Last Update : December 1, 2024
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has demonstrated exceptional commitment to international collaboration on gathering and measuring data for the Sustainable Development Goals throughout 2024, establishing itself as a leading institution in global SDG monitoring, research, and evidence generation. The university has engaged in multiple international initiatives that bring together researchers, policymakers, community members, and international organizations to collect, analyze, and disseminate critical data that informs policy decisions and tracks progress toward the UN 2030 Agenda. Through strategic partnerships with UN agencies, international research networks, civil society organizations, and academic institutions, Amrita has positioned itself as a bridge between global monitoring frameworks and grassroots community engagement in sustainable development data collection.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham played a central coordinating role in the C20 Grassroots Survey 2023, a landmark international effort to gather data about the challenges faced by communities worldwide and translate community voices into policy recommendations aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Coordinated by Ammachi Labs at Amrita University in partnership with M.A. Math, this major research initiative was conducted under the visionary leadership of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Chair of C20, emphasizing the fundamental importance of listening to the voices of ordinary people in global policy formulation. The survey’s findings contributed directly to C20 India policy recommendations that bridged the gap between civil society and global leaders at the G20 summit, demonstrating how university-facilitated research can translate community insights into international policy influence.
The scope of Amrita’s involvement in this international data collaboration was remarkable, showcasing the institution’s capacity to coordinate global research networks. The survey enlisted 427 trained social workers from 43 countries to conduct fieldwork and received more than 8,000 responses from participants across 64 nations, representing an unprecedented global engagement in SDG-related data gathering. This extensive international reach demonstrates Amrita’s ability to mobilize global networks and coordinate data collection across diverse geographic and cultural contexts. The survey employed a mixed-methods approach structured around two primary data-gathering tools designed to capture both collective community experiences and individual lived realities. The first tool, “How Is Your Community?,” was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 3,066 respondents and aimed to capture collective community experiences through structured conversations. The second tool, “How Is Your Life?,” was deployed as an online, self-reported survey answered by 5,224 individuals, enabling diverse participation modalities and allowing participants in different contexts to express their personal experiences and perceptions. To ensure maximum inclusivity across global contexts, the survey was translated into various languages and supported by trained social workers familiar with local contexts and cultural sensitivities, enabling meaningful engagement with communities worldwide.
The survey covered crucial SDG-related themes including education quality and access, health outcomes and healthcare access, community safety and security, digital technology access and use, economic opportunities and financial vulnerability, and environmental conditions and climate impacts. A core team of social scientists from the Netherlands and the USA conducted comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analyses, ensuring rigorous research methods and international research standards. The analysis identified 11 main problem domains faced by communities worldwide, providing granular insights into how SDG challenges manifest in people’s lived experiences. These domains included Basic Needs (encompassing food security, clothing, and housing challenges), Financial Vulnerability (indicating widespread economic precarity), Health Issues (reflecting both disease burden and healthcare access gaps), Infrastructure Challenges (highlighting gaps in water, sanitation, and electricity), Social Disconnection (indicating alienation and mental health concerns), Gender and Safety Issues (documenting violence and discrimination), Environmental Threats (including pollution and climate impacts), and Technology Access Gaps (revealing digital divides). The survey’s findings demonstrated how SDG targets remain abstract policy goals unless grounded in understanding how communities actually experience development challenges.
The results of this comprehensive international data collection effort were directly utilized to inform the C20 Policy Pack developed by 16 Working Groups after extensive consultation with civil society organizations and policymakers worldwide. The policy recommendations generated through this grassroots data—directly informed by over 8,000 community voices—were presented at the C20 Summit in Jaipur on July 31, 2023, and adopted by G20 governments, demonstrating concrete policy impact. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s active role in facilitating this global survey exemplifies its commitment to sustainable development, community research, and fostering international collaboration to address key issues facing societies worldwide. The university’s coordination of the C20 Grassroots Survey positioned it as a leading institution in using evidence-based, participatory research methods to inform global SDG policy.
