Raising awareness for environmental protection among youngsters in China

About 2,000 post-graduate and MBA students from 22 universities in China participated in the “Business, Environment, Learning and Leadership”(BELL) project, of which Swiss Re is a key sponsor, in the 2009-2010 academic year.

The BELL project

This number was revealed at the Annual BELL Conference in April 2010 in Beijing, attended by over 160 professors and students from 76 postgraduate and MBA schools in China. The conference was held to review their BELL courses and share best practices.

Organised since 1990 by the Centre for Environmental Education & Communications (CEEC) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, the BELL project aims to further raise environmental awareness among China’s future business leaders.  Swiss Re became a key sponsor of the project in 2009.

The BELL courses are tailored for each school, but with a significant focus on energy saving, climate change and sustainable development. Apart from classroom study, students take part in on-site inspections, and run interactive events with their peers from other schools.

Senior business executives are also invited to give presentations to the students. Robert Wiest, Managing Director of Swiss Re China,  spoke to about 80 students at the Guanghua Management School of the Peking University in October 2009 on how the (re)insurance industry can play a role in driving for sustainable growth.
 
Swiss Re first worked with the CEEC from 2005-2008 to run a series of national campaigns to raise environmental awareness among students in primary and middle schools and universities.

Robert Wiest, Managing Director of Swiss Re China talks with students after his presentation at the Guanghua Management School of the Peking University in October 2009.

“The BELL project is a natural extension of Swiss Re's enthusiasm in contributing to environmental protection in China,” said Robert Wiest, Managing Director of Swiss Re China.

Swiss Re is now working with CEEC to introduce environmental courses in more universities in China in 2010.

	Qin Lu, General Manager of Swiss Re Beijing Branch spoke at the BELL Annual Conference in April 2010 in Beijing.