The 2nd National Workshop on UI GreenMetric for Universities in Ecuador: Environmental Sustainability Initiatives Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic for Universities in Ecuador

The 2nd National Workshop on UI GreenMetric for Universities in Ecuador was held on Thursday, 23 September 2021 at 9:00 AM local time via Zoom. Hosted by Universidad Hemisferios of Ecuador, the webinar was opened by Diego Alejandro Jaramillo, PhD (Rector of Universidad Hemisferios), Mr. Agung Kurniadi (Indonesian Ambassador to Ecuador), and Prof. Dr. Ir. Riri Fitri Sari, M.Sc., M.M. (Chairperson of UI GreenMetric World University Rankings). The opening remarks from all parties welcomed more universities to join UI GreenMetric World University Rankings as a part of the action to achieve a sustainable environment and education. The event was divided into two sessions and featured five key speakers. It was joined by 39 participants from universities across Ecuador and the personals from the Embassy of Indonesia in Quito, Ecuador. Mr. Daniel Barragán of Universidad Hemisferios became the moderator of this event.   The first session started with the introduction of UI GreenMetric World University Rankings by Asst. Prof. Junaidi, M.A. (Vice-Chair of Program, Communication, and Partnership), as well as explaining the indicators on which universities were based on and reminding the participating universities about the deadline of the proposal submission. It was then followed by the information on the national network of UI GreenMetric in Ecuador, presented by Mr. Pablo Vanegas Peralta, PhD (Vice-Rector of the Research and Post-Graduate Program of Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo) on behalf of Mr. Byron Vaca B., PhD (Rector of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo) who was unable to be present on the webinar. Participants asked questions at the end of the session directed towards UI GreenMetric, and it was then continued with the signing of the declaration of membership to the UIGWURN and the taking of group photo.   The second session of the workshop discussed the practices of sustainability in universities across Ecuador with three key speakers. The first speaker, Ms. Andrea Estefanía Jaramillo Duque, M.Sc (Coordinator of the School of Environmental Management of the Universidad Internacional del Ecuador), talked about the practice of sustainability in the campuses of UIDE, such as waste management that mirrors the spirit of SDGs. Followed by the second speaker, Prof. Paulina Criollo (Director of Sustainability of Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral) presented the initiatives regarding sustainability that have been done before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the third speaker, Prof. Mariuxi Alvarado (International Relations of Universidad Ecotec), explained the change of energy matrix in ECOTEC, one of them being organic garden and science park in which the general public can learn about science freely.   After approximately one hour and forty minutes, the webinar was closed by Prof. Dr. Ir. Riri Fitri Sari, M.Sc., Asst. Prof. Junaidi M.A., and Mr. Pablo Vanegas Peralta, PhD. The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings Network in Ecuador also welcomed other universities in Ecuador to become the host for next year’s national workshop. It is hoped that more universities will join the network and work together to achieve sustainable campuses for a sustainable future.