At the very beginning of C20 India in November 2022, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham launched a massive consultation process to gather data on civil society’s priority areas for the SDGs, demonstrating the institution’s commitment to participatory processes in international SDG data gathering. This initial consultation involved outreach by email to all Indian NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working with UN Agencies and Embassies around the world, as well as to international contacts within Amrita’s global network. Participants were asked to indicate the top three areas they believed should be priorities for the C20 civil society engagement process, with the survey reaching 150,000 organizations across 35 countries and receiving 1,100 responses. This massive consultation process ensured that the C20’s policy agenda would be grounded in civil society priorities rather than top-down institutional preferences. The main themes mentioned as civil society’s priority areas were education quality and access, health and healthcare systems, women’s empowerment and gender equality, development and poverty reduction, and environment and climate action, reflecting the interconnected nature of SDG challenges. Through this extensive consultation, Amrita facilitated international dialogue on SDG priorities and demonstrated how universities can orchestrate global data gathering processes to ensure that development agendas reflect community and civil society perspectives. The consultative process established Amrita as an institution committed to participatory approaches to international SDG data gathering and policy formulation.
In November 2024, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham launched Kerala’s first integrated multi-lab system, the Sustainable Ecosystem and Environmental Resilience (SEER) Lab, at its Amritapuri campus, establishing an advanced research facility dedicated to gathering and measuring environmental data critical for achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). This pioneering research facility brings together five specialized laboratories addressing key environmental monitoring and data collection needs: the Water Sustainability Lab focused on water quality analysis, treatment, and resource management; the Soil Ecosystem Lab addressing soil health monitoring and plant nutrition assessment; the Microbiology Lab examining microbial roles in health, bioremediation, and ecosystems; the Climate Change and Water Resilience Lab enhancing understanding of climate change impacts on water resources; and the Marine Ecosystem Lab conducting ocean acidification research, marine microplastics monitoring, and conservation-focused physiological studies. The SEER Lab was funded by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and represents the realization of a long-held vision by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Chancellor of the university, who has always emphasized the importance of research in sustainable living.
The SEER Lab operates as a hub for international research collaboration and capacity building in environmental data gathering and monitoring. The lab features state-of-the-art equipment enabling advanced data collection and analysis, including Ion Chromatography for water sample analysis, Multiparameter Water Quality Analysers for real-time water assessments, Ultrapure Water Systems meeting Milli-Q® Millipore standards, Spectrophotometers for nutrient analysis, Conductivity Meters for dissolved ions detection, and Precision Weighing Balances for exact measurement. The marine division actively develops underwater robotics for data collection, enabling continuous monitoring of ocean ecosystems and collection of data in previously difficult-to-access marine environments. The lab’s service offerings include quality analysis and environmental monitoring across water and soil divisions, public-private collaborations and consultancy services, student internships and capacity building workshops, ocean acidification research and marine microplastics monitoring, development of underwater robotics for data collection, and conservation-focused physiological studies advancing understanding of species adaptation to environmental change.
The SEER Lab benefits from Amrita’s international partnerships and commitment to sharing research data and methodologies with global research networks. The facility provides opportunities for advanced research and faculty collaborations with international partners, training programs for students and public stakeholders in data collection and environmental monitoring, real-time data and cost-effective solutions for marine conservation initiatives, and innovative tools for sustainable aquaculture and biodiversity preservation. By establishing this facility in partnership with international environmental research networks, Amrita positions itself as a hub for generating and sharing environmental data critical for monitoring progress toward multiple SDGs, particularly in South Asian and Indian Ocean contexts.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham led an international collaborative research initiative titled “Harmonising Livelihoods for Dugong Conservation,” a collaborative project with Surabhi Foundation and support from UNESCO India, to gather data on marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The project focused on the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, two critical marine ecosystems and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, and explored sustainable livelihood pathways for communities in Periyapattinam, Manamelkudi, and eight other coastal villages in Tamil Nadu. This initiative demonstrates how international collaboration on data gathering can simultaneously advance conservation objectives and community development, addressing SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through integrated research and data collection.
