Québec, September 13, 2023 – Université Laval and Promutuel Insurance are pleased to announce a five-year $1 million philanthropic partnership to support two initiatives focused on environmental protection and sustainable development: the Climate Action Initiative for the Future and the Institute for the Environment, Development, and Society (EDS Institute).
“Sustainable development is part of Université Laval’s DNA. It has been a core priority for us for years. I welcome this exceptional philanthropic partnership that will help strengthen our position as a climate action leader in Québec, across Canada, and around the world,” said Université Laval rector Sophie D’Amours.
This partnership between Université Laval and Promutuel Insurance is based on a collaborative approach that leverages Université Laval’s cutting-edge expertise. The close ties between academia and the community will enable Promutuel Insurance to play an active role in both of these promising projects, which are squarely in line with its values.
“Promoting a comprehensive approach to environmental and sustainable issues for the well-being of the community aligns perfectly with our own commitments. And the climate action initiative’s focus on training the leaders of tomorrow is just as promising since they will act as agents of change in both the public and private sectors. Promutuel Insurance is very proud to partner with Université Laval in this highly impactful initiative and take concrete steps to address climate challenges,” said Geneviève Fortier, Chief Executive Officer of Promutuel Insurance.
Climate Action Initiative for the Future
A total of $625,000 will go to the Climate Action Initiative for the Future fund. The climate action project is led by nine professors from the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Nursing, and the Faculty of Social Sciences.
They pooled their diverse expertise to design and teach a new, highly interdisciplinary and customized master’s program to help students grasp the full scope and complexity of climate issues. This customized master’s program, which will welcome its first cohort this fall, will train the next generation of professionals to work with organizations and communities dedicated to climate action.
“The students who benefit from this interdisciplinary training on the major societal challenges of climate will be the change makers of tomorrow,” said Sehl Mellouli, Assistant Vice Rector, Academic and Student Affairs at Université Laval. “They’ll develop cross-cutting skills by carrying out a real project in partnership with the community.”
The money will be used to fund scholarships for students and their climate action projects. A portion of the funds will also be used to hire a key resource in charge of project implementation, recruitment, facilitation, and coordination.
The EDS Institute
A total of $375,000 will be used to support the EDS Institute, a hub of multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise in environment and sustainable development. With its mission of promoting collaboration, the institute brings together more than 87 faculty members, 27 associate members, 18 collaborating members, 345 students, and 4 chairs and research groups.
Led by Stéphane Roche, full professor in the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, this group promotes a holistic understanding of environmental and sustainable development issues. It advocates for these issues both inside and outside the university, directly impacting community well-being.
“This funding will bolster the EDS Institute in its role as a catalyst for research, interdisciplinary dialogue, and collaboration in the field of environment and sustainable development with a view to solving real-world problems,” said Stéphane Roche.
About Promutuel Insurance
Promutuel Insurance is one of the biggest damage insurers in Québec. Renowned for financial stability, superior quality products, and outstanding customer service, it boasts 2,100 employees serving 634,000 insured members. Promutuel Insurance’s mission is to promote and provide insurance products that meet the needs of its clients. It does this by delivering outstanding, personalized service while fostering the mutualist values that have guided it for 170 years.
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