APSCC partnered with IIT Madras as title sponsor for S-NET 2014, a case study competition challenging student teams to develop a 6-year "Green Vision 2020" sustainable development plan for the fictional city of Vilaspur.
Organised by the Sustainability Network (S‑NET) — a student body established at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 2009 — the 2014 edition adopted the theme "Green Vision" and invited student teams to think like planners, policymakers and environmental strategists. As title sponsor, APSCC lent its name, expertise and campus-sustainability perspective to a competition designed to translate classroom knowledge into real-world sustainable development.
The Challenge: A Green Vision for Vilaspur
At the heart of S‑NET 2014 was an ambitious case study. Teams were tasked with drafting a comprehensive "Green Vision 2020" — a six-year sustainable development roadmap for the fictional city of Vilaspur. Rather than a single technical fix, participants had to balance competing priorities and design an integrated plan that could withstand scrutiny across seven distinct dimensions.
By forcing teams to weigh environmental gains against economic viability, legal constraints and community needs, the case study mirrored the genuine trade-offs faced by city administrations pursuing sustainability at scale.
APSCC's Contribution
Beyond title sponsorship, APSCC took an active role in shaping the competition. The association contributed a panel discussion on "Green Campus Initiative — A Sustainability Approach", offered guidance on the competition's objectives and evaluation criteria, and supported campus outreach to bring more students into the fold. This hands-on involvement ensured the challenge stayed grounded in practical, campus-tested sustainability thinking.
Timeline
Teams submitted their Green Vision 2020 plans by the submission deadline of 18 March 2014, with the strongest entries advancing to the final round on 22 March 2014 at IIT Madras, where they presented and defended their proposals before a panel.
Aligned with the Global Goals
The S‑NET 2014 challenge reflected several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, connecting a campus competition to a shared global agenda for cities, climate, ecosystems and partnership.
