Sparkasse Kufstein ESG-Award

Sparkasse Kufstein, in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, announces again the ESG-Award. The prize is aimed at students of the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein, who are writing their Bachelor's and/or Master's thesis in the field of ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) .

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Submission deadline: 
September 30, 2024

Submission & requirements

Only Bachelor's and Master's theses that have been submitted for review in the last and second-last calendar year (starting on 30 September 2022) by 30 September 2024 at the latest and have been graded "Very good" or "Good" can be submitted or considered for the ESG Award. The topics must be related to ESG in the broadest sense. Possible subject areas are:

Possible topic areas:

Environment (Environmental)

• Climate protection: Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency and promote renewable energies.
• Climate change
• Resource conservation: Sustainable use and protection of natural resources, including water, soil and the sea.
• Biodiversity and ecosystems
• Waste and environmental management: Effective waste avoidance, recycling and reuse of materials (circular economy)
• Environmentally friendly products and services: Development and marketing of products that are environmentally friendly.

Social (Social)

• Employee rights and working conditions: Promoting diversity, gender equality, inclusion, fair working conditions and health and safety in the workplace.
• Community and social inclusion: projects and initiatives that benefit the local community or address social problems.
• Customer responsibility: Consumer protection, including data protection and the safety of products and services.
• Human rights: Commitment to respecting and promoting human rights along the entire supply chain.

Governance

• Corporate governance and ethics: Transparent and responsible corporate governance, anti-corruption and ethical behaviour.
• Risk management: Strategies and practices for identifying, assessing and managing ESG risks.
• Stakeholder engagement: Dialogue and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and civil society.
• Reporting and transparency: Comprehensive and transparent reporting on ESG practices and performance.

This is not to be regarded as an exhaustive list. Of course, other topics can also be submitted that are demonstrably related to Banking & Finance (this must be justified in the submission). The jury will decide whether this condition is met.

• Download Call for Entries ESG-Award
   

Required documents

Please submit all documents by e-mail as PDF files. Please note that only applications with complete documents can be considered for further evaluation:

• Copy of Bachelor's or Master’s thesis
• Curriculum vitae of the applying student (please include a picture)
• Short summary of thesis (please use the following template):

Download PDF

Evaluation and jury:

All submitted works will be reviewed by a jury of experts consisting of five members of the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol and the Sparkasse Kufstein and evaluated according to a standardised scheme. The participants will then be informed of the results.

Prize money

The prize money is divided the two categories of Bachelor's and Master’s theses.

Bachelor's theses

• 1^st place: EUR 500.00
• 2^nd place: EUR 400.00
• 3^rd place: EUR 200.00

Master's theses

• 1^st place: EUR 750.00 
• 2^nd place: EUR 500.00
• 3^rd place: EUR 300.00 

Confirmation of participation or certificate:

All participants will receive a certificate of participation. Students who finish in the top three places will also receive a certificate of participation showing the placement they have achieved.

Award ceremony:

The official presentation of the participation certificates and cash prizes to the winners will take place in November 2024. The exact date will be announced separately.

Contact information: 

Please submit the required documents by e-mail as a PDF to Prof. (FH) DDr. Mario Situm by 30 September 2024.

esg-award@fh-kufstein.ac.at