Sustainable Development Goals
EUA is dedicated to international cooperation. Likewise, universities in Europe and around the world are crucial to global sustainable development. Therefore, it is natural that the Association is an active part of the worldwide agenda for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Universities contribute to the goals through research and education in a wide array of disciplines that can potentially contribute to a better future. In a complex and developed context like Europe, it is essential that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals rests on knowledge, new research, innovation and citizens who are empowered by critical thinking. The Sustainable Development Goals clearly need strong societal actors, like universities, to ensure their success.
To further the understanding of the broad role of universities in society, EUA was invited to join the European Commission’s Multi-Stakeholder Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also a member of the GUNi Group of Experts in SDGs and Higher Education.
In particular, EUA is working on the following Sustainable Development Goals in the context of its policy and project work:
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Education is crucial for the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals and is a goal in and of itself. EUA works towards “Goal #4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning” by facilitating debates and knowledge-sharing on how to best provide for Europe’s students and lifelong learners. Discussions cover opening flexible learning paths for people in the workforce, as well as upgrading and reorienting skills and careers in response to rapidly changing societal needs.
EUA conducts this work primarily through its activities in learning and teaching, quality assurance and the European Forum for Enhanced Collaboration in Teaching (EFFECT) project.
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Sustainable development is dependent on knowledge, as is “Goal #9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.” Universities provide deep insight into human society and the world around us. They also work intensively with businesses and civil society to create new knowledge and new ways of applying it. EUA promotes this by highlighting the role of universities as providers of that new knowledge and as vital partners throughout society - in particular in ensuring that research is open to all.
This work is seen primarily in EUA’s extensive portfolio of activities covering Innovation and its key role in the pursuit of Open Science.
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EUA connects universities across Europe to tackle the energy challenge through research, education and innovation. This is crucial to achieving “Goal #7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” In this context, EUA supports higher education institutions in the development of their institutional strategies and approaches to energy education, research and training.
The EUA Energy & Environment Platform (EUA-EPUE) is at the centre of this work. It aims to facilitate the full participation of European universities in energy- and environment-related EU programmes and to achieve the creation of the Energy Union and a sustainable energy future for Europe. -
Sustainable development can only be achieved if discrimination is eradicated and all are empowered to take part in society independent of gender, ethnic origin or socio-economic and cultural background. Universities have an important role in this regard and social mobility and inclusiveness have become strategic questions in higher education. EUA is working to ensure that universities across Europe have a platform to share their approaches and strategies. This is key to “Goal #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,” as well as to “Goal #10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.”EUA’s conducts this work through its diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as the “Higher Education Supporting Refugees in Europe” (inHERE) project and the “Refugees Welcome Map”. EUA is also active in monitoring gender equality, especially in university leadership.
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Universities are closely connected to their regions, and they play a crucial role in education, innovation, culture and civic life in their local communities. This is very important to “Goal #11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”
EUA supports this role through its work on innovation, in particular regional “smart specialisation” and innovation ecosystems. Its work is highly-informed by the EUA Expert Group on Smart Specialisation.
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In order to fulfil their missions, universities need to have an enabling legal framework to make them strong institutions, particularly institutional autonomy and sufficient funding. This is strongly linked to “Goal #16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.”
EUA active in monitoring and shaping European trends in university autonomy and governance as well as in university funding. In particular, its University Autonomy Scorecard and Public Funding Observatory are unique and instrumental barometers in the field.
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European universities are part of the larger family of universities around the world, and EUA actively promotes dialogue on five continents, working for an inclusive global higher education and research community. This is very relevant to “Goal #17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.”
EUA work in this area is highlighted in its extensive global relations activities and, in particular, in its focus on the EU Neighbourhood.
Positions
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25 Jun 2020
Europe’s Universities Shaping the Future
EUA Strategic Plan
The need for strong universities has never been greater in addressing societal challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, resource scarcity, ageing populations, migration and managing artificial intelligence are among the many examples of areas where universities have a major impact.
Resources
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Universities invited to participate in UN75 Initiative
Partners news
28 Jul 2020To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations launched a global conversation on how to tackle the challenges we face and build a better future for all. The UN invites European universities to participate in the UN75 Initiative by hosting dialogues and responding to a one-minute...
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EUA Annual Conference webinar #3: Making a difference through partnerships
Video
30 Apr 2020 view more -
Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: call for inputs from...
