accessibility
The speed with which we have advanced in recent decades in technological and scientific issues brings pros and cons, but it is clear that the result of what we are currently experiencing is a mismatch between greed and responsibility towards oneself, one's peers, the next generations and all living beings on this planet.
The enormous deficiency of many human beings is to think that they are not part of nature, that they are superior, and that the planet is here to serve them.
We all look for happiness and the best for our families, but what is the point of these desires if the planet where we live is not healthy? How can you be happy if everything around you is falling apart, with so many tragedies and social inequalities?
Our search as humanity is for balance and regeneration as people, professionals, and citizens of the world. We all have the power to be agents of change, and only together will we be able to mitigate projections of the systemic challenges we are facing.
It is the responsibility of any educational institution to promote the development of more conscious, up-to-date, realistic human beings with a critical sense of the impacts of their actions, and this is the legacy that Facens intends to leave.
Thais Beldi.
Maintainer
As dean of the Facens University Center, I am honored to have the mission of strengthening sustainability as a strategic pillar of our institution.
For two consecutive years, we have been considered the most sustainable private higher education institution in Brazil. This is the result of our strong commitment to integrating sustainability into our academic and administrative activities, always aiming to develop more responsible and conscious students and professionals.
In 2022, we carried out several projects that promoted our four pillars for Sustainability: environmental, social, economic, and education for a sustainable future. These are actions such as efficient waste management; the expansion of our solar energy matrix; socio-emotional support to students; the social impact on local communities; the sustainable educator award; and several others in favor of our goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
My commitment to students, collaborators, and the whole society is to make the Facens University Center, a more fertile field to plant and cultivate good ideas and actions that bring positive and sustainable results for our society and for our planet.
Fabiano do Prado Marques
Dean
Rafaela Jacção Alves,
(student of the 3rd semester of Architecture and Urbanism and participant of the Student Sustainability Committee)
Throughout my life, I have heard a lot about sustainability and grew up seeing my family – especially my father and grandfather – participating in projects and events on this subject, both because of work and out of personal desire. With this, I was able to realize very early on the importance of sustainability in my life, in that of the people I know and around the world, because it is what will provide a good quality of life for all living beings on the planet, not only for us, who are present here and now, but for those who will be here in the future.
When I joined Facens and came across the several events, groups, and projects that revolved around sustainability, I realized that this was the college that was going to enable me to develop my academic life and approach my course in the way I wanted: thinking about sustainable development, showing how it is possible to think about economic development together with human needs and environmental conservation.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to participate in initiatives aimed at social and environmental good by the Facens Social Innovation Laboratory (LIS) to witness the development of sustainable projects in my area and participate in the Student Sustainability Committee, to develop and carry out sustainable proposals, in addition to seeking to learn more about the subject and promote this knowledge and awareness to others.
Sandra Cristine Arca
(professor of Psychology, master’s in teaching in Health Sciences and winner of the 2022 Sustainable Educator award)
In the academic training of our students, it is crucial to bring academic knowledge closer to the needs of today's world, including the principles of sustainability, in all its dimensions. Knowing, reflecting, changing attitudes, and seeking sustainable solutions are part of the way to improve the living conditions of current and future generations.
As a professor of the Psychology course, I work with students on the future professional's commitment to promoting health and social and emotional well-being, prioritizing prevention, and valuing life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is directly linked to general health and well-being.
In 2022, I developed the Project “Sustainability and Mental Health: A Possible Path to suicide prevention”, with 3rd semester students, during the Yellow September Campaign at Smart Mall Facens. This project was awarded in the Sustainable Educator category by the Facens Social Innovation Laboratory (LIS). I thank the coordinator of the Psychology course, Carolina Antonelli dos Santos, and the LIS Facens team for their support and encouragement of professor participation.
