Our purpose: Fostering positive change through education, research and innovation
Sustainability
SOCIAL ACTION
We understand social action as a chain reaction of positive change
BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH COMMON SPACES
65 common spaces at IE University. Spaces where people gather, interact, create and innovate to make a positive impact.
Integration of cultures
We are many diverse communities inside one big united IE University
Individual & collective transformation
Successful transformation relies on individual behavioral change; what I do is a reflection of who we are as a community.
ME TAKING THE STAIRS
ME DRINKING TAP WATER
ME NOT PRINTING
At IE University we’ve thought a lot about how tomorrow’s world will look and what kind of knowledge we must cultivate for our students to thrive in it. We are committed to fostering environmental and ethical stewardship as well as promoting increased awareness and public understanding.
We want to help people think and behave in ways that nurture a more sustainable planet: embracing global citizenship, social responsibility, climate action, the use of renewable energy and recycling, as well as fighting against biodiversity loss.
This way people can appreciate that individual efforts are not isolated events but contribute to an interconnected system that determines the well-being of both humans and the planet.
2021 CHALLENGE: COMMUNITY BUILDING – We continue our commitment to sustainability from a different perspective this year. We will highlight the social impact the IE University community makes, fostering cohesion and resilience to be adaptable to whatever the future may hold. We need each of you to believe in the great power of your actions. What you do is a reflection of who we are.
The Chain of Change starts with you!
10 YEAR CHALLENGE
We aim to mainstream sustainability into all aspects of the university. This involves rethinking the curriculum, campus operations, as well as the organizational culture. In this way, the institution itself will function as a role model.
We want to inspire people to change their habits to strengthen a behavioral change. The change starts with our people: staff, faculty, students, alumni, and the corporate world. We all want to make an impact on society and on our world.
-
2020 CHALLENGERESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION2020 GOALS2020 Environmental Achievements2020 Other Sustainability Achievements
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
IE University’s objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2030.
To reach our 2020 challenge, IE University focused on:
WATER. Reduce the use of plastic, single-use water bottles to promote responsible consumption. This affected the entire organization: staff, faculty and students. Drinking fountains were installed and actions were taken to promote the use of reusable containers.
PAPER. Reduce paper consumption. Among other related projects, IE University has been working for a decade to reduce paper consumption with projects such as WWF’s ‘100 Companies for the Forests’, where, every year, students replant trees in the Doñana National Park.
ENERGY. Reduce energy consumption on campus via lighting, air conditioning, etc. By 2030, our objective is to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint by becoming a zero-emission institution. In 2020, we focused on increasing our purchased renewable energy as part of our commitment to climate action with a goal for the implementation of ISO 50001 by the end of 2021.
PLASTICS AND SINGLE-USE PACKAGING. Build awareness to increase the use of recycled plastic or compostable PLA (derived from corn) on campus.
WASTE MANAGEMENT. We build awareness with campaigns about recycling in the institution. Implement ISO 14001.
TRANSPORT. Implement new formulas for sustainable movement of staff, teachers and students between campus buildings: car-pooling, electric shuttles and bicycle racks.
2020 GOALS
-
2021 ChallengeBUILDING RESILIENCE in 2020HOW WE BUILD COMMUNITYOUR GOALS FOR 2021
THINGS DO NOT JUST HAPPEN, THEY ARE MEANT TO HAPPEN
At IE University our community has dedicated more than 53.280 hours to social impact activities during 2020. Our plan is to increase both the number of activities and the number of active participants.
HOW WE BUILD COMMUNITY AT IE UNIVERSITY
Resilience can be learned and cultivated by exposing ourselves to unusual situations. We applaud those hours and the following initiatives by our IE University community which goes to show that sustainability has the great power of fostering true change and development of people everywhere:
- Impact Projects
- Financieros sin Fronteras
- Legal Clinic
- Global Legaltech Venture Days
- LawAhead Hub
- Legaltech Innovation Farm
- Social Impact Lab
- Hay Festival
- IE Woman
- Fundación Puentes Global
- Center for Social Innovation and Sustainability
OUR GOALS FOR 2021
People & community:
- Increase the number of people involved in community-building and social impact activities
- Create new associations with common social or environmental purposes
- Develop local improvement projects
Knowledge:
- Generate awareness through seminars and workshops.
- Publish research papers
Innovation
- Cultivate corporate philanthropy as a key priority in our students.
- Facilitate the digitalization and economic reactivation of local ecosystem.
COMMUNITY
People are the main asset of any community. As a community of students, faculty, administration, staff and alumni, we define ourselves through a key set of values and objectives: promoting businesses that enhance progress and well-being, supporting diversity and global understanding, encouraging sustainable development and preserving natural resources.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
In line with this year´s challenge of Community Building, we believe that everyone at IE – students, faculty, staff and alumni – should participate in actions that positively impact the campus community and beyond. Our goal is to promote initiatives that encourage the importance of community and human connection.
Being a part of a community unites us, fostering cohesion and resilience which allows us to be adaptable to whatever the future may hold.
To that end, we have created a Sustainability Board (SB) to evaluate on a regular basis proposals for initiatives that the SB could help pursue.
Building the IE Community Worldwide
Covering all continents, IE’s offices organize events and activities to keep the community engaged and connected. Even in times of Covid, following the rules and restrictions that each country or city has in place, some offices have managed to offer students and alumni a space to share and stay connected.
SOUTH AFRICA
Last November, students from the Executive Master in Digital Transformation & Innovation Leadership (EDTX) got together in South Africa during their residential week. They met in our office space in Johannesburg, where they attended online classes together.
Dudu Dhladhla, Mbali Tshitenge and Stanley Gabriel, EDTX students, met in Johannesburg (Nov 2020), accompanied by Laika Masuku, Southern Africa’s IE Office Coordinator.
