About SusCon - IIM Shillong in IIM Shillong, Mayurbhanj Complex, Shillong

Sustainability occupies the centre stage in our life in the fast changing world. “Sustainability” is much more than a recent buzzword- a way of life and living in harmony with nature. Sustainability envisions a just and peaceful self-sustaining society that embraces the basic principles and value system of symbiotic living. Sustainable development has been the central focus for the future development strategies. The biggest challenge to sustainability is the fact that the Earth has finite resources but an indefinitely growing population. By the year 2050, there will be over nine billion people on Earth whose livelihood will depend on these finite resources. This presents us with a situation where we need to rethink and rework on how to turn around the rate of degradation and depletion of the ecosystem and conserve and maintain the balance between supply from the nature and consumption by mankind.

Despite quantum progress and achievement in industrial and economic growth human civilization has failed to meet of its most basic prerequisites- to live in harmony with nature and with each other. Modern development has never before constrained and challenged humanity with such life threatening crisis of ecological degradation, social conflicts and political turmoil. If we do not want to understand the deep consequences of these environmental and social changes the benefits and achievements of this modern society will be mere transitory. Thus it is absolutely important to learn how to live personally and professionally in a manner that supports ecologically, socially and economically healthy environments and living communities. This will be possible only through better awareness generation, education and understanding about sustainability and through an absolutely new approach of leadership in development.

In pursuit of a holistic developmental model “Learning for Living and Leading” is chosen as the theme of the conference of the current year. Using multiple perspectives, participants will explore new interpretations, applications and evaluations of sustainability by actively engaging themselves in relevant contemporary issues and also get an opportunity to be active advocates for sustainability in and beyond their immediate environments.

Sus-Con at IIM Shillong :-
Intense involvement in the movement for Sustainability at IIM Shillong for six years has opened up new doors of perception and ushered in us fresh insights into the theme and the processes. There have been some powerful voices against the overall effectiveness and impact of Rio movement spaced 20 years between Rio summit and the Rio+20 summits. The hard truth has now dawned in the realization of many thinkers and practitioners that Sustainability is not a matter of calculations, publicity gimmick or temporary engagement. If the academic and business community as well as the Government, NGOs and civil society groups are really serious about the issue of Sustainability then one must delve into the exploration of the very roots from where the concern for Sustainability emerges. Sus-Con at IIM Shillong is not just an annual conference but a movement to encompass sustainability in every aspect of life, business and academics. It has received the blessings of none else but our past President Bharat Ratna Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. IIM Shillong makes a humble effort towards making this movement a global platform for dialogues and questions on the vital issue of Sustainability.