Six months ago, Akash Mohanty worked as a process engineer for a global office supply manufacturer in Ludhiana—the industrial centre of Northern India and commercial capital of Punjab that the BBC calls “the Manchester of India” for its rich industrial heritage.

Today he is one of a dozen students driving sustainability forward on Vancouver Island through the University of Victoria’s Sustainability Scholars program, a unique graduate program that offers students paid internships to work on applied sustainability research projects with local community, industry, government, Indigenous and non-profit organizations.

“I am working with UVic’s Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability this summer, designing a strategy to transform the university’s campus transportation system into a sustainable and eco-friendly model by transitioning the current fleet to electric vehicles,” he explains. “If we plan effectively, the project [to electrify the fleet] can minimize the need for additional expenses and resources, and the strategy can be a benchmark for other universities to follow, too.”

Through his work, Akash is helping UVic to meet its ambitious climate goals without increasing unnecessary waste or costs—all while gaining valuable professional experience that will prepare him for the next phase of his career.

“Sustainability skills are in high demand right now, so having this experience at the university level will help me stand out from the crowd,” he reflects. “I’ve never had access to corporate culture because I was in the manufacturing industry, so this also expands my professional opportunities in the long term.” 

Preparing for a career in sustainability

Back in Ludhiana, Akash had a strong career with a clear trajectory of success but lacked what he calls the “sustainability lens” in his skillset.

This led him to study in Canada at UVic, which ranked second in Canada and fifth in the world for climate action in the Times Higher Education 2024 rankings, and is a global leader in climate-based research, sustainable operations and clean energy initiatives.

“After my undergraduate degree I needed professional experience, so I worked from production engineer to product development engineer to process engineer. I had covered all the bases except sustainability—I never had the sustainability lens, so I am here learning this,” he explains.

Although the Sustainability Scholars program focuses on the global challenges of the climate crisis, it is grounded in the idea that local action is required to meet those challenges for future generations.

By working on real-world sustainability projects through paid internships, students not only develop their own professional networks and applied research skills, they also support local communities and organizations contributing to a sustainable future.

Most sustainability challenges require innovation. The Sustainability Scholars program creates opportunities for students to bring new ideas to current problems while developing the skills they need to tackle future challenges as well.

"Meanwhile, there are many small organizations that don’t have the capacity to bring in specialists to tackle their sustainability challenges. This program provides them with skilled and motivated help so that, together, they can make meaningful headway and raise the bar on sustainability."

Akash’s work with the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability helps to advance UVic’s climate strategy, which aims to reduce campus operational emissions to half of 2010 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

“Strategizing how the university can make the shift to an emission-free fleet will help meet its ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, climate action and advancement of the UN’s Sustainable Development goals,” says Kylie Hissa, the Office’s Acting Sustainability Manager. “A big part of Akash’s project is to work with partners across campus to build a management system with metrics in place for us to easily gain insights, track progress and make data-driven decisions. His work is really setting the foundation and guiding direction for a robust green fleet strategy.”

For Akash, the experience is as novel as it is rewarding.

“I’ve never worked on a research project that involves managing the end-to-end workflow,” he says. “I’ve already learned a lot from it—from delivering presentations and setting deliverables to engaging with stakeholders. And this is all part of my first international experience, so it’s adding on a lot of value for me.”

Supports for international students

Born in Odisha and raised in Punjab, Akash moved to Vancouver Island in February to study at UVic. Of course, this transition has come with its own set of challenges. 

“My biggest challenge as an international student is missing my home. I am the eldest in my family, so I have responsibilities to work and make financial decisions as well. So now I’m working remotely for my family,” he says with a hearty laugh. “There are also cultural challenges because I don’t know the culture here, but to be honest people here are very friendly and Victoria is a dream place to live in. I’m enjoying my time here.”
-Professor Kara Shaw, founder and director of the Sustainability Scholars program

Recognizing the unique demands of moving to a new country to study, the University of Victoria has many supports for international students, including scholarships for studying in Canada and other funding opportunities.  

Akash adds that he has also benefited from the mentorship of his supervisors in the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability—Mike Wilson, Kylie Hissa and Kimiko West—who have helped him in both tangible and intangible ways.

"The best part of my experience at UVic so far is the way my supervisors are guiding me. It’s more than I expected. They have been helping me out at every step. This is what I needed—when I lack certain skills, I have a mentor guiding me. I’ve discussed with them everything from what courses I am taking to what programs I will take in the future. They give me a lot of personalized attention. The level of support I receive is exceptionally high.”
-Sustainability Scholar student Akash Mohanty

Looking forward

When asked what he aims to do when the program is finished, Akash is reluctant to look too far beyond the present moment. 

“For now, my full focus is on my education. I’m enjoying my courses and this project while gaining knowledge and experience, so I’m loving it,” he says with a gentle smile.  

One thing that’s very clear is the impact that his work is already having—on him, as much as on others.

“I am now looking at everything through the sustainability lens,” he exclaims. “This is a major change I’ve got from this program. If we can make even a small impact on sustainability, it feels like a requirement to me.”