and Learning”
for elementary school (Rajkiya Prathmik Vidhyalaya – RPVs) teachers and principals.

Over 30 primary teachers from 15 schools of Dehradun participated, majority of whom found the
workshop effective and were satisfied with the activities, the trainers’ knowledge and preparedness
as well as their content delivery.

The project next plans to set up a Centre of Excellence for Teachers’ Development (CoETD) which
shall provide training to teachers to strengthen the human resource pool that will contribute to
raising the standards of government school education.

It aims to achieve this by developing the digital and technical skills of the teachers so that they can
teach students through a blended learning model in virtual spaces.

Utthan

Utthan is about the application of knowledge in the local community, to harness the scarce
resources to their optimum level, raising the bar of development and to light up self-confidence of
individuals.

Utthan has impacted close to 155 families so far by focusing on community development in and
around Dehradun.

They have held three medical camps, distributed ration kits to villagers and been listed in the Unnat
Bharat Abhayaan. They have managed to capture basic data, sensitise the villagers towards
development, hold trust building exercises and identify various projects in consultation with
stakeholders.

Utthan ultimately plans to co-create a gram panchayat that will have the potential to undertake
sustainable development, create local opportunities, higher capacities for governance, and a lively
community to tackle current and future challenges.

How a scholarship from UPES changed a student’s life


https://blog.upes.ac.in/how-a-scholarship-from-upes-changed-a-students-life/
Aayushi Verma, a girl determined to pursue her dreams, bagged 100% scholarship from UPES in
2016 and is now aspiring for higher education in one of the Ivy League schools

Four years ago, in 2016, after her father had a paralytic attack, life took a new turn for Aayushi
Verma.

“There was hardly any hope and I could barely see any light coming through. But as we say, good
things happen when we least expect it. The same happened with me when I got a chance to study in
UPES through an NGO (Purkal),” recounts Aayushi Verma. After detailed applications, written
assessments, followed by a Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GDPI), Aayushi got the
confirmation of a 100% scholarship. The scholarship covered hostel fees, uniform, books, industrial
visits and other expenses.

Aayushi, a second year student of BBA Core, UPES School of Business, is currently doing her summer
internship with Bajaj Health Insurance. She’s gaining expertise in skills like human resource
management and teamwork.
A brilliant and confident student, Aayushi shares details about her inspiring journey and how UPES
helped transform her life. Her story will reaffirm your belief in dreams, hopes and miracles.

I want to pursue my post-graduation from one of the Ivy League schools in the
US and create a bright future for myself
How has UPES shaped your life?
Industrial visits, industry alliances, up-to-date curriculum, decision-making abilities, team projects,
business events, cultural fests, guest lectures, research assignments, group presentations and soft-
skills have laid a strong foundation for me to become a good team player and a global business
professional. The constant support by my faculty and peers and exhaustive online resources have
helped me develop a better understanding of the modern business world.
Who is your inspiration?
My mother has always been my biggest support and inspiration. Despite the ups and downs, my
mother never lost hope and puts in a lot of hard work to take care of the family. Her strong
determination and never-give-up attitude encouraged me to do well and succeed in life. I further
want to pursue my post-graduation from one of the Ivy League schools in the US and create a bright
future for myself.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far?


Owing to challenging circumstances back home, somehow I always used to shun talking about my
family and mixing with people. I use to feel so heavy inside. After struggling with my emotions for six
months, I told everybody about my family circumstances. Luckily, all of them accepted me with my
reality and supported me in a big way. It was a great relief and I realized that it is important to be
transparent and honest, personally as well as professionally.

What are your thoughts about UPES Shakti?


The idea of providing 25% scholarship on tuition fee to all girl students enrolling from year 2020 is a
big step towards empowering girl education. Patriarchal society, gender stereotypes and lack of
financial support are the primary reasons that restrain young girls from pursuing higher education.
Therefore, 25% scholarship would open doors for many small-town girls to work towards their
dreams and ambitions. Going forward, even I would love to contribute actively for girls’ education
and women’s empowerment.

