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UPES Announces Launch of Executive Education Program on ESG, Sustainability and Impact

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — UPES, in collaboration with Mahindra University and Aspire Impact, announced the launch of the ESG, Sustainability, and Impact Specialist Program (ISP), an Executive Education initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of Chief Impact Officers. This innovative program aims to equip professionals with the skills necessary to lead their organisations in achieving Net Zero transitions, Carbon Neutrality, and Circularity, while optimising the balance between Risk, Return, and Impact.

The Impact Specialist Program (ISP) has been meticulously crafted to provide a comprehensive learning experience through 20 thematic sessions, more than 50 caselets, and 4 detailed global and Indian case studies. The curriculum is designed to impart practical skills that will enable participants to design, build, scale and manage impact across various sectors, including Corporations, Banks, Financial Institutions, and Non-Profits. It seeks to develop a cadre of professionals equipped to handle the growing demand for sustainability and impact leadership across industries.

The ISP is structured as a 4-day, 32-hour in-person program spread over two parts. Part A will be held at UPES in Dehradun from September 19 to 21, 2024, and Part B will take place at Mahindra University in Hyderabad from November 28 to 30, 2024. The ISP will be delivered at the RISE Centre (Research on Impact, Sustainability, and ESG), a joint initiative between UPES and Aspire Impact, that is set to be inaugurated on September 21, 2024. The Centre is dedicated to advancing research and education in sustainability and ESG impact.

The ISP is designed for senior and mid-level professionals aged 35-60 years, who are passionate about social and environmental impact, including corporate executives in ESG, sustainability, risk, and impact roles; professionals in banking, finance, and investment focused on impact investing; CSR and policy development experts; foundation and aid agency executives; and those looking to enter the impact sector.

The program will feature an esteemed panel of experts, such as Dr. Anirban Ghosh, Head of the Centre for Sustainability at Mahindra University and former Chief Sustainability Officer at Mahindra Group, and Amit Bhatia, Founder & CEO of Aspire Impact and former CEO of several leading organisations. Notable speakers will include Corey Glickman, Founder of Greenman Black; Anju Singh, Professor at IIM Mumbai; Prarthana Borah, Vice President of Sustainability at Momentum India; and Kieron Boyle, CEO of the UK’s Impact Investing Institute.

Dr. Ram Sharma, Vice Chancellor of UPES, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “At UPES, we are committed to being a hub for innovation and research, and the launch of the RISE Centre marks a significant step in this direction. The RISE Centre will drive impactful solutions for sustainability and ESG challenges, leading our efforts on climate change and sustainable development. We are excited to partner with Aspire Circle for the RISE Centre and Mahindra University for the Impact Specialist Programme (ISP), as we share a common vision of creating a future where economic growth is aligned with environmental responsibility. Together we aim to equip professionals with the skills to drive meaningful change in their organisations and communities.”

Amit Bhatia, Founder & CEO, Aspire Impact, said, “We took 4+ years to put together this program, to prepare leaders for the imminent Impact Economy and future Chief Impact Officers. We believe that the Chief Impact Officers need their rightful place in the C-Suite, own the ESG, Sustainability & Impact agendas, own the NetZero transition, Carbon Neutrality targets and Circularity mission; and lead Risk-Return-Impact optimization for the company.” 

Dr. Anirban Ghosh, Professor and Head Centre for Sustainability, Mahindra University said, “India is at a critical juncture where the need for ESG, sustainability, and impact leadership is more pressing than ever. As we navigate the complex challenges of climate change, social equity, and responsible governance, it is essential to cultivate a cadre of leaders and specialists who can drive meaningful change. This program is designed to equip professionals with the skills and insights needed to lead in these areas, ensuring that India is not only a participant but a leader in the global sustainability movement. Mahindra University is proud to partner in offering this course.”

The ISP enables participants to redesign business systems for positive impact, manage impact throughout the value chain, and scale initiatives. They will also learn to lead impact assessment, reporting, and governance, becoming leaders in impact science. Enrolment for the inaugural cohort is now open. Senior and mid-level professionals interested may register now.

About UPES:
Established through the UPES Act, 2003, of the State Legislature of Uttarakhand, UPES is a top-ranked, UGC-recognised, private university. As per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, UPES has been ranked 46 among universities, with a rank of 28 in Law, a rank of 41 in Management and a rank of 42 in Engineering. In addition to this, the university has been ranked the No. 1 private university in academic reputation in India by the QS World University Rankings 2024. It is among the top 3% of universities in the world. UPES has also been accredited by NAAC with a grade ‘A’ and has received 5 stars on Employability (placements), by globally acclaimed QS Rating. The university has had 100% placements over the last five years. Forty-two (42) faculty members of UPES are among the world’s top 2% researchers as per Stanford University list.

