The League of European Research Universities analyses the presence of sustainable development in the academic offer of the universities

News | Research | Academic | Sustainability
(09/05/2024)
The League of European Research Universities (LERU) has recently released a report highlighting its role in sustainable development in its member universities, particularly in the field of education. The document, titled “How to enhance education for sustainable development”, analyses university experiences in implementing sustainable development in their strategic plans.
News | Research | Academic | Sustainability
09/05/2024
The League of European Research Universities (LERU) has recently released a report highlighting its role in sustainable development in its member universities, particularly in the field of education. The document, titled “How to enhance education for sustainable development”, analyses university experiences in implementing sustainable development in their strategic plans.
Responding to the global challenges outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a matter of great urgency, and universities contribute to this process of social transformation. Education in sustainable development is intimately linked with advanced research, to ensure that students both acquire the conceptual knowledge about sustainable development and learn how scientific disciplines can contribute to sustainable solutions.
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The LERU publication showcases universities’ success stories in sustainable development education in four areas:
  • Strategies for sustainable development in education.
  • Trends in the development of university bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes on sustainability.
  • Activities and courses for students on sustainable development.
  • Continuous training for technical, management, administration and services staff (PTGAS) and teaching and research staff (PDI).
The UB excels in the inclusion of sustainable development in its bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes and in staff training.

Examples from the UB

In the publication, the University of Barcelona is recognised as a benchmark in the inclusion of sustainable development in its bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. Specifically, the Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences, the Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Global Change and the CHARM-EU Master’s Degree in Global Challenges for Sustainability, coordinated by the UB, stand out. In total, the UB has twenty bachelor's and master's degree programmes in which sustainable development plays a key role.

On the other hand, it is crucial to “train those who train” in education in sustainable development, as recognised by the LERU, and that is why the UB organises training courses in this area aimed at PDI and PTGAS. The Institute for Professional Development (IDP) programmes an annual course to train teachers in sustainability, while the PTGAS has among its training offerings round tables on the SDGs.

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