University students benefit through focus on clear, real-world problems while developing the capacity to consider implications and implementations that may scale from local to global, while maintaining the necessary context to continue reflecting the impact from global to local; all the while experiencing the effects of market dynamics. The skills earned by the students are reflective of those that are core to collaboration, global perspective, ideation, earning mindshare, negotiations, product development, and innovation at the level of ecosystems – all key tenets of standardization.
Themes to get Inspired from
Clean Energy & Grid Integration
Sustainable Urban Infrastructure
Electric Mobility & Battery Ecosystem
Biodiversity & Environmental Standards
Climate Action & Carbon Measurement
Responsible AI in Sustainability
Circular Economy & Waste Management
Sustainability Communication (Track B)
AI for Environmental Intelligence
Precision Agriculture Data Standards
Program Phases
Program Kickoff
Activities
- Introduction to IEEE SA — its mission, history, global impact, and how standards shape technology
- Introduction to IEEE EPSS — program goals, expectations, tracks,
and what success looks like - Reveal of challenge themes and detailed problem statements for
each theme - Team formation — interdisciplinary teams of 5–6 students selected
per track - Faculty and IEEE SA mentor assignment and role clarification
- Expectations-setting session — deliverable timelines, milestone
structure, and evaluation criteria
Deliverable
Problem Understanding
Format
Independent team research with faculty oversight and first IEEE SA mentor check-in
Activities
Deep dive into the selected challenge — understanding scope, context, and complexity
Pain point analysis — what is broken, missing, or underserved in the current landscape?
2–3 stakeholder interviews where possible (industry, NGO, government, or community voices)
Potentially organise a systems thinking workshop – understanding interconnected systems, feedback loops, and leverage points
Faculty and IEEE SA mentor check-in to validate research direction and refine focus
- Review of existing relevant IEEE SA standards and global frameworks in the selected domain
Deliverable
Research Summary (3–5 pages) + Early Insight Summary (1 page), identifying key tensions or gaps discovered
Idea Development
Phase C-I Problem Framing
- Refine the problem statement based on research findings and
stakeholder insights - Identify specific gaps in current standards, frameworks, or
practices - Convert research insights into a structured problem framing document
- Conduct gap analysis – what exists? What is missing? What could be done?
Deliverable: 1-page problem statement + gap identification document
Phase C-II Solution Ideation
- Begin exploring 2–3 potential solution concepts or framework approaches Formulate hypothesis statements — what would need to be true for your approach to work?
- Run an ideation session using structured creativity methods
- Introduction to the standardization concept — how does an idea become a standard?
Mid-Review with IEEE SA
Format
Hybrid or In-Person – IEEE SA/Industry Review Panel
Activities
Students present mid-progress work and early concepts to IEEE SA reviewers and invited industry experts
- Panel of IEEE SA members + sustainability experts provide
structured critique and guidance - Expert feedback captured in a Feedback Log for team reference
- Teams revise their direction, problem framing, and concept based on panel input
Deliverable
Revised Concept (updated based on panel feedback) + Feedback Log + Direction Update document
Solution Draft & Standardization Concepts
Each team produces a structured 3–5 page concept document following this template:
Activities
- Problem Statement — clearly articulated challenge and why it matters
- Stakeholder Map — who is affected, who must be involved in any
solution - Gap Analysis — what frameworks, standards, or practices are missing
- Proposal — what the team recommends as a framework, guideline, or
approach - Required Data, Processes, or Guidelines — what would need to exist
for the proposal to work - Impact Pathways — how the proposal would create change if adopted
- Measuring Impact — how success would be defined and tracked
Final Development
Activities
- Problem Statement — clearly articulated challenge and why it matters
- Stakeholder Map — who is affected, who must be involved in any
solution - Gap Analysis — what frameworks, standards, or practices are missing
- Proposal — what the team recommends as a framework, guideline, or
approach - Required Data, Processes, or Guidelines — what would need to exist
for the proposal to work - Impact Pathways — how the proposal would create change if adopted
- Measuring Impact — how success would be defined and tracked
Deliverable
- Final concept document (3–5 pages)
- Draft slide deck (10–12 slides)
- Poster design / video / innovative presentation format
- Team summary for IEEE SA review
Demo Day at IEEE India Office, Bengaluru
Format
Activities
- Final presentations: each team presents to IEEE SA leadership and invited industry guests
- Poster showcase — all teams display their visual work
- Q&A with judges — structured questioning from a panel of IEEE SA members and industry experts
- Award ceremony — three award categories: Most Innovative Idea, Highest Impact Potential, Best Standardization Potential
- IEEE India Office tour — exposure to the global standards organization in action
- “Talk with IEEE SA Leaders” session — informal Q&A with IEEE SA leadership
- Networking with IEEE SA members, industry guests, and peers (hybrid format for remote participants)
- Identification of projects with potential for IEEE SA working group exploration
Benefits Across the Experiential Program on Sustainability standard Ecosystem
IEEE SA Global Branding
Scalable Annually
Industry –Academia Linkage
Research Translation Pathway
AI Program
NEP 2020
NEP 2020 explicitly mandates experiential learning, inquiry-based approaches, real-world projects, and industry partnerships. EPSS fulfills all four mandates simultaneously in a single structured program that can be formally integrated into the academic calendar.