The study adopted a rigorous mixed-methods research design combining household surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools across the 10 villages, involving over 800 households in data collection. A unique aspect of this international research collaboration was the active involvement of Master of Social Work (MSW) students from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham who played crucial roles in field data collection, community engagement, and preliminary analysis, simultaneously enhancing the quality of grassroots insights and providing valuable educational experience in international research methodologies. The study was guided by the AWESOME Framework (Accelerating Women’s Empowerment through Systems-Oriented Model Expansion) to ensure gender-disaggregated data collection, inclusive participation, and systems-level understanding of sustainable livelihoods and conservation approaches. Data collection and analysis produced strategic consultations with district and state-level officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, District Forest Officers, the Fisheries Department, and local panchayats, translating research data into policy dialogue and institutional engagement. Community awareness campaigns, stakeholder meetings, and Self-Help Group (SHG) engagement formed the core of the outreach efforts, with activities including beach cleanups, conservation drives, and livelihood training sessions documented as part of early awareness-building around dugong conservation. This international collaborative data collection initiative positions Amrita as an institution that can translate research data into community engagement and policy influence.
Building on its commitment to SDG data gathering in marine ecosystems, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham launched “Blue is the New Pink: Women Driving Sustainable Seaweed Cultivation and Restoration,” an initiative in 2024 that combines data collection on women’s participation in marine livelihoods with practical interventions advancing SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 1 (No Poverty). The initiative aims to empower 100 women from rural coastal communities in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, by equipping them with technical expertise and life skills in seaweed cultivation, seagrass meadows restoration and conservation, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). Amrita is simultaneously collecting comprehensive data on the socio-economic conditions and resource-use patterns of local communities, evaluating potential livelihoods for their environmental impacts, and engaging key stakeholders including government bodies, NGOs, and financial institutions to support adoption of sustainable practices. This initiative demonstrates how universities can gather data on sustainable livelihoods while simultaneously implementing development interventions, creating a feedback loop where community-level data informs program adaptation.
The intervention spans approximately 115 hectares of improved marine habitat practices and facilitates the creation of women-led small business units to encourage entrepreneurial activities and ocean conservation efforts. Importantly, the initiative explores the potential for blue credits as an innovative financial model, generating data on mechanisms that can link marine conservation outcomes to financial incentives and market-based mechanisms. In parallel, Amrita is conducting a comprehensive needs assessment in the Indian Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve to identify sustainable livelihood opportunities that align with the preservation of Dugong habitats, collaborating with UNESCO and the Surabhi Foundation. This systematic data collection on community livelihoods and marine ecosystems demonstrates how international collaboration on SDG data gathering can integrate conservation science with livelihood research and gender equality objectives.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has established sophisticated systems for gathering and measuring water reuse data across its campuses, contributing to international knowledge on sustainable water management practices aligned with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The university’s Water Reuse Measurement framework, formalized in 2024 and built on years of data collection and monitoring, achieved a 73% water reuse ratio across all campuses in 2024, with treated water data collected monthly across all campuses. In 2024, reused water accounted for 73% of total campus water consumption, indicating consistent efficiency improvements from the previous year. Each Amrita campus operates three advanced Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a total design capacity of 1,400 cubic meters per day, capable of treating approximately 75% of consumed water, with long-term average treatment at approximately 1,300 cubic meters per day. Flow meters and Internet-of-Things (IoT) based sensors are installed across treatment facilities and distribution tanks to ensure real-time monitoring and transparency in reuse measurement, generating continuous data streams that contribute to understanding of sustainable water management at institutional scale.
