RV University Students Secure Third Place in India Sustainability Startathon 2024

Bengaluru, September 17, 2024: Three students from RV University's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SOLAS) secured third place in the prestigious India Sustainability Startathon, a rigorous competition designed to select 15 young innovative leaders for the ASEAN-CHINA-INDIA Youth Leadership Summit in Singapore.

Serving as a qualifying round for this international event, Startathon challenges participants through five intensive phases, including design thinking, rapid prototyping, business modeling, and a fundraising masterclass, culminating in a thrilling grand finale. Such an achievement not only highlights the students' innovative prowess but also earns them a fully-funded invitation to represent India at the summit in Singapore.

The group of students including Tabassum, Nathania, and Subhiksha, will now go on to represent India in Singapore from September 28 to October 5, 2024, at the ASEAN-CHINA-INDIA Youth Leadership Summit.  Their creative technique, steadfast devotion, and remarkable focus on sustainability have made them stand out as champions in their chosen field. Along with four other Indian teams, they will be traveling to participate in this global summit.

Building on the success of its predecessor, the ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit 2024 brings together 5,000 young leaders from 12 nations of ASEAN, China, and India. The Sustainability Startathon Grand Finals, which takes place in Singapore over six days, will see 180 finalists compete after moving on from national qualifiers. The summit offers a varied program with an emphasis on innovation, cultural immersion, and sustainability, and approximately 2,000 guests are anticipated. This conference is an important occasion for promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development since it provides a vital forum for forging cross-cultural understanding and equipping upcoming leaders to tackle global concerns.

Young leaders come together at the ACI (ASEAN, China, and India) Youth Leadership Summit, a dynamic forum that unites them in addressing global sustainability concerns. Participants will learn about and engage with significant subjects like sustainability, entrepreneurship, and intercultural understanding. The 2024 summit will be held in Singapore, providing the students with a global platform to showcase their revolutionary ideas.

At the India Sustainability Startathon 2024, more than 800 students from different Indian institutions registered, sparking fierce competition. The issue statement debate at the bootcamp, which was held in several Indian cities, was the next stage of registrations.  To get to the final level, students had to go through multiple rounds during July and August. Four teams from SOLAS-RV University and students from other Bangalore-based universities participated in a two-day bootcamp held at RV University. Teams worked on issues pertaining to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 11, with special attention on agricultural technical expertise and pedestrian rights in Bangalore.

After participating in several rounds of competition, 54 teams with 200 students were selected for the final round. These teams received assistance from international mentors to polish their ideas and reward their proposals in accordance with global norms. The winners and runners-up were announced at an extravagant ceremony held at Christ University following the completion of the online final round. The SOLAS-RV University team won third place in this competition, earning the opportunity to represent their innovative ideas and solutions at the international forum

Commenting on this achievement Dr. Priya Nair, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (SoLAS) RV University said "We are immensely proud of our SOLAS students for their outstanding performance in the India Sustainability Startathon. By securing a place at the ASEAN-CHINA-INDIA Youth Leadership Summit, these young innovators will not only represent RV University but also showcase India's potential in addressing global challenges. Their achievement reflects the effectiveness of our interdisciplinary curriculum and our focus on nurturing creative, solution-oriented thinkers ready to make a positive impact on the world," 

This accomplishment demonstrates RV University's dedication to encouraging creativity and sustainability in its student body. The university's involvement in these esteemed occasions not only displays the creativity of its students but also helps find innovative and sustainable ways to solve global issues.