The Sustainability and Societal Impact Fellows Programme
Nottingham University Business School has launched the Sustainability and Societal Impact (SSI) Fellowship Programme for the 2024/25 academic year.
A diverse group of students – including undergraduates, MSc students, and those studying for PhDs and MBAs – has been selected to contribute to the school’s sustainability and societal impact agenda through a range of impactful projects.
Activities include:
- assessing the Business School’s environmental impact and identifying opportunities for improvement
- engaging peers in sustainability actions
- contributing to the Edible Campus Project - a university-wide initiative led by the school
Additionally, the Fellows are leading the Positive Impact Rating (PIR), a student-led survey that enables business schools worldwide to evaluate their sustainability and ethical practices.
About the Sustainability and Societal Impact (SSI) Fellows Programme
The programme aims to:
- develop informed change-makers and responsible leaders of the future by enhancing the skills and knowledge of Fellows while inspiring and empowering other students to take action and create change
- enable Fellows to gain valuable experience in consultancy, project management, event planning, budgeting and marketing
- allow Fellows to benefit from a tailored support and mentoring programme designed to develop their personal and professional skills
Meet the Sustainability and Societal Impact Fellows
Undergraduate students
Sarp Yaffe
BSc Management
Sarp, a final-year BSc Management student, has an active role in the SSI Fellowship Programme, focusing on external engagement and working on a project aimed at strengthening the Business School’s connections with external partners.
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Sarp, a final-year BSc Management student, has an active role in the SSI Fellowship Programme, focusing on external engagement and working on a project aimed at strengthening the Business School’s connections with external partners.
He said: “I joined the programme to explore how academic institutions can lead by example in sustainability, using real-world partnerships to create meaningful and lasting impact. By gathering strategic insights, I hope to build collaborations that enhance the school’s positive influence within the business community.”
Sarp’s work reflects a commitment to connecting academic innovation with practical, real-world solutions, ensuring the Business School remains at the forefront of sustainable practices and societal impact.
Xinying Hong
BSc Management
Xinying, an international undergraduate student from China, wanted to be a Fellow to contribute positively to society and is driven by her desire to create a more equitable and resilient world.
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Xinying, an international undergraduate student from China, wanted to be a Fellow to contribute positively to society and is driven by her desire to create a more equitable and resilient world.
She said: “By taking part in the programme I aim to build meaningful connections across diverse communities and strengthen my understanding of global challenges. I hope that my engagement will inspire others to make positive changes in their lives. Through advocacy and education, I encourage friends, family, and peers to adopt sustainable practices.”
Aadhi Senthivel
BSc Management
Aadhi, a second-year BSc Management student, is passionate about the environment and committed to making a positive impact through studying sustainable business practices and being more mindful.
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Aadhi, a second-year BSc Management student, is passionate about the environment and committed to making a positive impact through studying sustainable business practices and being more mindful.
He said: “As a Fellow, I am excited to contribute to sustainability initiatives.”
Pearl Fernandes
BA Geography with Business
Pearl, a second-year Geography with Business student, is committed to contributing to the operations and environmental aspects of the programme.
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Pearl, a second-year Geography with Business student, is committed to contributing to the operations and environmental aspects of the programme.
She said: “My decision to be a Fellow was driven by my desire to engage in an enriching experience that supports the school’s sustainability initiatives. I look forward to becoming an empowered changemaker and developing the skills necessary to continually champion sustainability throughout my professional journey.”
Rohan Cheema
BSc Industrial Economics
Rohan is a second-year Industrial Economics student.
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Rohan is a second-year Industrial Economics student.
He said: “I decided to sign up and become a Fellow as I would like to play a part in making the programme a success. I hope the work and effort we put in as a team will benefit future students.”
Master's students
Advait Angawalkar
MSc Industrial Engineering and Operations Management
Advait is an MSc student with a background in mechanical engineering. He strives to inspire and empower his peers to adopt sustainable practices, creating a culture of environmental responsibility and resilience.
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Advait is an MSc student in Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, with a background in mechanical engineering. He strives to inspire and empower his peers to adopt sustainable practices, creating a culture of environmental responsibility and resilience.
He said: “I am passionate about sustainability, particularly within global supply chains where efficiency and environmental impact intersect. Being a Fellow allows me to combine my leadership skills and sustainability focus to drive positive change.”
Xiaojie Cheng
MSc Information Systems and Operations Management
Xiaojie is an MSc Information Systems and Operations Management student. Xiaojie aims to leverage her professional background to address environmental challenges and promote social responsibility.
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Xiaojie is an MSc Information Systems and Operations Management student. Xiaojie aims to leverage her professional background to address environmental challenges and promote social responsibility.
She said: “I aspire to become a sustainable development researcher in a business school as I believe that information technology plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable development.”
Mazen Almelaifi
MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
As a pharmacist and MSc student in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Mazen brings valuable experience from healthcare and public health initiatives.
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As a pharmacist and MSc student in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Mazen brings valuable experience from healthcare and public health initiatives.
He said: “I was eager to join this programme to gain deeper insights into sustainability and enhance the ability to drive impactful change through sustainable supply chain practices.”
PhD and MBA students
Faisal Aljuhani
PhD student at the Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Faisal is a PhD student and has a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Management from the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on how social enterprises develop entrepreneurial competencies to achieve positive social outcomes.
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Faisal is a PhD student at the Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He also has a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Management from the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on how social enterprises develop entrepreneurial competencies to achieve positive social outcomes.
He said: “As a Fellow, I aim to apply my research to real-world sustainability initiatives within the Business School, contributing to global efforts like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. I’m passionate about inspiring responsible leadership and developing meaningful change within the university.”
Mohamed Khalifa
PhD in Accounting
Mohammed, a third-year PhD student in Accounting, is interested in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research including climate change risk, waste management, ESG performance and disclosure.
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Mohammed, a third-year PhD student in Accounting, is interested in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research including climate change risk, waste management, ESG performance and disclosure.
He said: “I am passionate about sustainability issues and want to make a positive contribution to the environment, society, and the well-being of future generations.“
Chinmayi Madhuraj
MBA
Before moving to the UK, Chinmayi worked as a company secretary, focusing on sustainability reporting. She saw the SSI Fellowship Programme as the perfect opportunity to play a more active role in sustainability.
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Before moving to the UK, Chinmayi worked as a company secretary, where she was involved in sustainability reporting for her clients. However, she has always aspired to play a more active role in sustainability and the SSI Fellowship programme provided the ideal opportunity.
Over the past year, Chinmayi has been teaching at a school for underprivileged children in India. Additionally, she has collected 36 plants, which inspired her to select the Edible Campus as her chosen project.
She said: “If I had to describe myself in a single word, it would be 'curious.' I firmly believe in the philosophy of being the change we wish to see in the world.”
Shivam Taneja
MBA
Shivam wanted to be a Fellow to gain a deeper understanding of how he could adopt more sustainable practices and become a more effective leader who incorporates sustainability into his decision-making.
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MBA student Shivam wanted to be a Fellow to gain a deeper understanding of how he could adopt more sustainable practices and become a more effective leader who incorporates sustainability into his decision-making.
He said: “I feel businesspeople need to understand the importance of sustainability in business now and in the future. As a ‘people person’ I have chosen to research information on the external engagement of the Business School.”
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