The treated water quality is rigorously monitored, with Sewage Treatment Plants employing aerobic treatment with activated sludge processes producing treated water with biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels below 3 mg/L, exceeding regulatory standards and contributing to international knowledge on water quality metrics. Laboratory teams at Amritapuri and Coimbatore continuously test samples for compliance, ensuring safety for all non-potable applications including toilet flushing, gardening, landscaping, and cooling operations. Comprehensive monthly data collection documents treated water volume, reuse percentage, and seasonal variations, revealing that during dry months reuse levels rise to 90%, while monsoon periods record slightly reduced ratios due to lower demand. The Faridabad campus STP maintained consistent performance with daily BOD around 3.1 mg/L, confirming operational stability. By 2025–26, the university targets an 80% reuse ratio through the addition of a 4 megaliters per day (MLD) Sewage Treatment Plant and full integration of IoT-based water analytics across all campuses, demonstrating how systematic data collection feeds into adaptive management of resource systems. Amrita’s commitment to rigorous water reuse data gathering and transparent reporting contributes to international standards for institutional sustainability metrics and demonstrates how universities can serve as research sites for testing and validating sustainable water management technologies and approaches.
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Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Live-in-Labs® program, which has reached more than 1 million beneficiaries across 25 states since its inception in 2013, represents an innovative approach to international collaboration on gathering data for sustainable development through participatory research and community engagement. Students and faculty from more than 30 international institutions have travelled to India to join the program, contributing to data collection efforts and learning participatory research methodologies. Overall, students and faculty have clocked in more than 400,000 hours in the field working towards sustainable development in rural communities, collecting community-generated data on challenges and solutions while simultaneously implementing development interventions. The program’s participatory approach to data gathering ensures that community members actively shape the research process and that data collection is oriented toward understanding local contexts and identifying locally-appropriate solutions rather than imposing external development frameworks.
The Live-in-Labs® program received the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Award 2024 for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership, recognizing its innovative approach to community-engaged research and data collection for sustainable development. The program demonstrates how universities can establish sustainable partnerships with rural communities for long-term data collection, adaptive management, and community-centered research that informs both policy and practice. By integrating participatory research methodologies with international collaboration, the Live-in-Labs® program has positioned Amrita as a model for how universities can participate in international collaboration on SDG data gathering through sustained community engagement and grassroots-level research.
In November 2024, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham organized participatory research training incorporating Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodologies, transect walks, and community-based research approaches. On November 24, 2024, a participatory research session at Amrita’s Coimbatore campus covered transect walks and community mapping principles, with trainees participating in tree planting campaigns promoting environmental sustainability and conducting field surveys in local communities to better understand community needs and issues. On November 25, 2024, trainees used participatory mapping tools to conduct participatory rural appraisal in Pappankulam village, utilizing social and resource mapping, as well as transect walks, to better understand the needs and resources of the community. This training demonstrates how Amrita builds capacity in participatory data collection methodologies that can be applied to international SDG monitoring and community-based research, ensuring that data gathering processes center community voices and knowledge systems.
In February 2024, international collaboration on health research data gathering was formalized when the Department of Clinical Nutrition at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences partnered with the International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAAND) to host the First International Symposium on Nutrition Research Collaboration. Thirteen international speakers participated in this symposium, engaging with 250 participants including students, faculty members, and physicians from around the globe to discuss cutting-edge nutrition research and clinical practice. The symposium transformed Amrita’s campus into a global forum for knowledge exchange, where the world’s nutrition expertise converged with Indian insights to advance the science and practice of nutrition in healthcare. This international research collaboration contributes to global knowledge generation on health research methodologies and data collection approaches aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
Additionally, in February 2024, Amrita gained induction into the Stanford SPARK Global program, positioning the institution within an international network of translational research partners committed to advancing innovation in healthcare and biotechnology. Through this partnership, Amrita gained access to a global network of industry scientists and experts, funding opportunities, and collaboration with SPARK Global member institutions worldwide. The SPARK program’s track record demonstrates its capacity to enable global research collaboration, with SPARK partners globally having launched 25 startups, secured $30 million in funding, achieved 10 awards, and initiated 25 clinical trials. Under the SPARK Global Charter, Dr. Maneesha Ramesh (Provost) and Dr. Bipin Nair (Dean of Life Sciences) now lead Amrita’s participation, positioning the institution to enhance its translational research in healthcare, biotechnology, and clinical innovation on the world stage and contribute to international data generation on innovation in health research.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Amrita Center for Sustainable Development Goals (ACSDG) plays a pivotal role in fostering international collaboration and research to address the SDGs effectively, with the center’s dedication to reviewing comparative approaches and developing international best practices for tackling the SDGs evident in its numerous projects and partnerships. One of the ACSDG’s key initiatives is collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to create a data dashboard for SDGs in India, providing real-time data on India’s progress towards the SDGs and empowering policymakers and stakeholders to track progress and identify areas requiring further action. Additionally, the ACSDG partners with the World Economic Forum to develop a platform for sharing SDG-related data, facilitating collaboration among researchers and practitioners worldwide and enabling them to share data and work together on projects involving data gathering and analysis.
