Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Winners category
Monash University’s Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) is a trailblazing initiative designed to provide all eligible first-year students with a fully funded, immersive study abroad experience focused on sustainability. Spanning eight countries and ten locations, the GIG program integrates intercultural competence, interdisciplinarity, sustainability, and global citizenship into Monash’s core educational framework. The program ensures that students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds have equitable access to international experiences, fostering a more inclusive and globally aware student body.
Environmental and Social Benefits
- Equal Participation: The GIG program has attracted higher participation rates among students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, first in family students, NESB students, Indigenous students, students from regional/remote areas, and those with disabilities. This inclusivity enriches the learning environment and provides all students with valuable global exposure.
- Skill Development: Participants have shown significant improvements in employability skills, including relationship building, complex problem-solving, and analytical thinking, particularly among disadvantaged students. These skills are essential for addressing global sustainability challenges.
- Global Sustainability Education: The program immerses students in diverse cultural contexts, providing first-hand experiences in sustainability challenges such as waste management, climate resilience, and gender inequality. Students gain practical insights into the global impact of local actions.
Leadership and Engagement
- Collaborative Partnerships: The GIG program is co-designed with local partners across the Indo-Pacific, ensuring that diverse perspectives are integral to the curriculum. These partnerships include universities, social enterprises, NGOs, and government agencies, highlighting the importance of reciprocal collaboration in global education.
- Monash Staff Involvement: The program engages Monash staff from all faculties and international campuses/centres, with their participation growing in line with student interest. In 2024/2025, 120 Monash staff members are expected to facilitate workshops, discussions, and field activities, reinforcing the university’s commitment to global education.
- Alumni Network: GIG’s strong alumni network provides ongoing opportunities for growth, networking, and mentorship, ensuring that the program’s impact extends beyond the initial study abroad experience.
Significance to the Sector
- Innovative Scale: GIG is the first study abroad program of this scale in Australia, providing guaranteed international experiences to all eligible students. This inclusivity sets a new standard for international education, emphasising accessibility and equity.
- Sustainability Leadership: The program’s focus on sustainability challenges prepares students to be global leaders in addressing climate change, social inequality, and other pressing issues. The GIG’s integration of sustainability into its curriculum aligns with Monash’s strategic goals and enhances its reputation as a leader in global education.
- Replicability and Impact: GIG’s success provides a replicable model for other institutions seeking to implement large-scale, inclusive study abroad programs. The program’s expansion into new locations and partnerships demonstrates its scalability and potential for broader impact.
Wider Societal Impact
- Empowering Underrepresented Students: GIG’s inclusive approach has empowered students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to participate in international education, broadening their perspectives and increasing their global engagement. The program’s success in this area reflects Monash’s commitment to reducing inequality and promoting social justice.
- Long-Term Global Engagement: GIG participants demonstrate a strong commitment to continued global engagement, with many expressing interest in internships, further study, and careers abroad. This ongoing engagement contributes to the development of global citizens who are prepared to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
- Cultural Competence: Through its immersive experiences, GIG enhances students’ cultural competence, preparing them to navigate and contribute positively to diverse cultural settings. This skill is increasingly recognized as essential for career success in a globalized world.
Monash University’s Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) is a pioneering initiative that exemplifies the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in sustainability education. By providing all eligible students with a fully funded, immersive international experience, GIG not only enhances employability and global citizenship but also sets a new standard for inclusivity in higher education. This program’s success underscores Monash’s leadership in global education and its dedication to preparing students to tackle the complex sustainability challenges of the future.
Top 3 learnings
Supported by
Category finalists
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners
Student Engagement/Winners
Student Engagement/Winners
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Powerful Partnerships/Winners
Powerful Partnerships/Winners
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Highly Commended
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Highly Commended
Nature Positive/Winners
Nature Positive/Winners
Staff Champion/Winners
Staff Champion/Winners
Student Champion/Winners
Student Champion/Winners
2023 winners
Benefitting Society/Winners
Benefitting Society/Winners
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability/Winners
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Top 3 learnings
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Winners category
Monash University’s Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) is a trailblazing initiative designed to provide all eligible first-year students with a fully funded, immersive study abroad experience focused on sustainability. Spanning eight countries and ten locations, the GIG program integrates intercultural competence, interdisciplinarity, sustainability, and global citizenship into Monash’s core educational framework. The program ensures that students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds have equitable access to international experiences, fostering a more inclusive and globally aware student body.
