Bukidnon State University Leads Northern Mindanao As Green Institution

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) secures the top position in Northern Mindanao, ranking 9th nationwide and 534th globally in the 2023 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings (UIGWUR).

Instituted in 2010 by the Universitas Indonesia, UIGWUR evaluates the eco-friendly practices and sustainability initiatives adopted by educational institutions worldwide.

BukSU’s performance is reflected in its overall score of 6275, excelling across six key criteria. Notably, the university garnered 1000 points in setting and infrastructure, 1400 points in energy and climate change, 1200 points in waste, 500 points in water, 1175 points in transportation, and 1075 points in education and research.

Under the leadership of University President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, BukSU has embraced the vision of a “Green University.” This holistic approach encompasses green governance, innovative practices, cultural sustainability, and community engagement with social responsibility at its core.

“Our journey toward becoming a green university has been marked by various milestones, such as reducing our carbon footprint, conserving resources, and integrating sustainability into our curriculum. We have witnessed the transformation of our campus into a hub of sustainability, where recycling bins have become as ubiquitous as our classrooms and where renewable energy sources power our facilities.,” said Mirasol.

To enforce and uphold these green initiatives, BukSU has appointed officers, including a pollution control officer, a safety and health officer, and an environmental compliance liaison officer.

“Generally, the goal of these officers is to monitor and implement the sustainability initiatives of the university,” said Administrative Division’s Chief Administrative Officer Rosanna S. Generato.

BukSU’s commitment to eco-friendly practices extends beyond its administrative structure to initiatives that directly impact the campus community. These include the installation of bicycle parking racks to promote eco-friendly transportation, the adoption of paperless transactions, the implementation of energy conservation measures, and participation in plant conservation programs, among other initiatives.

This year, 1183 universities were included in the UIGWUR. Of this number, 22 are universities in the Philippines.