The Joint International Master in Environmental Sustainability (JIMES) is a unique collaboration between BVIEER, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed University), India, and the University of Cologne, Germany launched this year. The program began with a Summer School, an engaging orientation that immediately immersed students in the pressing global challenge of plastic pollution, while also framing sustainability through the lenses of urban climate resilience and community participation. Through interactive tools like Mental Modeler, collaborative assignments, and cross-border teamwork, participants explored innovative approaches to sustainability challenges in real time. It combined the academic expertise of international faculty with the richness of intercultural exchange. At the same time, the program emphasized active student participation, with learners designing and presenting their own interventions. Right from day one, the Summer School fostered systems thinking, critical reflection, and creativity—laying a strong foundation for impactful environmental leadership.