Students can receive project, internship, or experiential credit for EPSS participation where institutionally feasible.
NAAC
NIRF
Faculty Benefits
- Recognition as a faculty coordinator for an IEEE SA-certified program – a significant professional credential
- Opportunities to network with EEE SA mentors and global standards experts -expanding professional network
- Exposure to how real-world governance frameworks are built directly enriches teaching
and research - Spotlight feature on IEEE India Operations platforms for contributing faculty
- Priority access to future IEEE SA faculty-facing initiatives, workshops, and programs
Real-World Project Exposure
IEEE SA Certificate of Participation
IEEE SA Sustainability Fellow Recognition
Selected high-performing students are recognized as IEEE SA Sustainability Experiential Learning Fellows – a distinction that stands out in any professional context.
Mentorship from Global Experts
Direct mentorship from IEEE SA experts and industry practitioners – exposure that most students never receive during their academic journey. 2–3 structured touchpoints, plus on-demand advisory support.
Demo Day Presentation Experience
Global Networking
Visibility on IEEE SA Platforms
Invitation to Observe Working Groups
Potential Internship Pathways
High-performing students gain priority access to IEEE SA internship opportunities in research, communications, brand awareness, and outreach.
Employability & Entrepreneurship
EPSS graduates have documented experience in technology governance, systems thinking, stakeholder analysis, and framework development – skills employers consistently rank among the hardest to find.
Industry Skills Delivered By Experiential Program on Sustainability standard Program
Systems Thinking
Structured problem framing on real, complex, multi-stakeholder sustainability challenges.
Governance Literacy
Direct exposure to IEEE SA’s standards ecosystem and governance processes throughout the program.
Soft Skill Development
Development of soft skills through the IEEE SA Experiential Program on sustainability standards.
Stakeholder Management
Stakeholder mapping, ecosystem analysis, and interview exercises as core program activities.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Mixed-background teams deliberately formed across disciplines, mirroring real professional environments.
Self-driven Research
Independent research phases with mentor check-ins - not spoon-fed lab work or guided exercises.
Global Awareness
Exposure to international standards frameworks, global governance systems, and cross-border sustainability challenges.
Hear From The IEEE SA Leadership
Alpesh Shah
Dorothy Stanley
Srikanth Chandrasekaran
Guided By Industry Experts
- Loves the beach
- Rasam
- Dosas
- Travelling by train
Sri Chandrasekaran
- Travel
Maike Luiken
Karen Mulberry
- I love dogs
- Mediterranean beaches
Maria Palombini
- I follow Cricket
- Like to try out new recipes
Munir Mohammed
- avid baseball fan
Rudi Schubert
- Summer garden
- Growing vegetables, herbs and lettuces
Karen Mccabe
Guided By Industry Experts
Meet The Teams
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Richa Sharma
Dr. Adithya Balasubramanyam
Students
Aryan Shukla
B.Tech CSE (AI & ML) Student
Ashutosh Jha
Student
Aaditya Prakash
Student
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Deepa Suryaprasad
Students
Archita Agrawal
Student
Omkar Mukesh Sharma
Senior Research Scholar (Ph.D. Physics)
Thirukumaran Kathirvelan
Student
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Richa Sharma
Students
Niveditha N Reddy
Research Scholar
Vijay M
Student
Sriraksha
Student
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) — the global wireless networking standard used by billions of devices.
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) — the backbone of wired networking worldwide.
IEEE 1547 — the standard for connecting distributed energy resources (solar, wind) to the grid.
IEEE 7000 series — ethics and responsible innovation in autonomous and AI systems.
IEEE 11073 series — on health informatics: health device communication standards enable communication between medical, health care and wellness devices.
IEEE 2413 — architectural framework for the Internet of Things (IoT).
IEEE 3469 — standard that defines a process model for environmental liability (e-liability) accounting in systems engineering, covering carbon emissions across entire supply and value chains.
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) — the global wireless networking standard used by billions of devices.
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) — the backbone of wired networking worldwide.
IEEE 1547 — the standard for connecting distributed energy resources (solar, wind) to the grid.
IEEE 7000 series — ethics and responsible innovation in autonomous and AI systems.
IEEE 11073 series — on health informatics: health device communication standards enable communication between medical, health care and wellness devices.
IEEE 2413 — architectural framework for the Internet of Things (IoT).
IEEE 3469 — standard that defines a process model for environmental liability (e-liability) accounting in systems engineering, covering carbon emissions across entire supply and value chains.
About IEEE and IEEE SA
IEEE SA Global Impact Areas
Protecting children's data and digital rights
Accelerating innovation
Promoting technology Governance
Advancing global technologies
Leading change for human values and ethical consideration
Driving sustainable solutions for a planet-positive future
Building bridges between policymakers, government, and institutions
Protecting children's data and digital rights
Accelerating innovation
Promoting technology Governance
Advancing global technologies
Leading change for human values and ethical consideration
Driving sustainable solutions for a planet-positive future
Building bridges between policymakers, government, and institutions
Shape Sustainable Innovation With IEEE SA Experiential Program on Sustainability standard