Center-invest Bank took part in the «Universities and Sustainable Development» conference organised by RAEX Rating Agency. Alexander Dolganov, Ph. D. in Economics, Deputy Chairman of Center-invest Bank’s Management Board, made a presentation at the conference and shared the successful ESG practices implemented by the bank in a joint effort with universities.
Representatives of Russia’s leading universities, such as People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), Higher School of Economics, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and others, shared their experience in ESG development. Experts in the area of sustainable development and higher education discussed the influence of universities on the ESG agenda, growing of «green» professionals and efficiency criteria in implementation of sustainable projects.
Center-invest Bank actively interacts with universities in the regions of its presence by creating specialised departments, opening joint Financial Literacy Centers, engaging students in practical training and internship at the bank’s offices.
«Center-invest Bank is committed to shaping the image of the future. We believe that economic success and sustainable development of the country depend on financial literacy of today’s young people — future leaders, entrepreneurs, IT specialists, economists, industry and agricultural sector workers, their focus on creative activity, confidence in the country’s economic growth, their vision of the foundation for that growth, and readiness to assure it. This is why the bank has come up with numerous projects related to youth business initiatives and ESG practices,» comments Alexander Dolganov.
For more than 20 years, Center-invest Bank has been holding the Smart Scholarship contest among students of the largest universities in Southern Russia. Each business project submitted for the contest is devoted to attainment of a certain Sustainable Development Goal. Over the entire time of the contest’s existence, more than 35,000 people took part in it, and 6,200 students were awarded the scholarship.
Center-invest Bank supports the development of business initiative in the student community, while providing not only financial, but also consultative assistance in the development of business ideas and their implementation thanks to educational programs of the bank’s own Accelerator.
In 2023 the bank implemented the new ESG Universal Education training program. This educational project unifies best practices and innovations in the area of education adapting them to the requirements and challenges of today.