Based on its previous experiences, the Philippines is expected to deliver a strong performance in the 2017 edition of Schneider Electric’s Go Green in the City (GGitC) competition.
“With the Philippines’s 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 in producing sustainable green projects,” said Tes Portillo, Schneider Electric Human Resources country head for the Philippines, in a press statement. “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.”
In the last four years the Philippines emerged 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.
Schneider Electric launched 2017’s GGitC in Taguig City recently. The project is an opportunity for the company to showcase the creativity and curiosity of today’s youth, and use their projects as steps forward to achieve our goal to have greener and smarter cities all over the world,” said Rochelle Bulan, Schneider Electric Philippines country manager for Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding.
“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,” Bulan added.
The company said the global competition aims to inspire business and engineering students to develop their minds for green and sustainable projects. To broaden the participation in the competition, the organizers 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. Rizal Raoul Reyes
The competition, held annually, started in 2011. The business-case challenge hopes to discover intelligent energy management ideas that will help in creating its vision of sustainable smarter cities.
Through the 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.
The 2017 edition’s new award called the Women in Business Award 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 cash for each member of the team.
The deadline for submission of entries is on May 12,. The top three country finalists will be announced on June 9 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, 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 eight regional winners, three wildcard finalists, and the all-female group, will be announced on August 7. They will fly to Paris, France, for the grand finals and awarding ceremony on October 9 to 13.