DOCUMENT CONTROL AND INDEX

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE AND SCOPE

1. INTRODUCTION

Vel Tech High Tech Dr.Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College recognises that higher education, engineering, research and institutional operations must contribute to human well-being, inclusive development and environmental protection. This policy converts all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into a practical institution-wide framework aligned with the Institutional Strategic Plan 2025–2030, Outcome-Based Education, research, innovation, the Vel Tech High Tech MSME Business Incubator and community engagement.

2. PURPOSE

To institutionalise authentic, measurable and evidence-based SDG integration across curriculum, research, innovation, campus operations, student development, community partnerships, governance and public reporting, while preventing superficial tagging and unsupported sustainability claims.

3. SCOPE

All programmes, departments, centres, laboratories, offices, student bodies, hostels, transport, procurement, construction, events, outreach, research, consultancy, incubation and collaborations conducted by or in the name of the Institution.

OBJECTIVES

4. OBJECTIVES

• Build SDG literacy and systems-thinking capability among students, faculty, staff, incubatees and partners.
• Embed relevant SDGs and targets in curriculum, course outcomes, projects, assessments and graduate attributes.
• Direct research, consultancy, innovation and startup support towards measurable local, national and global challenges.
• Reduce the environmental footprint of campus operations through energy, water, waste, biodiversity, mobility and procurement measures.
• Advance equity, health, safety, accessibility, gender justice, decent work and accountable governance.
• Establish baselines, targets, evidence repositories, audits, dashboards and annual improvement reporting for SDG performance.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

5. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. All 17 SDGs are interconnected and actions shall be assessed for possible trade-offs, unintended harm and lifecycle impacts.
2. SDG mapping shall be based on a demonstrable relationship to a goal, relevant target, intended outcome and credible evidence.
3. Priority shall be given to local relevance, inclusion, measurable benefit, long-term viability and participation of affected communities.
4. Academic freedom and disciplinary diversity shall be respected while maintaining common evidence and integrity standards.
5. Environmental and social claims shall be proportionate to evidence and shall not constitute greenwashing or impact inflation.
6. Students and communities shall be partners in problem definition, implementation, reflection and evaluation.

6. GENERAL POLICY COMMITMENT

The Institution shall implement this policy through approved roles, adequate resources, documented procedures, transparent communication and measurable review. Decisions and exceptions shall be recorded and authorized by the competent authority.

THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

7.1 INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT

The Institution shall address all 17 Goals through a balanced portfolio of academic, research, operational and societal initiatives. Departments may prioritise Goals connected to their discipline, but reporting shall recognise interdependence and avoid isolated or ceremonial tagging.

GOAL-WISE INSTITUTIONAL ACTION — SDG 1 TO SDG 6

GOAL-WISE INSTITUTIONAL ACTION — SDG 7 TO SDG 12

GOAL-WISE INSTITUTIONAL ACTION — SDG 13 TO SDG 17

ACADEMIC, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION INTEGRATION

7.2 CURRICULUM AND LEARNING

• Boards of Studies shall identify sustainability competencies relevant to each programme.
• Course Outcomes, units, assignments and laboratory activities shall be tagged only where direct learning evidence exists.
• Capstone projects shall state the problem, beneficiaries, SDG target, baseline, intervention, outcome, limitations and future work.
• Faculty development shall cover systems thinking, life-cycle analysis, climate resilience, inclusion, impact measurement and community-engaged learning.

7.3 RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY AND INCUBATION

• Proposals may identify relevant SDG targets without overstating predicted impact.
• The R&D Cell shall maintain a verified SDG-tagged portfolio of publications, grants, patents, consultancy and technology transfer.
• The MSME Business Incubator shall support ventures addressing clean technology, health, education, agriculture, mobility, circular economy and inclusion.
• Startups claiming SDG impact shall define indicators, beneficiaries, risks and evidence.

SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS, COMMUNITY AND REPORTING

7.4 CAMPUS OPERATIONS

7.5 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Outreach shall be based on needs assessment, informed participation, appropriate safeguards, partner roles, learning outcomes, beneficiary feedback and follow-up. Event counts alone shall not be presented as impact.

7.6 DATA, TARGETS AND REPORTING

• Baseline data and annual targets shall be maintained for selected indicators.
• An SDG evidence repository shall retain approved mappings, datasets, reports, photographs, feedback, audits and action-taken reports with privacy controls.
• IQAC may reject duplicate, unsupported or ceremonial claims.
• The Sustainability Committee shall prepare an annual performance report showing achievements, gaps, corrective actions and next-year targets.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

8. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Governing Council/Management approves strategic commitments, resources and major sustainability investments.
• The Principal authorises the SDG governance structure and ensures cross-functional implementation.
• IQAC defines evidence standards, verifies performance claims and integrates SDG review into quality assurance.
• The Sustainability Committee coordinates targets, audits, dashboards, awareness and annual reporting.
• Dean Academics, Boards of Studies and HODs integrate SDGs into curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.
• The R&D Cell, IIC and MSME Business Incubator coordinate SDG-linked research, innovation, consultancy and startups.
• Administrative, engineering, purchase, transport, hostel and facility teams implement operational sustainability controls.
• Students, faculty and staff follow the policy, contribute evidence and report environmental or social risks.

IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE

9. IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE

1. Identify the problem, beneficiary, applicable SDG and target, baseline and responsible unit.
2. Approve the activity, safeguards, indicators, budget, data source and evidence plan.
3. Implement the academic, research, operational or outreach intervention with stakeholder participation.
4. Collect verifiable output and outcome evidence while protecting privacy and avoiding duplicate reporting.
5. Review progress through departmental, Sustainability Committee and IQAC mechanisms.
6. Record corrective action, next-year targets and approved public reporting.

RECORDS AND COMPLIANCE

10. RECORDS AND EVIDENCE

• SDG mapping registers for courses, projects, research, events and outreach
• Energy, water, waste, biodiversity, transport and procurement datasets
• Baseline studies, audit reports, beneficiary feedback and impact assessments
• Departmental action plans, budgets, review minutes and action-taken reports
• SDG-linked publications, patents, funded projects, startups and consultancy outcomes
• Annual sustainability and SDG performance report

11. MONITORING INDICATORS

• Percentage of programmes and courses with verified SDG integration
• Number and quality of SDG-linked projects, publications, patents, grants and startups
• Energy and water intensity, renewable-energy share and waste-diversion rate
• Accessibility, gender equity, well-being and inclusion measures
• Community beneficiaries and independently verifiable outcomes
• Closure rate of audit observations and annual SDG improvement actions

12. CONFIDENTIALITY, RETENTION AND ACCESS

Records shall be accurate, retrievable and protected against unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction. Access shall be role-based and limited to legitimate institutional need. Retention and disposal shall follow the approved schedule and applicable requirements.

13. NON-COMPLIANCE

Non-compliance may result in corrective action, withdrawal of access or benefit, recovery of loss, disciplinary action, referral to a statutory body or other proportionate action after due process.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL

14. REVIEW AND AMENDMENT

The policy owner shall review this document at the stated cycle or earlier due to changes in law, regulation, institutional structure, technology, risk, audit findings or stakeholder requirements. Amendments shall take effect only after approval and version control.

15. REFERENCES

• United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Institutional Strategic Plan 2025–2030
• National Education Policy 2020 and applicable higher-education guidance
• Applicable environmental, energy, water, waste, accessibility and occupational-safety requirements
• Institutional Environmental, Research, Innovation, Procurement, E-Governance and Community Engagement Policies

16. APPROVAL AND SIGNATURES

This is a controlled institutional document. Printed copies are uncontrolled unless specifically stamped and issued by the authorized office.