Environmental and Social Benefits
- Equal Participation: The GIG program has attracted higher participation rates among students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, first in family students, NESB students, Indigenous students, students from regional/remote areas, and those with disabilities. This inclusivity enriches the learning environment and provides all students with valuable global exposure.
- Skill Development: Participants have shown significant improvements in employability skills, including relationship building, complex problem-solving, and analytical thinking, particularly among disadvantaged students. These skills are essential for addressing global sustainability challenges.
- Global Sustainability Education: The program immerses students in diverse cultural contexts, providing first-hand experiences in sustainability challenges such as waste management, climate resilience, and gender inequality. Students gain practical insights into the global impact of local actions.
Leadership and Engagement
- Collaborative Partnerships: The GIG program is co-designed with local partners across the Indo-Pacific, ensuring that diverse perspectives are integral to the curriculum. These partnerships include universities, social enterprises, NGOs, and government agencies, highlighting the importance of reciprocal collaboration in global education.
- Monash Staff Involvement: The program engages Monash staff from all faculties and international campuses/centres, with their participation growing in line with student interest. In 2024/2025, 120 Monash staff members are expected to facilitate workshops, discussions, and field activities, reinforcing the university’s commitment to global education.
- Alumni Network: GIG’s strong alumni network provides ongoing opportunities for growth, networking, and mentorship, ensuring that the program’s impact extends beyond the initial study abroad experience.
Significance to the Sector
- Innovative Scale: GIG is the first study abroad program of this scale in Australia, providing guaranteed international experiences to all eligible students. This inclusivity sets a new standard for international education, emphasising accessibility and equity.
- Sustainability Leadership: The program’s focus on sustainability challenges prepares students to be global leaders in addressing climate change, social inequality, and other pressing issues. The GIG’s integration of sustainability into its curriculum aligns with Monash’s strategic goals and enhances its reputation as a leader in global education.
- Replicability and Impact: GIG’s success provides a replicable model for other institutions seeking to implement large-scale, inclusive study abroad programs. The program’s expansion into new locations and partnerships demonstrates its scalability and potential for broader impact.
Wider Societal Impact
- Empowering Underrepresented Students: GIG’s inclusive approach has empowered students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to participate in international education, broadening their perspectives and increasing their global engagement. The program’s success in this area reflects Monash’s commitment to reducing inequality and promoting social justice.
- Long-Term Global Engagement: GIG participants demonstrate a strong commitment to continued global engagement, with many expressing interest in internships, further study, and careers abroad. This ongoing engagement contributes to the development of global citizens who are prepared to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
- Cultural Competence: Through its immersive experiences, GIG enhances students’ cultural competence, preparing them to navigate and contribute positively to diverse cultural settings. This skill is increasingly recognized as essential for career success in a globalized world.
Monash University’s Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) is a pioneering initiative that exemplifies the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in sustainability education. By providing all eligible students with a fully funded, immersive international experience, GIG not only enhances employability and global citizenship but also sets a new standard for inclusivity in higher education. This program’s success underscores Monash’s leadership in global education and its dedication to preparing students to tackle the complex sustainability challenges of the future.
Supported by
Related finalists
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Climate Action/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Creating Impact/Winners
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners
Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners
Student Engagement/Winners
Student Engagement/Winners
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Powerful Partnerships/Winners
Powerful Partnerships/Winners
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Highly Commended
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Highly Commended
Nature Positive/Winners
Nature Positive/Winners
Staff Champion/Winners
Staff Champion/Winners
Student Champion/Winners
Student Champion/Winners
Other finalists
Climate Action
Driving Towards Tomorrow’s Campus with Vehicle-to-Grid EV Technology
As part of Flinders University’s drive to innovate and become a leader in climate action, the University launched its Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiative. This involved installing and maintaining 20x V2G and smart chargers for its growing electric vehicle fleet. Leveraging 100% renewable energy generated by ENGIE’s Willogoleche Wind Farm and Flinders University’s solar power systems, this enables the storage of renewable energy in EV batteries to be discharged on campus during peak demand periods. Hence, allows for these EV fleets to operate as a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to deliver peak demand management and optimization of behind-the-meter generation.
