Alexander Dolganov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Center-invest bank (Candidate of Economic Sciences), spoke at the roundtable BRICS Ranking: The Role of Universities in the Global Transition to Sustainable Development at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

The discussion was prompted by the publication of the first ESG ranking of leading universities from BRICS countries. The study included 65 universities from Brazil, India, Russia, China, Hong Kong, the UAE, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, and Ethiopia. The ranking covers all key aspects of sustainable development, as well as the educational, research, and public mission of universities.

The event brought together representatives of the academic community, state institutions, business, and international organizations. The discussion focused on the contribution of BRICS universities to shaping the sustainability agenda, developing ESG approaches, and training personnel for a low-carbon economy.

Alexander Dolganov spoke about Center-invest bank’s experience in collaborating with universities, and in creating, managing, and effectively administering endowment funds.

Center-invest bank is the longest-standing donor and the largest management company in the endowment market of the Southern Federal District. The bank ranks 10th in Russia in the National Association of Endowments rating by assets under management and number of endowments. Currently, Center-invest bank manages the capital of four endowment funds from the south of Russia, with total assets of 490 million rubles.

Alexander Dolganov noted: "Center-invest bank has been building systematic partnerships with leading universities in southern Russia for many years. We see that universities today are not just educational platforms but powerful competence centers for ESG transformation. Our experience in creating endowments shows that combining the resources of business and academia allows us not only to train personnel for a low-carbon economy but also to directly finance green research and infrastructure projects in the regions".

Experts noted that higher education is becoming a key driver of green transformation. Universities not only implement educational programs and conduct research but also shape regional development agendas, manage infrastructure, and serve as competence centers for sustainable development.

For over 30 years, Center-invest bank has been successfully implementing social and educational projects aimed at developing current and future generations, supporting programs for youth initiatives and improving the quality of education in Russia.