Lastly, I would like to thank the top leadership at UPES for the wonderful initiative of providing 100%
scholarship to students who want to prosper, but do not have the means. People who believe in
gender equality make this world a better place to live in. Every act of compassion is like a ripple in a
pond– the impact of this initiative will reach far beyond what you can see.

Good Samaritan from UPES supplies free meals in


Dehradun
https://blog.upes.ac.in/good-samaritan-from-upes-supplies-free-meals-in-dehradun/

PRADEEP JAGWAN · APRIL 30, 2021

Offering humanitarian service in the midst of surging Covid cases, Prof. Jharna Joshi from UPES
School of Design is making doorstep delivery of meals to affected people
With the nation reeling under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, several individuals are coming
forward to help the affected, poor, and migrant labourers. While some are helping people get
oxygen cylinders and medication, others are inquiring about the availability of hospital beds.

Prof. Jharna Joshi from UPES School of Design is one such example of compassion. She has been
providing doorstep delivery of cooked meals for the patients and their families. After seeing several
family members and relatives struggling for a healthy diet and medicines during their treatment,
Prof. Joshi decided to supply home-cooked food to them, all free of cost.

“The food is cooked at my home. I provide simple food consisting of one daal, green vegetable, and
salad. This is healthy and nutritious. Till now I have managed to arrange for 10-15 families every day.
I deliver the food myself in disposable food containers so there is no hassle of washing and cleaning
afterwards, says she.”

I provide simple food consisting of one daal, green vegetable, and salad.

Jharna Joshi is an Associate Professor in UPES School of Design. She holds an M.Des degree from
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. Her area of specialisation is knitwear
technology, pattern making and crafts.

Juggling between online classes and taking orders through WhatsApp to making sure the food is
delivered to the houses of the Covid-19 patients, Prof. Joshi does it all by herself. She says that these
are difficult times and we all must do our bit to help each other.

The procurement of ration and cooking is not a big task for Prof. Joshi as she has done this before as
well. It is the delivery of the food which sometimes becomes an issue. But despite that this one-
woman army makes sure that the food reaches people who need it and on time.
Is she worried about putting herself at risk of infection by going out for deliveries? To this, Prof. Joshi
says, “I am taking all the precautionary measures. I have been administered both shots of the
vaccination. Also, I wear double masks and a face shield to protect myself. While delivering the food,
I just keep the packets at the doorstep without meeting anyone.”

So, what prompted her to go out of her way to lend a helping hand? Prof. Joshi says, “It is difficult
for virus-infected people to get meals while living in self-isolation. There is a sense of complete
satisfaction that I get when I can help Covid-19 patients who need assistance. Moreover, it keeps me
away from negativity and acts as a stressbuster. I do not charge people anything for food. The only
request I make is that people who have tested positive should come clean about their status. Not
disclosing this information is wrong.”

Prof. Joshi has always believed that serving people in distress is equal to serving humanity and
serving humanity is the best form of worship. “I started this initiative on my own and now I am glad
my friends and colleagues are extending help,” she says, before rushing off to make good on her
commitments for the day.

Wellbeing of employees and students top priority for


UPES
https://blog.upes.ac.in/wellbeing-of-employees-and-students-top-priority-for-upes/

PRADEEP JAGWAN · MAY 18, 2021

UPES partners with healthcare providers to make treatment affordable, while also making sure
employees take paid time off to take care not only of themselves, but their families too

The second wave of the COVID pandemic in India has been nothing short of devastating, leaving in
its wake a trail of death and destruction. For more than a year, people across the world have been
dealing with the physical, mental, and professional impact of the pandemic. Committed to the
welfare of its academic and non-academic community, UPES has been taking all possible measures
to help people in distress.

While it was about making work from home more convenient initially, as the days wore on, the focus
shifted to the mental and physical impact of Covid.

Some of the initiatives taken by UPES are:

Academic Flexibility

Many students find it difficult to maintain the pace required to cope up with academic deadlines. For
the convenience and safety of the students, the university decided to extend the deadlines for
assignments. Also, students who are not able to appear in the end semester examination due to a
medical emergency can give their exams in July 2021.