MEXICO
Future students meet at a picnic in Mexico City (Nov 2020)
The restrictions imposed in most countries have driven the teams to be more innovative in the type of events that are organized. For example, during the first week of November, and after 8 months of fully online activities, our office in Mexico organized their first face-to-face event for students starting Spring 2021. Following all health protocols and measures designated by the local authorities, students enjoyed a picnic in Mexico City.
Marcos Ramírez, Mexico’s IE Office Director said, “Students told us that they really appreciated our effort in making this happen, as it is not the same to meet your future classmates online than to meet them in a park around a nice picnic”.
Attendees were provided with an IE University health kit that included a face mask and hand sanitizer. Students had the chance to meet their future classmates in an environment filled with camaraderie and hope for new beginnings.
DUBAI
Global Online MBA students meet in Dubai
During the first weeks of 2021, several Global Online MBA students met in Dubai for their residential period. They joined their classes virtually and attended a career panel and other networking events with alumni and students from other programs. They also went on a Cultural Tour of Dubai, organized through an alumna’s company.
NIGERIA
Students Connect in Nigeria through art
IE offices and IE representatives worldwide are ambassadors of the institution’s values and spirit. The Student Connect activity organized by our office in Nigeria, brought together current and future students around a painting class. It was an opportunity to network and meet fellow IE members, allowing them to connect with their artistic side as well.
These are just a few examples of how we build the IE community worldwide and beyond our campuses in Segovia and Madrid. The IE spirit transcends the physical environment of our campuses and joins forces abroad and beyond, to continue generating personal and professional growth, with a multicultural scope.
Clubs
Among the many clubs on campus, there are several dynamic groups that allow students to participate in community engagement activities, host awareness events, and provide peer education and outreach about local and global issues of concern related to sustainability.
To have an even greater impact on campus at IE University and beyond, these clubs have each taken on a specific focus for 2020, related to this year’s goal of responsible consumption: water, paper, energy, plastic, fashion or food.
SOCIAL IMPACT IE FOUNDATION
Successful transformation relies on individual behavioral change; what I do is a reflection of who we are as a community. We are many diverse communities inside one big, united IE University. We share strong values and defined purpose. We strongly believe that when staff, faculty and students learn about issues, are supported to tackle social challenges, and connect with each other, we all benefit. Social action ends up as a chain reaction of positive change, enhancing communities and equipping young people to become active citizens for life.
-
SCHOLARSHIPSTALENT TAKING CARE OF TALENTIE FOUNDATION FELLOWSIE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPSCORPORATE SCHOLARSHIPS
HELPING THE BEST TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL
More than €16 million are awarded annually to undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship recipients from 100 countries. IE University and the IE Foundation work to make sure that talented students access the best educational opportunities without economic barriers to reach their full potential.
IE FOUNDATION FELLOWS
As a fellowship of donors, we believe in our IE Foundation Fellows and in the transformational role that education will play in their future.
IE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Partial or Full Scholarships directly offered by IE Foundation. (Women, Academic Excellence, Parent Scholarships, Direct Awards, etc.)
CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIPS
The IE Foundation shares its commitment to talent with the business world. IE Corporate Scholarships offer companies an effective way to help promising students by providing them with the best educational opportunities at an institution committed to innovation and excellence.
-
INITIATIVES FOR SOCIAL IMPACT AT IETALENT DEVELOPMENT AND AWARENESSGENDER GAPDISABILITY AND CONCILIATION
TALENT DEVELOPMENT AND AWARENESS
Our goal is to increase a tenfold the number of workshops, seminars and the creation of specialized programs for new employees focused on sustainability by 2030.
GENDER GAP
We continually facilitate initiatives that encourage the presence of women on the IE University team and faculty and within the student body. Further, we promote academic content written by female professors, case studies on female business leaders, entrepreneurs, etc. Use inclusive language.
DISABILITY AND CONCILIATION
We currently support 100% of students, staff and faculty with disabilities, and the objective is to creatively consider and develop new actions jointly with the Adecco Foundation and Celima.
-
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES WITH SOCIAL IMPACT1 Business School’s impact activities2 Architecture and design’s school impact activities3 Law’s school impact activities4 Global and public affairs’s school impact activities5 Human Science and Technology School’s Impact activities
Business School’s impact activities
At the social level, sustainability fosters the development of people, communities and cultures to achieve an overall level of quality of life, health and education that is adequate and equitable. IE Business School is devoted to positive impact.
Architecture and design’s school impact activities
The physical environment is a key piece of community building. Our graduates from Architecture and Design have the tools to be leaders in shaping an inclusive and humane physical and digital environment.
Law’s school impact activities
Social sustainability is a multifaceted approach. Countries are already adjusting their legislation to promote sustainability. Law school promotes activities to foster social impact.
Global and public affairs’s school impact activities
We want to attain a more inclusive world. Defining policy and having governments, private sector and civil society work together within their space to really make things happen we believe can help achieve inclusiveness. GPA is committed to making social impact.
Human Science and Technology School’s Impact activities
Technology and science are key in reshaping the future and we need people and communities to be at the centre of this transitions.
-
IE WOMEN1 IE WOMEN
Women at IE boost the representation of women´s talent in high decision-
making bodies at public and private companies, start ups, associations, foundations, political institutions. IE faculty, researchers, clubs, alumni and staff design tools and programs to effectively attract, retain and support the most talented women in their quest for career advancement and success. The IE Foundation supports this initiative and, on behalf of the IE community and its donors, designates a significant portion of the annual budget exclusively to help women continue on their path to excellence.
Teaching & Research
IE’s community comes together as a transformational hub of education for sustainable impact to create the best possible environment to foster knowledge generation and learning.
Know more
