New ideas in sustainability - Scholarship of Hope goes to Jelena Širic

Each year, MODUL University Vienna gives out scholarships to the students with the most innovative ideas in the area of sustainability that meet the needs of the present, and improve the welfare of future generations.

Awarded by the Sustainability Committee, the Scholarship of Hope (SoH) focuses on ideas that could be implemented on campus at MU or to the benefit to the student body, staff, or the greater society. For her two innovative and creative proposals, this year’s recipient is MSc in Sustainable Management, Development and Policy student, Jelena Širic.

Jelena’s first idea, ‘Backyard Composting’ at MODUL University laid out a plan to turn materials such as grass clippings, dead leaves, coffee grounds, and cafeteria waste into compost.

She suggested that through the implementation of compost bins on the campus grounds, we could achieve environmental goals including reduced food waste, organic food production, and decreased soil pollution.

The social aspect of this project could also be beneficial – students involved in the composting program would gain knowledge and practical experience though personal engagement, and foster awareness and appreciation for organic food within the student community. Should more fertilizer be produced than the university can use, the excess could be donated to the local community to assist our neighbours in growing organically too.

Jelena had too many good ideas for just one proposal – her second suggestion was also chosen by the selection committee. ‘Spring Cleaning Auction’ focuses on recycling goods as well as social sustainability and charity.

She envisions an event where members of the MODUL Community and their family and friends can bring unwanted household goods, clothing, and sundries to an annual auction around Easter time, wherein the money collected can go into a scholarship fund for exceptional students from developing countries and the leftover goods would be donated to charity. The evening would promote social sustainability through increased awareness of social inequality, student engagement, and environmental though decreasing waste amount.

Jelena’s ideas to ‘improve all aspects of life in our community’’ were awarded with a €1000 scholarship by Dr. Graziano Ceddia, Head of the Sustainability Committee and Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Governance and Sustainable Development.

Congratulations Jelena!