Being part of the Facens faculty is an amazing experience. The institution's mission is to develop and prepare people and teams for a better future, with balance and social well-being. Together, walking and sowing, we can reap valuable fruits, after all, as Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Denis Borg
(Professor of Mechatronic Engineering and Doctor in Electrical Engineering, winner of the Sustainable Educator Award 2022, Honorable Mention category.)
I was very happy to develop the end-of-course written paper Agricultural Robot with student Renan Gustavo Paulino Mendes, from Mechatronic Engineering, in 2022. The project consisted of developing a robot whose purpose was to help a family farmer, who has a low income and is unable to acquire a professional sower. More specifically, the prototype aimed to assist in the planting of seeds, in an automated way, reducing the farmer's exposure time to sunlight – which can cause health problems – using low-cost materials, such as Arduino and the inventor APP, which is a free software for communicating with the cell phone. The gain for the student was the development of skills in integrating sensors/actuators and programming – both Arduino and App Inventor –, and consolidating knowledge acquired during the Mechatronics Engineering course into a real project.
I was also happy to win the prize and be able to enjoy the Paraty Hotel in Ibiúna on a weekend with my wife. Delicious food, lots of greenery, and great mental hygiene.
I thank the LIS staff, Ana Barros, and all the staff involved in the event.
Throughout my life, I have heard a lot about sustainability and grew up seeing my family – especially my father and grandfather – participating in projects and events on this subject, both because of work and out of personal desire. With this, I was able to realize very early on the importance of sustainability in my life, in that of the people I know and around the world, because it is what will provide a good quality of life for all living beings on the planet, not only for us, who are present here and now, but for those who will be here in the future.
When I joined Facens and came across the several events, groups, and projects that revolved around sustainability, I realized that this was the college that was going to enable me to develop my academic life and approach my course in the way I wanted: thinking about sustainable development, showing how it is possible to think about economic development together with human needs and environmental conservation.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to participate in initiatives aimed at social and environmental good by the Facens Social Innovation Laboratory (LIS) to witness the development of sustainable projects in my area and participate in the Student Sustainability Committee, to develop and carry out sustainable proposals, in addition to seeking to learn more about the subject and promote this knowledge and awareness to others.
Rafaela Jacção Alves,
(student of the 3rd semester of Architecture and Urbanism and participant of the Student Sustainability Committee)
In the academic training of our students, it is crucial to bring academic knowledge closer to the needs of today's world, including the principles of sustainability, in all its dimensions. Knowing, reflecting, changing attitudes, and seeking sustainable solutions are part of the way to improve the living conditions of current and future generations.
As a professor of the Psychology course, I work with students on the future professional's commitment to promoting health and social and emotional well-being, prioritizing prevention, and valuing life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is directly linked to general health and well-being.
In 2022, I developed the Project “Sustainability and Mental Health: A Possible Path to suicide prevention”, with 3rd semester students, during the Yellow September Campaign at Smart Mall Facens. This project was awarded in the Sustainable Educator category by the Facens Social Innovation Laboratory (LIS). I thank the coordinator of the Psychology course, Carolina Antonelli dos Santos, and the LIS Facens team for their support and encouragement of professor participation.
Being part of the Facens faculty is an amazing experience. The institution's mission is to develop and prepare people and teams for a better future, with balance and social well-being. Together, walking and sowing, we can reap valuable fruits, after all, as Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Sandra Cristine Arca
(professor of Psychology, master’s in teaching in Health Sciences and winner of the 2022 Sustainable Educator award)
Denis Borg
(professor de Engenharia Mecatrônica e Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica, vencedor do prêmio educador sustentável 2022, categoria Menção Honrosa)
The Smart Campus® Facens, inaugurated in 2014, is a living laboratory of Human, Smart and Sustainable Cities (CHIS) that uses the campus for studies and implementations adhering to the concepts of Smart Cities.
It works transversely with Facens' sustainability pillars, seeking the implementation of projects and processes on campus, innovation and the exchange relationship with society in general.
