Schneider Electric celebrates diversity and gender equality in the latest edition of the GGitC
Schneider Electric officially launched 2017’s Go Green in the City, at the Ascott Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The global competition aims to inspire business and engineering students to develop their minds for green and sustainable projects. For this year’s competition, Schneider Electric made a specific move to improve diversity, calling for all-female groups to join and have the chance at winning the Women in Business Award.
Schneider Electric’s Go Green in the City (GGitC) is an annual global competition that started in 2011. It is a global business case challenge that hopes to discover intelligent energy management ideas that will help in creating its vision of sustainable smarter cities. Through this competition, Schneider Electric grants students an opportunity to practice what they are learning in their classrooms and even contribute to the development of a better, safer, and more efficient future. GGitC pushes the envelope this year and works harder to promote diversity among its ranks and in the business and engineering industries by calling out to all-female groups to participate.
The 2017 edition of GGitC presents a new award called the Women in Business Award which will be given to an all-female group that qualifies in the top 100 semi-finalists of the competition. The recipients of this award will have the opportunity to win the top prize by being one of the Top 12 finalists in the global leg. They will also receive social media exposure, a chance to be guided and coached by Schneider Electric representatives, and $500 for each member of the team.
The Philippines has always been a strong contender of the competition. In the last four years, we’ve placed consistently in the top ranks along with China, Germany, and India. In 2013, two Filipino students took home the grand prize in the global championship held in Paris, France. Qualifying for the second time in the global leg, Filipino students secured the second runner-up spot in 2015. For 2014 and 2016, the Philippines took home the second and first runner-up in the regional leg of the competition, respectively.
“With the Philippines’ consistent performance in the previous competitions, we are confident that Filipino students can once again bring honor to our country because of their drive and passion for producing sustainable green projects. The impact of climate change to our developing country plays a part in shaping these students to become great contributors not only to Schneider Electric, but to the future,” shared Schneider Electric Human Resources Country Head for the Philippines Tes Portillo.
“Go Green in the City is Schneider Electric’s way of showcasing the creativity and curiosity of today’s young talents and using their projects as steps forward into achieving our goal of having greener and smarter cities all over the world,” shared Schneider Electric Philippines Country Manager for Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding Rochelle Bulan. “For 2017, we are leveling up the challenge by enticing all-female groups to prove and empower women that they, too, are capable of becoming successful in the male-dominated fields of business and engineering.”
The deadline for submission of entries is on May 12, 2017. The top three country finalists will be announced on June 9, 2017 and will be representing their home countries in the regional leg of the competition. Announcement of the regional semi-finalists will be on July 11, 2017 and the grand winner of each region -- North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Greater China, and Asia Pacific -- will be competing in the global leg.
The Top 12 finalists, composed of 8 regional winners, 3 wildcard finalists, and the all-female group, will be announced on August 7, 2017 and will be flying to Paris, France for the grand finals and awarding ceremony on October 9 to 13, 2017.
To know more about the competition, visit http://www.gogreeninthecity.co m.