Professor Liu Dacheng and his students who won 1st place in the Asia Pacific Region and Silver Medal Best Sustainable Solution Overall globally. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Participants from China and the United States recently secured multiple awards at the second Global Sustainable Supply Chain Student Competition. Global winners and faculty will attend an award ceremony on March 20 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The competition, held from September to December 2024, attracted university students from 20 countries and regions. Of the 84 participating teams, 20 advanced to the finals following three rounds of double-blind reviews by experts from the World Bank, United Nations agencies, and multinational corporations. Awards were given for Best Sustainable Overall, Paired Team, and regional categories covering the Americas, Africa-Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
The event, co-organized by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the Global Supply Chain Classroom, and the International Center for Transport Diplomacy, is supported by the United Nations Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport. It has been featured during major UN events, including the Sustainable Transport Day and Sustainability Week.
Global supply chains account for approximately 60 percent of carbon emissions, according to a UN report. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized the need for action, stating, "Decarbonizing global supply chains is one of the most effective ways to combat climate change."
This competition provides students a platform to develop practical solutions to sustainability challenges. Esteemed experts, including Professor Liu Dacheng of Tsinghua University and Professor Martin Dresner of the University of Maryland, co-initiated the event to foster innovation among youth.
"Young people must use their imagination and innovative approaches to address global environmental challenges," Liu said. Dresner added, "Improving supply chain sustainability is a critical challenge for companies worldwide."
As China and the US account for nearly 40 percent of global carbon emissions, the competition underscores the need for collaboration between developed and developing nations. Organizers highlighted the potential for Chinese and American youth to reshape relations by prioritizing sustainability and global well-being.
Tsinghua University's teams earned top accolades in 2024, including gold in the Asia-Pacific region and silver globally. Other Chinese institutions, such as Tongji University and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, also achieved notable success.
The competition received sponsorship from TWTH Express Co, which established an award to support winners' participation in the Geneva ceremony and further study of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). TWTH also partnered with universities to create a global youth career development program in sustainable supply chain management.
"At Tuowei Tianhai, we believe sustainable development and education are cornerstones of thriving global supply chains," said TWTH founder Xie Shengwei.
Koray Özpolat of the University of Rhode Island and his 11 students participated in cross-cultural paired teams. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The competition fostered cross-cultural collaboration, pairing students from multiple countries to develop solutions for real-world business cases. "Sustainability is a global challenge requiring collective action," said Koray Özpolat of the University of Rhode Island, whose teams won gold and silver awards.
Chung Tam, president of the Global Supply Chain Classroom, emphasized the importance of education in preparing the next generation of leaders in logistics and supply chain management. Stéphane Graber, FIATA director general, called education a "force for change" in achieving sustainable development.
Aligned with China's efforts to promote sustainable transportation, such as the establishment of the China International Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center, the competition advances progress toward the United Nations SDGs and highlights the role of global partnerships in addressing climate change.