Medical Support

UPES has recently launched an initiative called Sanjeevani for its employees. It has tied up with
Practo, an online doctor consultation app that offers complete telemedicine solutions for health and
medical needs. Employees will get access to around 25 specialists across diverse fields. In addition to
the employees, six family members will also get access to these healthcare professionals. Employees
will also get 20% discount on medicines and lab tests.

UPES has recently launched an initiative called Sanjeevani for its employees

For the students, the university is planning insightful webinars to answer all the questions related to
Covid-19. These sessions will enable students and their families to cope with the situation. Apart
from this, there is a ‘Covid Care Officer’ that provides information and logistical support to
employees regarding things like oxygen, bed, and much more.

24*7 Counselling Service


In this time of social distancing, it can be challenging to find ways to stay healthy in mind, body, and
spirit. The university has made provisions for 24×7 emotional assistance through professional
counsellors.

Faculty/ Mentors/ Peer Groups

Various groups have been formed by students and faculty to support individuals in need of help.
These networking groups significantly reduce stress and anxiety.

Here’s what some of the UPES employees and students have to say about the initiative:

The university recently donated 50 oxygen concentrators to Shri. Tirath Singh Rawat, Chief Minister,
Uttarakhand, for the people of the state. UPES has been also supporting 11 neighbouring villages to
curb the spread of coronavirus.

Dr. Juhi Garg, Lead-Project Shakti and CSR at UPES, says, “The Work from Home policy provides
academic flexibility for faculty and students. Apart from this, support in terms of a dedicated team of
doctors, arrangements in hospitals, additional insurance to cover Covid Home Care support, and
vaccination drive, ensured that the people felt safe and secure.”

Geetanjili Raghav from the Department of Mechanical Engineering says, “My parents had mild
symptoms like fever. They were living in isolation and finding it difficult to meet their food
requirements. That is the time when I decided to get in touch with UPES Covid Care Officer to
provide food to my parents. I am glad to share that UPES delivered delicious food packets to my
parents during home quarantine.”

Anita Kumari, a first-year student from UPES School of Health Sciences, says, “I tested positive for
coronavirus while I was in Dehradun. I was all by myself and for about 15 minutes panic gripped me.
I would like to thank Dr. Neeraj Mahindroo, Dean, UPES School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Smriti
Arora from UPES School of Health Sciences for constantly checking on me. They also provided
medicines, oximeters, and food so that I could recover fully.”

Anamika, a first-year student from UPES School of Health Sciences, says, “I was living with my friend
when I got infected. I informed my professors, Dr. Divya Rawat and Dr. Hira Rana from UPES School
of Health Sciences. I got medical advice, food, and medicines immediately. My professors also told
me not to worry about my assignments and exams as they would help me with that once I
recovered.”
UPES gave me a chance to develop holistically
https://blog.upes.ac.in/upes-gave-me-a-chance-to-develop-holistically/

SNEHA BANERJEE · JULY 6, 2021

Diversity at the college campus gave me an opportunity to engage with varied perspectives and
learn from peers with varied cultural backgrounds

I used to be a science student in school before I took up the BBA program at UPES. Initially, I found it
difficult to cope with subjects like Accounts and Finance. But my mentors and professors were a
constant source of guidance for me.

Coming from a Tier-2 city to pursue this program, I had to stay away from home for almost three
years. During this phase, my interactions with fellow students and exposure to different cultures
shaped my thought process and approach towards life.

While the Personality Enhancement Program was a lot of fun, when it came to academics, there
were intense case study discussions, presentations, assignments, mid-semester and end-semester
examinations. Theoretical knowledge was supplemented with industry visits and internships. The
first visit was made to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Mumbai, where I got practical exposure to
the port operations for export-import. The second visit was to Eric Apparels, where I learnt about
the manufacturing of garments and the process to export them. Thereafter, we went to Usha
Martin, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of wire rope. Here, I got an insight into
the manufacturing of various types of wires, ropes, and export/import procedures. Lastly, a visit to
Hind Terminals gave me a view into container train operations.
Theoretical knowledge was supplemented with industry visits and internships

My first internship was in the service (logistics) sector with DHE Shipping Services, where I was
introduced to the export/import operations. Being a student of Foreign Trade, it was imperative for
me to know the custom clearance procedures for both import and export and the compliances and
documents pertaining to it. I also interned in the manufacturing sector which helped me in
developing both my professional as well as personal skills. I got to know the whole value chain of
Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). It also helped me to learn the linkages between the various
stakeholders in the liquor manufacturing industry. My industry guide was a woman who was quite
inspiring to work with.

Due to the vast range of disciplines and courses, UPES is home to a sizable student population from
diverse backgrounds. The multidisciplinary environment has helped engender a vibrant and engaging
campus life. The scenic beauty and verdancy of the surrounding mountains are breath-taking.

The university has various clubs and student chapters that conduct both technical and non-technical
events. Cultural activities are a vital part of personality development. From becoming a member of
the Discipline Committee, organising an Entrepreneurship Awareness Camp to participating in
various events, my UPES journey has been truly transformational. I had the support of my seniors
throughout the period of my graduation.

I also got a chance to travel to some of the exotic places around Dehradun – Mussoorie, Dhanaulti
and Rishikesh – with friends. I stayed at the university hostel and didn’t have to worry about
security, comfort or living facilities. Although there were some restrictions with regard to the entry
time, overall, it was a great experience. My roommates couldn’t have been more perfect for me.
Both of them were from different states, cultures and even different specializations – one was from
Aviation and the other was from HR. Got to learn a lot from them, not only about their respective
domains, but also about their cultures and lifestyles.

I got to learn a lot from my friends, not only about their respective domains, but also about their
cultures and lifestyles
My photographs with my friends, having a good time at the campus, never fail to bring a smile to my
lips. These are moments that carry a lot of sentimental value for me and will be embedded in my
heart as precious memories forever.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
https://blog.upes.ac.in/jigyasa-pahwa-my-life-at-upes/

JIGYASA PAHWA · MARCH 13, 2020

UPES gave me the golden opportunity to study a semester abroad at Coventry University, UK. The
fact that I did not pay any tuition fee, was a big perk for me as a student

I hail from a non-legal background and being a first-generation lawyer in my family, I had to make a
wise decision while picking my law school. After months of research and hard work, I am glad that I
chose UPES back in the year 2016. Being a law aspirant, I always knew a balance between
personality development and academics was extremely crucial. UPES as a university helps its
students evolve their character, get industry exposure and become the perfect choice for recruiters.

Being an extrovert, I was an active public speaker. I represented my university at the national level
for numerous moot and debate competitions. I was fortunate enough to be chosen for the Erasmus
and Exchange Student Program in England, which also happens to be my dream country to pursue
higher studies. As a child, I was enamoured by London (from what I could see in movies, sports
matches and news), but never really got the opportunity to visit the city.

UPES gave me this golden opportunity to study a semester abroad at Coventry University, UK, as a
Business Law student. And, I did not have to pay any tuition fees, which is a big perk for any student.
I would say this exchange program was a life-changing experience because it made me more
confident and prepared me to conquer the impending challenges. Even though this was not the first
time I had gone to a foreign destination all by myself, I was a little nervous about this new
beginning.

However, several people had put in their efforts to make this exchange program successful. From
choosing my modules for the exchange to regularly taking updates during my stay, the faculty was
always in the forefront to help.

The academic structure at Coventry University was completely different from what we had in India. I
had to choose three modules, which were a blend of practical and theoretical aspects of business
law. Apart from assignments and coursework, we were also required to attend the practical sessions
of Mediation and Negotiation. This helped me build more self-confidence to appear in the courts
and do in-depth research. There were multiple conferences and seminars that we attended. Faculty
from various reputed colleges around England and solicitors from esteemed law firms gave lectures
every week. I benefited a lot from these sessions.

Jigyasa Pahwa

My experience in England was picture-perfect and undoubtedly the best time of my life.

The kind of exposure I got from this exchange program helped in my overall development. There
were continuous evaluations and teachers would regularly call students for discussions. I now have
friends from numerous countries. Various co-curricular activities and the chance to build a network
across the world made me understand and experience a wide range of cultures. My experience in
England was picture-perfect and undoubtedly the best time of my life.

