A Successful Event on the Importance of “Green Skills”
FIS organised a meaningful and inspiring panel discussion as part of our journey to become a more sustainable school
In recent weeks, our school has been buzzing with excitement as we prepared for the launch event of our whole-school sustainability audit. Rather than opting for a conventional presentation of the audit's main objectives, we decided to have a panel discussion about the critical importance of green skills for today's youth. This innovative approach was made possible through the collaborative efforts of eight dedicated student volunteers and our partner, Metanoia.
The event commenced with an inspiring opening speech from our Interim Head of School, M. Maniska, who highlighted the crucial steps required to realise our strategic vision of placing sustainability at the core of our school's mission. Following this, Anthony Dixon, Founder and CEO of Metanoia, underscored the unique learning opportunities presented by the whole-school sustainability audit. He emphasised how transforming our school premises into living laboratories supports the development of green skills through experiential learning in authentic, real-life situations.
One of the most compelling aspects of the event was the student testimonies. Our learners shared their experiences at school, candidly discussing how their education has – or sometimes hasn't – contributed to the development of their sustainability competencies. These honest reflections provided valuable insights into the ongoing process of integrating sustainability into our curriculum.
The panelists unanimously emphasised the growing demand for green skills in the workforce
The event reached new heights with our distinguished panel of guest speakers from various sectors, including media, NGOs, energy management, and finance. Sonalie FIGUEIRAS (founder of Green Queen Media), Virginie OSTROWSKI (CEO of Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong), Axelle MISSENARD (Senior Manager of Schneider Electric Sustainability Business), and Edouard O’NEILL (CEO of CACIB) unanimously emphasised the growing demand for green skills in the workforce. Their insights painted a promising picture of enhanced job opportunities and favourable market conditions for job seekers equipped with sustainability competencies.
To conclude the event, I reminded the audience of our United Nations-inspired framework for FIS Education for Sustainable Development. I highlighted the spectrum of opportunities – from simple daily practices to sophisticated project-based learning – for embracing green skills and sustainability competencies development within the context of our sustainability initiatives.
An event made possible thanks to the effort of many parties and 8 FIS students in particular
Recognising the importance of soft and behavioural skills in today's world, it is worth noting that the entire event was facilitated by our very own FIS students. These young learners took on diverse roles such as bilingual masters of ceremony, panel moderators, and experience sharers. A heartfelt congratulations to Carla-Marie F., Alma S., Alice Y., Aashi M., Ria J., Josephine J., Nina M., and Naomi B. for their outstanding leadership of this community event at such a young age. Special thanks also go to Emma BRADY, who stepped up at the last minute to cover for a student who fell ill on the day of the event.
We extend our deepest appreciation to our sponsor, SUEZ ASIA, for their generous financial support, which enabled us to execute our commitment to sustainability. We are also immensely grateful to our guest speakers and the attending audience for their patronage and engagement, which are invaluable to us.
The success of this event wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of the FIS community at large, especially our MarCom and Events teams, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create an impressive setting. The event was hosted on the roof of our secondary campus at Happy Valley, providing a splendid backdrop of Hong Kong's iconic skyline. Attendees enjoyed the freshness of the early evening along with delicious sustainable hors d'oeuvres prepared by our school caterer, Chartwells.
