The role of the Students’ Union expanded significantly in recent times. In addition to representing students’ interests and organizing events, they took on the coordination of students’ epidemiological work, while embarking on the implementation of such advanced visions as the Green University project. As a first step in the latter, more than 3,000 students voted in support of the various environmental and ecological footprint reduction objectives of the Students’ Union in January this year. In the light of such high level of student support, the organization developed a detailed program plan, which was also approved by the Senate this spring.
In accordance with the “Think globally, act locally!” motto, the university and the Students’ Union would like to emphasize how important our community’s decisions are in regards to the environment.
The primary goal of the project is to develop environmental education further. It aims to draw the attention of all students and staff at Semmelweis University to their responsibility for the environment, both individually and as a community. However, collective success is mostly achieved by developing and applying an environmentally conscious mindset on the individual level. Therefore the project’s goal is for Semmelweis University to work closely together for a better and more sustainable future.
Major results so far:
- On-campus selective waste collectors have been increased by 40 percent, so that all recyclable waste can be disposed of without much effort.
- With the digitalization of student paper ’Gólyahír’ and the removal of Szinapszis, several tons of wood have been preserved.
- After planting hundreds of new plants, the landscaped part of the Theoretical Block at Nagyvárad Square, the garden of the András Pető Faculty at Kútvölgyi Street and the inner courtyard of the Education Center at the Faculty of Dentistry were transformed into a greener, more friendly environment that welcomes Semmelweis Citizens.
- Several highly successful, full-house lectures have been organized for students, to which they invited external experts. Péter Merza, Vice-President of the Humus Association spoke about the importance of waste management and composting, for example.
- The Students’ Union joined a number of national and global actions, such as the “Plastic-Free July” and the “Take It Out” garbage collection campaign, during which they cleaned up the area around the Inner Clinical Block.
- Community composters were placed in János Balassa and Lajos Markusovszky dormitories, which are used by college students regularly.
- With the help of discounted coupons, students are encouraged to shop in package free stores; the range of such business partners is constantly expanding.
Of course, there are further plans and goals to realize in 2022. Many students are involved in the implementation led by Lőrinc Palotás, 5th year medical student on behalf of Bálint Tripolszky from the Students’ Union and Éva Füredi, Head of the Environmental Protection Department at the Security Technology Directorate, working under the coordination of Feketéné Dr. Éva Szabó, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development.
As part of the project, all student administration is planned to be digitalized from February 2022 – this will not only make the daily lives of students and university staff in the students’ department and dean’s offices easier, but will also drastically reduce paper usage. There are also plans to introduce an optional subject called „Green University – Together for Our Environment”, which will feature lectures by renowned environmental experts and practical programs to draw students’ attention to the importance of sustainable living, such as a second-hand clothing fair, a vegan food fair, or the “Home-Made Zero Waste Products Workshop”. PET bottles are planned to be replaced by refillable ones with the help of the university’s service providers, and a number of new bicycle storage facilities will be built on campus. In cooperation with MOL Bubi, the project also aims to bring the experience of community cycling closer to students by installing new storages near the university.
If you want to get more informed about the Green University project, feed your curiosity about current news or share your own ideas, join the Facebook group edited by the Students’ Union, which boasts more and more lecturers in addition to students!
Lőrinc Palotás, Alexandra Pop
Translation: Viktória Kiss
Photo: Bálint Barta
This article is part of the “Students’ Perspective” section.
