Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) maintains a robust ecosystem of NGO partnerships that link student volunteering, research, and community health to the global SDG agenda. The ‘Seeding Sustainability’ Program, led by the Manipal Environment Conservation Society (MECS) at MAHE Dubai, in partnership with the NGO Water Alliance and sponsored by Herman Miller, educated 780 students across three UAE schools on responsible consumption, water footprints, and zero-waste lifestyles (Water Alliance Website; MAJRA UAE Sustainable Impact Recognition). The program earned the ‘Sustainable Project Stamp’ and was listed among the Top 20 Sustainable Impact Projects by MAJRA, the UAE Federal Government’s sustainability body, with funding to expand its reach to 5,000 students nationwide. Similarly, MAHE’s collaboration with Siemens Healthineers (2023), formalized under a Master Research Agreement, advances community healthcare through affordable diagnostics and NGO-based outreach (Siemens-MAHE Collaboration Coverage).
In India, MAHE’s Centre for Clinical and Innovative Forensics (CCIF) and the Department of Emergency Medicine, KMC Manipal, partnered with the Udupi District Police to train 100 police officers and drivers in first aid, CPR, and accident response as part of the Traffic Police & Drivers First Responders Training Workshop (May 2024) (The Hindu - News Coverage). This cross-sector initiative enhances civic safety and aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). In mental health, MAHE collaborated with the NGO Mind Matter to host the “Draw Your Demons” Workshop (August 2023)—a creative art therapy event promoting emotional expression and resilience among students (DSA Newsletter Vol. 6, Issue 1). Complementary initiatives include World Sight Day free eye-screening camps, World Population Day family planning sessions, World Hand Hygiene Day campaigns, and Pharmacovigilance Week 2024 conducted in partnership with PvPI (Pharmacovigilance Programme of India), all of which combine NGO collaboration and volunteerism for community health awareness.
MAHE’s commitment to NGO collaboration also extends to youth empowerment through the Rotaract Club of Manipal’s “Dhwani – A Sound of Inspiration” (January 2024)—a wellness and leadership event featuring Zumba sessions, mental health talks, and hygiene donation drives, involving 200 student volunteers with the Rotary Foundation (Rotaract Dhwani Event Coverage). Across these initiatives, MAHE demonstrates how academic institutions can integrate education, innovation, and civic engagement to drive measurable impact across SDGs 3, 12, 13, and 17. From sustainability education and healthcare outreach to creative mental health advocacy, MAHE’s NGO partnerships exemplify the transformative role of higher education in delivering community-centered sustainable development.