CCV is working towards a more sustainable future. With #WeCARE, our sustainability programme, we’re currently aiming to reach various goals that benefit people and the planet. And last week, we welcomed five students for the SDG-Challenge to help us achieve some of our important ambitions.
What is the SDG-Challenge?
SDG-Challenge University is an international initiative that aims to trigger students to pursue a career in making the world more future-proof. It also stimulates organisations to use the solutions that students come up with to make their businesses more sustainable.
The mission of this challenge
The mission of the SDG-Challenge is to connect and mobilise students of universities of applied sciences and organisations to work together on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are seventeen goals, defined by the United Nations, meant to end poverty and hunger, combat climate change and protect people, animals and the planet at large in various other ways. Examples of SDGs are: ‘No poverty’, ‘Decent work and economic growth’’, and ‘Reduced inequalities’.
Students from eight Dutch universities team up at eight companies
During the SDG-Challenge, teams from eight Dutch universities take on an SDG-related challenge at leading companies like CCV. The teams have to come up with tangible and actionable ideas that contribute to one or several of the SDGs.
After a digital kick-off, followed by a sprint day with our students at our office in Arnhem last week, the solution to CCV’s challenge is now under construction. The ideas will be presented during the finals on April 21st.
Why does CCV participate?
As a financial institution, CCV carries great responsibility. Economically, environmentally and socially. We are committed to contributing to the SDGs and to aligning our business to the ten principles of the UN Global Compact. While being transparently assessed by EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, we aim to adhere to the Global Reporting Initiative and strengthen our CSR reporting and disclosure processes.
With the SDG-Challenge, we are looking forward to connecting with young generations, discovering new ways to contribute to the SDGs, and getting fresh ideas for future initiatives. Enny van de Velden, Chair of the Board of Directors and CCO of CCV: “We are excited to represent the payment industry in this challenge, enabling discussions about the specific set of challenges and opportunities that we encounter in our field.”
Up next: the finals
The students are encouraged to develop their ideas into realistic, well-founded solutions. During the finals on April 21st, they will present those solutions in front of a professional jury. The team with the solution that has the biggest potential impact wins.
The evaluation will be based on short and long term impact on the SDGs, innovativeness and originality, sustainability, technical feasibility, scalability and economical viability. CCV is looking forward to discovering what advice our team of students will give to make an impact on one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals.