Congratulations to the first place winner of the World Accreditation Day (WAD) 2023 poster contest, Vivek Vardhan, who was awarded USD 1500.
Mr. Vardhan is an accreditation officer for the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) of India. He has been involved in designing posters and newsletters for the organization.
What was your inspiration for your design?
In Sanskrit, we have a phrase ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ which translates to ‘The World Is One Family’. Trade plays a major role in meeting the needs of economies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was involved in creating various materials, such as flyers and presentations, to promote the benefits of accreditation. At a time when business continuity was uncertain, we were able to support each other’s needs through services and products whose quality was confirmed through accreditation. This motivated me to design my poster for World Accreditation Day, showcasing the theme ‘Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade’.
How does your poster illustrate this year’s theme?
Accreditation plays a critical role in maintaining quality worldwide. It has raised awareness about the importance of quality in trade and has given a significant boost to exports. Accredited testing centres and laboratories are proven to operate at an internationally accepted level of competence. The results from these laboratories are widely used by regulatory bodies for the public good in the provision of services that promote an unpolluted environment, safe food, clean water, energy, health, and social care services. In doing so, accreditation helps to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
I have included a globe in my design representing our world. The design shows the sun as a source of clean energy. We are harnessing renewable energy through the use of solar panels, windmills, and electric vehicles, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). This energy is being shared among economies and utilized by an industry. Accredited laboratories are testing the waste produced by the industry to ensure that it does not pollute the sea, supporting SDG 14 (Life Below Water). An accredited laboratory is testing the food being grown in one economy and shipped to another, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ILAC MRA facilitated the acceptance of RT-PCR test results from accredited medical testing laboratories in various economies, enabling travelers to return home. Also, the increasing demand for expertise in industries related to emerging sectors has helped to support gender equality (SDG 5).
Download the winning poster here.
