EFdeN, together with its partner Raiffeisen Bank Romania, launches EIS – European Institute of Sustainability, the first institute in the country specialized in training experts in sustainability. The main and long-term objective of the EIS is to continue and expand the EFdeN vision, the aim of the institute being to integrate sustainability into the core of an organization’s strategy.
The EIS is based on 5 strategic pillars, developed starting from EFdeN’s vision of the future of society and changing mindsets for a better life in a sustainable world: research and development, education and training, promotion and advice, community strengthening and implementation . The key function of the institute, that of education and training, encompasses the other four pillars, in the form of tools or means of support. This main function is revealed by the two programs that will be launched in the near future: one for the training of sustainability leaders and the second for the training of technical specialists.
“The fact that I am attending this inauguration, from which Romania will benefit in the long term, is a real delight for the institution I lead. I am an active promoter of sustainability in Romania and I appreciate every initiative of this kind that comes from the non-governmental and private environment. EIS has every chance to become a real vector of sustainable transformation of organizations operating in Romania and will enjoy all the support that our ministry can offer”, said Mircea Fechet, Minister of Environment, Water and Forests.
“EFdeN is already a mature organization, which appeared at a time when sustainability was barely entering the vocabulary of Romanians. However, years later, after the key projects we took part in, such as the 3 participations in the Solar Decathlon competition, the creation of the first ESC sustainable city prototype or the successful interventions on the prosumer law, we are ready to go further and offer and more to society, in close collaboration with experts in the field. For us, cooperation has been very important since the beginning and, together with the European Institute of Sustainability, we want to emphasize this aspect again, to support organizations that want to take the first steps on the path of sustainability”, said Claudiu Butacu , president of EFdeN.
The EIS Institute will offer a series of masterclasses for leaders and technical specialists, and the four-month training modules will cover both needs. These will include both online courses (hosted by relevant specialists in the field) and offline courses, aligned to EFdeN standards on sustainable locations.
Through these meetings in places chosen to reflect the organization’s mission, participants will be able to exchange experience and knowledge. Learners will have a choice between two typologies, one providing specific knowledge for future Chief Sustainability Officers and the other providing information for technical specialists.
“We are happy to be EFdeN’s main partner in the Sustainability Leadership Program, offered by the new European Institute of Sustainability. Thus, Raiffeisen Bank Romania reaffirms its commitment to supporting the transition to a green economy and a sustainable community.
The program aims to develop essential skills in the transition process – both at the personal and community level – on multiple topics: from creating and mobilizing teams towards sustainable practices, to understanding and applying the financial and technological tools necessary for change. Therefore, we believe that this program will improve the way in which the principles of sustainability are integrated into the daily activity of the program participants and will generate a positive change”, said Roxana Barbato, ESG and Sustainability Director, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, main partner EFdeN.
