Odisha-based Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM) has emerged as a prominent Indian institution at the International Green Gown Awards 2026, winning two global category awards for its work on climate action and student engagement.
CUTM was named the winner in the 2030 Climate Action category for small organisations and also won the Student Engagement category for small organisations. The university was additionally recognised as Highly Commended in three categories — Benefitting Society, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability, and Sustainability Institution of the Year.
The 2026 International Green Gown Awards, administered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), recognise sustainability initiatives across tertiary education institutions worldwide. This year’s winners represent institutions from 18 countries across six continents.
CUTM’s performance is particularly notable for the breadth of categories in which it received recognition. According to the university, it secured recognition in seven of the eight categories in which it participated, including two wins, three Highly Commended citations and two finalist positions.
The University emerged as a ‘Winner’ in 2030 Climate Action, with its Centurion University Climate Action Framework (CUCAF) recognised for its whole-institution approach. The framework targets net-zero carbon emissions across Scope 1 and 2 by 2035 and full neutrality by 2040. It brings together renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric mobility, climate-resilient agriculture and disaster preparedness. It was also a ‘Winner’ in Student Engagement for its Vision Forward: Student-Led Eye Care Reaching the Last Mile in Rural Odisha initiative.
Since 2023, student teams have conducted more than 120 eye-care camps across 120 locations in Odisha, earning recognition for its student-led approach to community healthcare. CUTM was the only Indian university in the Student Engagement category. The University also received ‘Highly Commended’ recognition in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Benefitting Society, and Sustainability Institution of the Year. It was also named a ‘Finalist’ in Creating Impact and Next Generation Learning & Skills.
Commenting on the achievement, Prof. Mukti Kant Mishra, President, CUTM, said: “This recognition is a global affirmation of our belief that sustainability cannot remain a policy confined to a department or a campus. For us, the Green Gown recognition is not the destination; it is a catalyst to deepen our commitment to people, planet and purposeful education.”
The 2030 Climate Action recognition places the university’s climate-related initiatives among the international projects recognised for their contribution towards reducing environmental impact and advancing climate action in higher education.
Its second win, in Student Engagement, highlights the role of students in sustainability initiatives. The award category focuses on approaches that involve students in creating and implementing sustainability solutions rather than treating sustainability solely as an institutional or administrative responsibility.
CUTM was also Highly Commended for Benefitting Society, reflecting the social dimension of its sustainability work, while its recognition in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability points to efforts to connect sustainability with inclusion and equitable participation.
The university was further Highly Commended in the Sustainability Institution of the Year category, which recognises institutions seeking to embed sustainability across their broader operations and institutional culture.
The International Green Gown Awards span eight categories covering climate action, society, nature, learning and skills, student participation, diversity and institutional sustainability. Other 2026 winners included Siam University of Thailand, University of Tasmania, RMIT University, University of Technology Sydney, University of Colorado Boulder, Nottingham College and institutions from Kenya, Taiwan and Hungary.
The 2026 results underline the increasingly international nature of sustainability efforts in higher education, with universities and colleges being assessed not only on environmental targets but also on how sustainability is connected with teaching, student participation, community benefit and institutional practices.
For India, CUTM’s recognition provides an international platform for showcasing how sustainability initiatives are being integrated into university education and campus life. The university’s two category wins also bring the student dimension into focus, highlighting the growing role of young people in institutional responses to climate and sustainability challenges.
The International Green Gown Awards are supported by organisations including the International Association of Universities (IAU), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) and the Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS).
The 2026 awards opened for applications in February, with finalists announced in June and the winners announced in September.