UPES offers graduate and postgraduate programs through its seven schools: School of Advanced Engineering, School of Computer Science, School of Design, School of Law, School of Business, School of Health Sciences & Technology and School of Liberal Studies and Media with 14000+ students and 1500+ faculty and staff members.

About Aspire Impact:
Aspire Impact is Global South’s first standards-based Impact Measurement, Rating & Certification initiative. It’s 4P (Product, People, Planet & Policy) Impact Assessment Framework to assess Corporations, BFSI, and CSR/Non-Profits uses 40 market-validated Impact Standards and 150+ Key Performance Indicators, to award Green, Silver, Gold and Platinum Leaf ratings, enabling sector-agnostic Impact Comparables. Since April 2020, Aspire Impact has served over 30 clients, over 50 projects, clocking over 100,000 client hours. Aspire Impact’s SaaS platform, IKOOWorld, for DIY or assured ESG, Sustainability & Impact Assessments, will be beta-released in Q2, 2024, with comparable benchmarking data for over 1000 organisations.

About Mahindra University:
Mahindra University is a multidisciplinary institution in India committed to nurturing future leaders. Its curriculum combines academic rigour with industry relevance, focusing on engineering, business, and law. With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, it offers industry internships, global immersion programs, and research opportunities, fostering holistic development and innovation.

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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on

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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Global Security & Technology Summit Unveils Month-Long Program of Activities Ahead of December Event

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Organizing Committee of the Global Security & Technology Summit (GSTS) held an introductory session today at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together representatives from the government, private, and nonprofit sectors to introduce the program of activities leading up to the summit. The upcoming summit will be held in Riyadh under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, under the supervision of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy.

During the session, the Organizing Committee presented the comprehensive GSTS program, comprising three key components: GSTS Month, running from November 1 to 30, 2026; the Global Security & Innovation Fair (SAIF), taking place from November 24 to 26, 2026; and the main Summit, scheduled for December 18 to 20, 2026, in Riyadh. Together, these events form an integrated program designed to advance security and technology innovation, strengthen national capabilities, and foster international cooperation.

GSTS Month will feature working groups, boot camps, training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, and technical workshops across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions, delivered both in person and remotely in collaboration with specialized entities. The month-long program aims to develop national capabilities, identify emerging talent, enrich knowledge-sharing opportunities, and equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative solutions to future security and technology challenges.

The main Summit will bring together global leaders, decision-makers, experts, and innovators to explore the future of security and technology, promote the integration of advanced technologies within the security sector, strengthen national capabilities, support innovation, and foster international cooperation, further positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for security and technology.

Showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs and security solutions, the summit will bring together government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across key fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart security solutions, emerging technologies, and crisis management. The program will also feature main sessions, specialized discussions, and interactive exhibitions. Registration is available at gsts.sa.

Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Ahmed Altowayan, stated that the summit builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish an advanced security and technology ecosystem focused on knowledge and innovation, keeping pace with rapid developments and future challenges.

Mr. Altowayan noted that the summit is a global platform for strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise, anticipating future developments in security and technology, and developing strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and readiness of security systems.

Vice Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Eng. Abdulaziz Alhammadi, said that the summit will offer a range of integrated programs and activities focused on enhancing national skills, encouraging innovation, and supporting international cooperation.

He added that GSTS Month will help build national capabilities, discover talent, and develop skills, with SAIF providing a platform for innovators and researchers from around the world to showcase leading technological solutions, while the main Summit will bring together leaders and experts to discuss the future of security and technology and explore new strategic partnership opportunities.

SAIF will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together innovators, researchers, technology talents, and industry experts from around the world to showcase promising innovations and projects across 14 fields of technology and innovation. The fair will provide opportunities to engage with project owners, including students, graduates, and entrepreneurs, and explore the different stages of innovation development through interactive zones, panel discussions on emerging security and innovation trends, and knowledge-sharing workshops led by specialists. Visitor registration is open to participants from within and outside the Kingdom through saifair.sa.

The introductory session also featured contributions from representatives of government, private, and nonprofit sector entities, alongside members of the media. Discussions focused on developing national capabilities in security and technology, strengthening students’ technical expertise, translating scientific research into practical solutions, and supporting Saudi companies in developing security and technology solutions and advancing digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy, GSTS is produced by Tahaluf, with the Ministry of Education serving as Strategic Scientific Partner, Tahakom as Founding Partner, and Elm as Principal Partner.

Registration for participants from within and outside the Kingdom is available at gsts.sa.

Click here to view the media kit. 

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