Overall, this initiative demonstrates the reliability and scalability of bi-directional and uni-directional smart-charging systems for EVs in reducing GHG emissions while facilitating teaching, research, and innovation opportunities. Moreover, it exemplifies a sustainable and innovative solution to scale energy storage technology and increase renewables.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners
Brandan Espe
Environmental Officer / Acting Grounds Supervisor
Brandan has brought over 50 federally listed Endangered species of plant into the James Cook University living collection, many of which have never been cultivated and are found in no other collection in the world.
Of these, over half have been sustainably wild collected, inclusive of field and clone data, so they can be used for ongoing conservation, research and teaching, the remaining being sourced from private and partner organisations through favours of service or trades.
He personally funded the project from 2019-2022, until funding was awarded for the program due to its success, with the program now being engrained into the Universities landscapes for ongoing management should he leave JCU, creating a threatened species legacy collection.
The program has now expanded beyond this, with an additional 48 species now funded for further addition, some of which are only known from less than 5 sightings in history.
Student Engagement
Sustainability Leaders creating real impact!
La Trobe created a unique Sustainability Leaders volunteering program to increase engagement with students on campus and empower them to act against waste and promote sustainability. It included the following initiatives:
- Promoting the reusable crockery implementation,
- Increasing knowledge action of other students on campus to diversion comingled recycling and organic waste from landfill.
- Focus on waste audits and data,
- Improved signage through new waste posters for students living on campus.
- Collaboration with Cirka (our cleaning and waste partner) to create a waste wall and;
- Learning all things sustainability (net zero, biodiversity, waste, reusables, engagement)
These initiatives yielded significant results and with a reduction in waste contamination by almost 40% at the residential buildings and engagement with over 80 groups of people for the Reusable Revolution.
Creating Impact
Where knowledge meets habits: Empowering students for a sustainable tomorrow
Our online Sustainability Challenges offer participants an engaging, self-paced learning experience centered around a specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG). Requiring minimal resourcing and at zero-cost to participants, we’ve created replicable, compact, scalable, and impactful learning opportunities that result in real impact.
The Challenges follow a structured process that moves participants from knowledge gain to simple action to celebration, to establish small but mighty habits relating to waste and carbon emissions. This approach recognises that knowledge alone is often insufficient to drive behaviour change, and that ease of action and celebration are crucial components in creating sustainable habits.
Sustainability Champion – Staff/Winners
Catherine (CeeJay) Donovan
Veterinary nurse – Anaesthesia
From establishing the Massey Vet School Green Team to leading impactful initiatives, my commitment to environmental sustainability has been making waves. With the help of my team, I have accomplished numerous small, yet meaningful actions, including integrating a sustainability lecture for final year vet students and implementing battery recycling alongside rechargeable battery use. Our larger projects encompass the introduction of green waste and soft plastics recycling bins, an energy audit resulting in power-saving measures, and playing a part in a successful rubbish audit. I spearheaded the ‘6 in 6’ campaign, empowering individuals with six simple steps for workplace sustainability. Through the SustainaVet social media pages I help to educate and inspire peers nationwide. As the Massey School of Veterinary Science sustainability champion, I had the privilege of speaking at the annual veterinary conference on sustainability in clinical practice. Currently I’m conducting pioneering research on responsible cat waste disposal. Together, we’re forging a greener future, one initiative at a time.
Sustainability Champion – Student
Louis Walmsley
SDG Coordinator Monash Association of Sustainability, Office Bearer Monash Student Association’s Environmental and Social Justice Department, Masters of Environment and Sustainability Student
Louis is an exceptional student sustainability leader at Monash University. His passion and dedication to sustainability have made a significant impact on the community. Louis’s values revolve around sustainability, which is evident upon meeting him. He actively participates in various sustainability groups, demonstrating his commitment to creating a more environmentally conscious society.
One of Louis’s notable involvements is with Precious Plastic Monash, where he organizes remarkable events and fosters collaboration among like-minded individuals, student groups, and staff. His contributions to the Monash Association of Sustainability have allowed him to conduct valuable research on plastic usage and climate action, resulting in positive changes within the university.
Through his work with the Monash Student Association, Louis has engaged hundreds of students in fun and interactive sustainability initiatives. He took the initiative to organize a sustainability food fair, which was one of the largest sustainability-related events held at Monash post-COVID. This accomplishment is a true testament to Louis’s hard work and creativity.
Louis is an outstanding student leader whose efforts in sustainability have had a lasting impact on Monash University and its community. His inspiring nature resonates with everyone who knows him.