Centre of Excellence in
Public Policy, Sustainability and ESG Research

Overview

The Centre of excellence for Public Policy and ESG is committed to promote rigorous, systematic, evidenced based scientific research in three distinct, dynamic, yet nascent domains of policy making: ESG, sustainability and public policy. The Centre seeks to focus on new and emerging areas of policy making, drawing expertise from various stakeholders to include academia, corporates, policy think tanks and civil society organizations.

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” While the United Nations has developed 17 goals to improve the lives of the people, the achievement of each goal is deeply embedded within the social, cultural, and political realities with increasing risks of marginalization exclusion of the weakest stakeholders. Poverty being an existential risk towards the achievement of the SDG, the challenge to find sustainable solutions lies in the integration of all stakeholders to ensure people’s adaptation and acceptability to change with minimal or no risks of exclusion and marginalization.

ESG as a concept evolved as early as historical times and strategically shifted its nomenclature from Socially Responsible Investing to Company Social Responsibility. It was in 2004 that the term ESG was first used by the UNEPFI in their document, “Who cares wins.” However, ESG reporting it still in its infancy, particularly in the MSME sector which dominates the Indian economy. Climate sustainability, social strategies and governance require robust transition and due diligence strategies. We are committed to helping enterprises and businesses to be the future ready keeping the core tenets of the business responsible and sustainable.

The Centre of Excellence has been established to undertake research and design intervention strategies to create change by collaborating with stakeholders commemorating 25 years of the university’s continuing contribution towards academic excellence, inter disciplinary expertise and its contribution to the university’s commitment in service of humanity.

Mission and Vision

To create and support an environment of rigorous, systematic, and scientific evidence-based research with the integration of social sciences and allied disciplines in the field of ESG, sustainability and public policy making and, foster a culture of sustainable and inclusive policy to create social change.

Objectives

1. Promote and facilitate multidisciplinary research with focus on sustainability and inclusivity.
2. Undertake cutting edge ESG research with focus on just transition and due diligence strategies.
3. Contribute to the national SDG 2030 objectives and create effective intervention strategies for implementation at the local level.
4. Facilitate research and development programs for political leaders and enable them to design campaign strategies, political decision making, leadership and policy analysis.
5. Contribute towards scientific and rigorous research on currents issues of social development, global justice, economic studies, law and justice reforms and futurist studies.

Focus Areas

1. Public Policy.
2. Sustainability.
3. ESG Research.
4. Program and certifications.
5. Political training and election strategy.

Centre of Excellence Activities

• Research: Undertake independent / collaborative futuristic evidence-based research in ESG, sustainability and public policy making.
• Advisory and Consulting: Provide active consulting expertise to corporates, governments, think tanks and civil society organizations combining the institution’s core strengths and scholarship with the organizations best practices to provide robust long term strategic insights.
• Education: Integrate evidenced based research with social sciences to design sustainable interventions by offering certifications, diplomas, and graduate degree programs in various disciplines and skills sets mandatory for policy professionals.
• Partnerships: Collaborative arrangements with leading organizations in the corporate and the public sector with the aim to jointly undertake research, policy briefs and consultations in India and abroad.
• Institution Building: Create a strong ethical environment promoting academic freedom, encouraging research and consulting. Invite senior fellows to undertake research and teaching. Administratively, be able to plan for a systemic accretion of faculty and staff to meet the challenges of expansion.