UEL, Siemens and T-Hub unite to shape sustainable education

The event, Achieving Sustainable Higher Education: The Partnership of Industry and Universities, held at T-Hub Hyderabad, brought together leaders from academia and industry to explore innovative solutions for integrating sustainability into university programs and preparing students for impactful careers in the green economy.

Co-hosted by UEL and Siemens, the event served as a platform to align university curricula with real-world sustainability challenges. T-Hub's role as an innovation intermediary and business incubator was highlighted as an example of how such partnerships can drive the development of sustainable solutions and enhance collaborative impact.

Based on the triple helix model of innovation, T-Hub is a partnership between the Government of Telangana, three academic institutes in Hyderabad, and the private sector. It provides Indian and international start-ups with resources and supports state and central government organisations in building innovation ecosystems.

Professor Paul Marshall, Vice President (Global Campus) and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Careers and Enterprise at UEL, delivered a keynote address at the event, sharing his vision for the collaboration and its potential to inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders. He said,

UEL is committed to continuing and developing our dynamic relationship with India to ensure that we can contribute to accelerating the country’s impressive economic growth as our graduates return to India to harness their skills, entrepreneurial zeal, and industry links for the benefit of the country.

“As we look to the future of our work in India, we are enhancing our partnerships to drive the sustainability agenda through further academic research, knowledge exchange, and industry collaboration. These opportunities are boundless, as we continue to apply our pioneering research to communities across the world.”

Throughout the event, participants engaged in sessions on sustainable architecture, green technology, and overcoming challenges associated with industry-academia partnerships. These discussions highlighted how universities can adapt to the evolving sustainability landscape, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to address environmental issues and contribute meaningfully to the workforce. Expert insights and lively exchanges between leaders further reinforced the event’s commitment to strengthening ties between the UK and India, nurturing a shared dedication to environmental stewardship and global collaboration.

For UEL, the event marked another significant milestone toward its ambitious goal of becoming a centre of excellence in sustainability by 2030. Since launching its strategic partnership with Siemens in 2022, UEL has taken huge steps to pursue Carbon Net Zero, establishing a clear and practical pathway to achieve its sustainability objectives. The partnership has been instrumental in reducing UEL’s carbon footprint and embedding sustainability as a core focus within its curriculum. This approach not only enhances UEL’s commitment to sustainability but also provides students with valuable hands-on experiences in green technologies and sustainable practices, reinforcing UEL's role as a leader in the field.

Together, UEL, Siemens, and T-Hub Hyderabad are setting the stage for an education system that prioritises sustainability at every level. Through collaborative initiatives and strategic partnerships, they are ensuring that today’s students are well-equipped to take on tomorrow’s environmental challenges, becoming leaders who will drive change and resilience in a rapidly evolving world.

By building pathways that connect educational goals with sustainability challenges, UEL and Siemens, along with their new collaborator T-Hub Hyderabad, are not just inspiring change - they are setting new standards for higher education worldwide.