Partners news
26 Mar 2020Doctoral candidates from EUA members are invited to contribute to one of the 17 volumes of the Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the largest editorial project on matters related to sustainable development ever undertaken. The editorial team will offer guidance and advice,...
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Call for participation: World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day 2020, 4...
Partners news
12 Feb 2020The 10th edition of the World Sustainable Development Teach-In Day (WSD-TD 2020) will take place on 4 December 2020. This major online event provides lecturers and learners with the latest information, trends and insights on sustainable development and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and...
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EUA and fellow stakeholders call on EU Commission to strengthen SDG strategy
News
18 Dec 2019On 18 December, 27 organisations – including EUA – have called on the European Commission to strengthen its strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, members of the European Commission’s SDG Stakeholder Platform call for an...
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Free to think 2019: new report from Scholars at Risk analyses attacks on...
Partners news
29 Nov 2019EUA partner Scholars at Risk (SAR) released the report Free to Think 2019 analysing 324 attacks on higher education communities in 56 countries between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019. The report draws on data from SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project to identify trends related to...
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GUNi presents publication “Implementing the SDGs at Higher Education...
Partners news
14 Oct 2019The Global University Network for innovation (GUNi) presented their latest publication, "Implementing the 2030 Agenda at Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Responses", on 3 and 4 October during the second meeting of the GUNi Group of Experts on SDGs and Higher Education in...
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UNESCO ICT in Education Prize – Call for nominations 2019
Partners news
18 Sep 2019The UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of ICT in Education recognises innovative approaches in leveraging new technologies to expand educational and lifelong learning opportunities. This year’s deadline for applications is 31 October, while the award ceremony will be held in...
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Sustainable development in the European Union — Overview of progress towards...
External resource
3 Jul 2019 view more -
EUA addresses Sustainable Development Goals in Asia-Europe dialogue on higher...
News
16 May 2019The 7th Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC7) took place in Bucharest, Romania from 11 to 15 May. The Conference, entitled “Higher Education taking Action Towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Perspectives from Asia and...
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Universities and Sustainable Development Towards the Global Goals
Briefing
3 Dec 2018Sustainable development is crucial to the future of Europe and the entire planet. The framework of...
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International Higher Education Declaration to Support the Implementation of...
External resource
15 Nov 2018 view more -
Europe moving towards a sustainable future
External resource
15 Oct 2018 view more -
New interactive Eurostat publication on the Sustainable Development Goals
Partners news
25 Sep 2018Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has released a new interactive publication on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This publication aims to help EU citizens understand the meaning of these 17 goals and invites them to explore and evaluate the situation of their...
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New interactive Eurostat publication on SDGs
External resource
20 Sep 2018 view more -
Reminder: Help EUA advocate for Erasmus+ grants for international talent with...
News
18 Jan 2018EUA Members and partners are invited to voice their support and to provide feedback on a draft advocacy proposal to the EU to establish a specific grant under the Erasmus+ programme for support of the placement of scholars and students with international protection status at European higher...
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Higher education cooperation for development and the Sustainable Development...
News
19 Oct 2017On 18 October, EUA and EARMA, the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators, co-organised a seminar entitled “Higher education cooperation for development and Sustainable Development Goals: Meeting global and regional challenges”. The seminar was hosted by MEP Bogdan Wenta at...
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Female university leadership in Europe
News
8 Mar 2017EUA has updated its latest data on women in leadership positions in Europe’s universities. The...
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More women become university leaders - equality still far away
News
13 May 2016EUA has updated its latest data on women in leadership positions within Europe’s universities. The...
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Expert voices
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2020: When strong universities are needed even more
13 Jan 2020A new year brings new opportunities to address global challenges. EUA President Michael Murphy...
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Recognition going global
12 Nov 2019The Global Convention on Recognition will provide a strong instrument for higher education...
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Doctoral education and the Sustainable Development Goals
21 Jun 2019Doctoral education has a major role to play in the achievement of the Sustainable Development...
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Why smart universities care about sustainable development
16 May 2019Why should sustainable development be on universities’ agendas? Monika Skadborg from the European...
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Universities move to achieve the SDGs – and approach the next hurdle
16 May 2019Universities have a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and it is clear that...
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Projects
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Refugees Welcome Map
An inventory of higher education supporting refugees.
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UNI-SET
Mobilising the research, innovation and educational capacities of Europe's universities in the SET-Plan The UNI-SET (UNIversities in the SET-Plan) project aims to mobilise European universities to...