I am thankful to UPES for giving me this exhilarating opportunity, wherein I learned some life-long
lessons. I also received my letter of recommendation from a senior lecturer at Coventry University,
which will help me in applying for LLM at reputed universities in the UK.
I take pride in saying that I am a part of this prestigious university and it has changed my life for
good.

Project Vriddhi
https://www.upes.ac.in/social-impact/project-vriddhi

Every child deserves to reach her or his full potential. And education is one of the best predictors of
success in children. It can help break the inter-generational cycles of poverty and marginalization.
This project aims to provide the desired level of education in English and Mathematics to primary
school students. It is helmed by the UPES faculty as mentors and supported by student volunteers.

Project Samwedna
https://www.upes.ac.in/social-impact/samwedna

Construction projects are a tall order and usually require people with varied skill sets to execute it.
Workers are typically hired to spend months or even years on any one project. At our campus, too,
there are numerous construction projects, thus making it a transit home for hundreds of workers.
This project is aimed at the children of these workers. It provides them with education, day-care,
mid-day meals, medical checkups, clothing, etc., through a day school set-up at the campuses.

Project Protsaahan
https://www.upes.ac.in/social-impact/project-protsaahan

One of the biggest reasons students drop out of college is because of lack of funds to keep going.
This project supports meritorious underprivileged students of PYDS Academy of Learning, Purukul –
Dehradun, for their higher education beyond Class XII. It admits two students annually from PYDS –
one boy and one girl – who qualify the UPES Entrance Examination, into any of its programs and
gives annual cumulative academic scholarship of Rs.20 lakh.

EDUDHURMA
https://www.upes.ac.in/social-impact/edudhurma

UPES runs a CSR policy called EDUDHURMA which stands for Education for Developing Humans for
Righteousness and Mindful Actions.

Under this initiative, UPES has impacted the lives of over a hundred families, students from
underprivileged backgrounds, government teachers as well as local schools in Dehradun.
There are four projects under EDUDHURMA: Protsaahan, Utkarsh, Dronasthali and Utthan.

UPES launched Protsaahan in 2018 to help the underprivileged meritorious students of Purkal Youth
Development Society (PYDS) Learning Academy, Dehradun, pursue higher education at UPES.

Project Utkarsh aims to achieve overall progress of the society through holistic education to the
neediest segment of the society.

Dronasthali supports the professional development of government schoolteachers while Utthan


promotes the application of knowledge in the local community, to harness the scarce resources to
their optimum level, raising the bar of development and to light up self-confidence of individuals.

UPES CSR reshapes lives of young students


https://garhwalpost.in/upes-csr-reshapes-lives-of-young-students/

By Our Staff Reporter

Dehradun, 18 Jul: The untapped potential of students in rural areas needs to be awakened through
equal access to knowledge. The CSR arm of UPES recently completed an infrastructure and mural
work project at Rajkiye Prathamik Vidyalaya (RPV), Bakarna, and Govt Middle School, Kharakhet, to
provide a safe and supportive learning environment for students. The university also focuses on
leveraging technology and fostering innovation in education through programmes like ‘SmartClass’
and ‘Learnshaala’. SmartClass aims to enhance digital learning through the integration of multimedia
content and interactive teaching aids, creating an immersive and highly effective educational
experience. On the other hand, Learnshaala (“Envisioning Classrooms as Centres of Excellence”)
focuses on empowering students with the necessary skills, values, mindset and tools to experience
holistic education.
Furthermore, to tackle the challenges faced by children of migrant construction workers, UPES has
launched Project Samvedna. Through this initiative, the university has been extending support to
children by providing education, daycare facilities and mid-day meals. Recently, UPES also started
providing school uniforms to these young learners, further boosting their confidence and eagerness
to learn. Reinforcing the transformative impact of Project Samvedna, the initiative ensures that
these children receive proper care, resources and a safe learning environment while their parents
are at work.

To further its commitment towards safeguarding children and promoting a safe learning
environment, the CSR team at UPES conducted a weeklong workshop on the ‘Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences Act’ (POCSO) in 5 government schools in Kotra Santoor, Upper Kandoli,
Doonga, Misraspatti and Phulsani. The workshop delved into building awareness around sexual
assault and harassment and ensuring the safety of students. Additionally, UPES in collaboration with
Aavishkaar NGO launched the Math Matters Program to empower women by equipping them with
strong mathematical skills and student-centric teaching practices. It was aimed towards addressing
the commonly felt math phobia and empowering them to become better educators of tomorrow.