The ACSDG’s commitment to international collaboration extends to its involvement in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global network of universities committed to advancing sustainable development. The SDSN’s working groups focus on various aspects of data gathering and analysis for the SDGs, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among international researchers and practitioners. The ACSDG’s efforts to review comparative approaches and develop international best practices for tackling the SDGs are exemplified by its research projects involving comparative analysis of different approaches to addressing the SDGs, identifying successful strategies, and sharing them with the global community. By engaging in international conferences and workshops, the ACSDG actively disseminates its research findings and best practices, providing opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration with other researchers and practitioners worldwide. The ACSDG’s partnerships include collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Economic Forum, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and numerous universities and research institutions worldwide. Through these partnerships, the ACSDG is actively contributing to the development and promotion of international best practices for tackling the SDGs and helping to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future for all.
Amrita has established the International Network for Sustainable Innovation and Resilient Futures (SustIN), formed under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development, to enhance institutional capacities and foster regional collaborations that accelerate collective efforts to achieve and promote sustainable development, innovative learning, and knowledge-sharing. This international network brings together institutions committed to gathering and measuring data on sustainable development through collaborative research, facilitating knowledge exchange on methodologies for SDG data collection, and supporting capacity building in research institutions across regions. By establishing this network, Amrita positions itself as a convening institution that can coordinate international collaboration on SDG data gathering and contribute to the development of standardized approaches to measuring progress toward sustainable development goals.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s commitment to gathering and measuring data for the SDGs was recognized in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, where the institution ranked #1 in India and 81st globally among 2,152 higher education institutions from 125 countries/regions assessed for their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The university achieved exceptional rankings across specific SDG-related research and monitoring categories, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) – Rank 7, SDG 4 (Quality Education) – Rank 3, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) – Rank 22, SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) – Rank 62, SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) – Rank 87, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) – Rank 87, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) – Rank 301 to 400. This comprehensive ranking achievement reflects the university’s integrated approach to gathering, measuring, and monitoring data across multiple SDG domains and its leadership in international research collaboration for sustainable development.
Through 2024, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has demonstrated exceptional leadership in participating in international collaboration on gathering and measuring data for the SDGs by coordinating global research initiatives like the C20 Grassroots Survey involving over 8,000 community voices from 64 nations; establishing advanced environmental monitoring facilities like the SEER Lab for systematic environmental data collection; collaborating with international organizations including UNESCO, UNDP, and the World Economic Forum on SDG data platforms and dashboards; conducting participatory research and community-based data collection through the Live-in-Labs® program reaching 1 million beneficiaries; implementing rigorous data monitoring systems for water reuse and environmental management; and positioning itself within international research networks like the SDSN and SPARK Global for advancing SDG research collaboration and capacity building. By integrating participatory approaches with advanced monitoring technologies, coordinating with international research networks, and translating research data into policy influence, Amrita has positioned itself as a leading institution for international collaboration on SDG data gathering and monitoring. The university’s approach demonstrates that universities can serve as anchoring institutions in global networks for SDG data collection, ensuring that data gathering processes are grounded in community participation, rigorous research methodologies, and commitment to translating evidence into policy and practice that advances sustainable development globally.