Scholarship of Hope winner presents 'Public Help Initiative'

MODUL University Vienna is recognized nationally for its commitment to sustainability, as well as for its specific sustainability programs and initiatives. Furthermore, each year MU recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated excellence in fostering the successful development, implementation and promotion of solutions and services that support the university on becoming more sustainable through the Scholarship of Hope award. This year’s prize was presented to BSc in International Management student Alexander Semrl for submitting the best proposal.

Alexander’s contribution to sustainability spans a range of social, environmental and economic issues and reaches past the boundaries of the MU campus. His idea of a ‘Public Help Initiative’ outlines a plan for a student-driven initiative that should benefit sustainable growth at MU and also incorporates ways of assisting and improving community reaction.

In a real world example, Alexander suggested how his public help initiative model should be multiply beneficial. For instance, student participation in the International ‘Global Clean Up Day’ could be recognized as an ‘opportunity’, and a committee headed by MU professors would determine whether the project is feasible and worth undertaking. Once the committee decides that project is a regarded as a healthy contribution to the university and the environment, the initial grant funding would be provided (i.e. a contribution of €50 would cover expenses such as gloves, garbage bags and trash collectors).

After the completion of the project, students would be asked to submit project reports including before and after pictures, records of hours worked, and a brief summary of the project. Based upon hours worked and the contribution to the university and environment, an award would be allocated. In that way, MU would act as a role model in the field of sustainable development, while investing back into its student body and strengthening ties with potential external sponsors.

Alexander’s ideas of “encouraging team-building and cooperation between students through various tasks, while improving the environment in a responsible and sustainable way” earned him a €500 scholarship, handed out by David Leonard, president of MU’s Sustainability Committee.

MU congratulates Alexander sincerely and wishes him every success in his future endeavors! 

Photo: Alexander Semrl (left) and David Leonard