Talking about various initiatives undertaken by UPES, Col Sanjay Washington, Director of CSR, UPES,
said, “Our CSR initiatives are designed to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and
neighbouring communities. We truly believe in the transformative power of education and are
committed to creating a better world for all. Through our initiatives, we aim to uplift underprivileged
students, provide a safe learning environment, and address pressing societal challenges.”

Under the overarching umbrella of ensuring a quality education for all, UPES also continues to uplift
underprivileged students by providing them with the opportunity to pursue higher education
through Project Protsaahan – under which meritorious students from the Purkal Youth Development
Society (PYDS) are aided through focused mentorship and financial assistance. So far, the university
has admitted 15 students under this project, out of which 7 are placed and 8 are undergoing their
studies. Through their CSR arm, UPES continues to foster a brighter and more inclusive future for all,
irrespective of their circumstances.

CSR initiatives of UPES aim to reshape lives of young


students
https://www.pioneeredge.in/csr-initiatives-of-upes-aim-to-reshape-lives-of-young-students/
Wednesday, 19 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES)
recently completed an infrastructure and mural work project at government primary school Bakarna
and government middle school Kharakhet to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for
students, informed the UPES office bearers, adding that the university also focuses on leveraging
technology and fostering innovation in education through programmes like SmartClass and
Learnshaala.

Furthermore, to tackle the challenges faced by the children of migrant construction workers, UPES
launched Project Samvedna that involves education, daycare facilities and mid-day meals being
provided to these children. UPES claimed that they have started providing school uniforms to these
young learners. The Project Samvedna ensures that these children receive proper care, resources
and a safe learning environment while their parents are at work.

The university office bearers further said that the UPES CSR team conducted a weeklong workshop
on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in five government schools in Kotra Santoor,
Upper Kandoli, Doonga, Misraspatti and Phulsani. Additionally, UPES, in collaboration with
Aavishkaar NGO, launched the Math Matters Programme to empower women by equipping them
with strong mathematical skills and student-centric teaching practices. It was aimed at addressing
the commonly felt math phobia and empowering them to become better educators of tomorrow,
the UPES officials said.

Talking about various initiatives undertaken by the university, the director of CSR, UPES, Sanjay
Washington said that these initiatives are meant to make a meaningful impact in the lives of
individuals and neighbouring communities. “We truly believe in the transformative power of
education and are committed to creating a better world for all. Through our initiatives, we aim to
uplift the underprivileged students, provide a safe learning environment and address pressing
societal challenges,” he added.

UPES’ Project Protsaahan Supports Underprivileged


Meritorious Students
https://www.csrmandate.org/upes-project-protsaahan-supports-underprivileged-meritorious-
students/
According to IBEF reports, the education market in India is expected to grow to USD 225 billion by
2025. India’s education industry will see a transformation in the coming years owing to the adoption
of the Education 4.0 movement, which encourages inclusive education and improved employability.
Nevertheless, the educational system still has a significant amount of room for growth and progress.
Access to India’s higher education by students from low-income homes is still a prevailing factor in
the system. This can be attributed to a variety of problems, such as their inability to obtain reading
and writing resources due to cost, their inability to keep up with rising tuition costs, and more.

Accessible, affordable, quality education for all is the need of the hour, and government and
universities must work together towards making it possible. While the National Education Policy
suggested a greater focus on inclusion, it is crucial for all universities and industry players to adopt
an approach that includes targeted initiatives to bridge the gaps within the sector.

Focusing on higher education, UPES has launched various scholarship programmes like girls’
scholarships to encourage more girls to continue with their studies, freeships for the
underprivileged, and sports scholarships.

Research suggests that one of the major reasons for students opting out of higher education is the
lack of funds. Scholarships and financial assistance are one of the most effective ways to encourage
students to pursue higher studies. Nowadays, several universities have been coming forward to
provide students, including the ones from the underprivileged sector with financial aid and
assistance via scholarship programmes and CSR initiatives. In order to support the well-being of the
communities, UPES has various initiatives catering to education, health, safety, and women’s
empowerment. Focusing on higher education, UPES has launched various scholarship programmes
like girls’ scholarships to encourage more girls to continue with their studies, freeships for the
underprivileged, and sports scholarships.

With the vision of ensuring education for all, Project Protsaahan was launched in 2018. Elaborating
on the initiative, Dr Sunil Rai, Vice Chancellor, UPES said, “The project supports underprivileged
meritorious students from the Purkal Youth Development Society, by providing admissions to any of
the programmes in UPES, taking care of the complete fees of the students, providing a stipend
during internships, a faculty to mentor and monitor academic and co-curricular progress, and a
member from the Career Services team to assist in internships and placements.”
Aayushi Verma, a student under this programme, pursued her high-
education dreams by way of a 100 per cent scholarship. Aayushi would dream of having a successful
career until 2016 when her father had a paralytic attack. Amidst all the chaos in life, the dreamer in
her was diminishing. She then came across the 100 per cent scholarship programme at UPES in
association with PYDS. With a never-give-up attitude, she bagged the scholarship and enrolled on
the BBA programme at UPES. She interned at Bajaj Health Insurance and is working towards getting
into an Ivy League College in the US.

Similarly, Priyanka Bhatt joined UPES through the programme and


pursued B.Tech in Electronic and Communication Engineering. She received a 100 per cent
scholarship and has got placed at Silicon Labs with an annual package of Rs 21 Lakhs.

UPES has been helping PYDS students through focused mentorship and financial assistance. UPES
has been providing holistic care and education to at least two high-potential children from
underprivileged families of Uttarakhand, especially villages around the Dehradun district every year.

“UPES believes that the best way to give everyone the power to improve their well-being, status,
and place in society while also laying the groundwork for their holistic growth and development is to
provide education at all levels. The University has long been at the forefront of giving back to
society, particularly to Uttarakhand. Hence, as the ‘University of Tomorrow’, UPES continues to
uphold its commitment and plans to put Project Protsahaan in force till the academic year 2028-29,”
added Dr Rai.

Overall, a total of 15 students have been a part of this initiative to date. Under this initiative,
students who qualify for the UPES Entrance Examination can opt for a variety of courses that include
all programmes of B.Tech., Integrated LLB, BBA and B. Design. In terms of financial assistance, the
PYDS students are being provided with free-of-cost education. The Institute provides for all costs
including academic and tuition fees, hostel charges, uniforms, laptops, one-time charges, refundable
security and more during the entire tenure of the course. Further, to ensure requisite guidance and
monitoring, a faculty member from the UPES Societal Responsibility Team undertakes the role of
mentor as Campus GURU for these students for each batch.

Project Naman
https://www.upes.ac.in/social-impact/project-naman

There are countless stories of gallant men from the Kumaon and Garhwal Regiments who have laid
down their lives in the line of duty. It is because of their sacrifices that Uttarakhand is known not
only as Dev Bhumi, but also Veer Bhumi. As a premier institution of higher learning in the state,
UPES believes in creating and sustaining long-lasting impact by caring for the community in which it
thrives. While no measure can ever be enough to compensate for the loss of lives, UPES seeks to
salute the bravehearts by caring for their bereaved families, both financially and otherwise, through
a social initiative named Naman.

Under the project, besides financial assistance to the family of the martyrs, UPES shall:

 Fund complete school education of one martyr’s children every year


 Support the dependent of the martyr in finding job opportunities
 Provide special training and development to the martyr’s widow under Shakti, the existing
women’s empowerment initiative
 Offer full higher education scholarships to the children of five martyrs from Uttarakhand
every year

The project is an extension of the Shaheed Memorial T-20 Cricket Tournament, an annual event
conceptualised in the year 2014, wherein eight teams had participated, which gradually increased to
20 Government/Public Sector Undertakings teams in the year 2020. Organised on a no-profit basis,
the tournament is majorly sponsored by UPES and its employees. The participating teams also
donate voluntarily to the cause.

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