Special session
Universities as leaders for sustainable development – practices from different regions of Europe
in cooperation with the Baltic University Programme
within
2nd Scientific Conference from the series "Universities facing challenges of sustainable development"
under the patronage of Her Magnificence the Rector of the University of Lodz
April 9, 2024 | MS Teams
Topics and purpose of the special session
The purpose of organizing the special session is to review activities and good practices in relation to how universities are involved in the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by United Nations. We want to find out if it concerns only educational and scientific research activities, or is it also related to the reorganization of universities' own practices in the sphere sustainable management of natural resources, shaping an environmentally friendly environment and applying inclusive social practices?
In particular, we are interested in the issue of creating universities as leaders in activities for sustainable development in local and regional socio-economic systems. We assume that academic institutions can and should be, as it were, natural facilitators of the processes of green transformation of modern societies and economies, ensuring in particular the transfer of knowledge for practical applications for the implementation of sustainable development within cities, local communities and other organisations.
Taking into account over thirty years of practice in promoting the idea of sustainable development, we would like to compare the practices and activities in this field of universities from Baltic countries with the experiences of other European countries.
We would like to invite you to submit applications for the conference and propose that the topics of the presentation focus on the following questions:
- How are sustainable development issues included in the university's development strategy? Does the university have a separate strategy for sustainable development and or detailed action programs for specific goals?
- Which of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals are universities most likely to take action on?
- Do universities have formalized and certified environmental management systems or other standards, or are environmental management procedures rather less formalized?
- How does the university motivate the academic community to take actions for sustainable development?
- Did the involvement of the academic community in activities aimed at implementing the Sustainable Development Goals require any special initiatives to raise awareness? How were they organized?
- How does the university communicate its commitment to sustainable development and how does it use it for promotional purposes?
- How does the university cooperate with external stakeholders to implement sustainable development goals, e.g. with the local community, local and/or regional authorities, entrepreneurs?
Information related to the organization of the session
This special session is organized as a joint venture of the Centre for Sustainable Development Studies from the Faculty of Management of the University of Lodz and the Baltic University Programme (BUP) and is intended to be part of a series of events related to the Polish Presidency in the BUP.
The session is part of the second Scientific Conference from the series “Universities facing challenges of sustainable development” organized by the Centre for Sustainable Development Studies.
We invite representatives from all universities included in the Baltic University Programme, as well as representatives of universities of the UNIC alliance (European University of Post-Industrial Cities), of which the University of Lodz is a part, to participate in the session.
Date and place of the special session
The special session will take place on April 9, 2024, at 11:45 – 13:15 in an online formula using the MS Teams application.
The link to the special session will be sent to participants by e-mail at a later date.
Registration for participation in the session
Participation in the session is free of charge.
The organizers kindly invite you to submit applications for conference presentations. Estimated time for the presentation (approx. 15 minutes). Passive participation in the session (without presentation) is also possible.
We kindly invite to register participation via the electronic form in the MS Office 365 Forms application by March 22, 2024.
Registration form – link:
Organizing committee and contact
Members of the Centre for Sustainable Development Studies at the Faculty of Management, University of Lodz as well as the Academic P2P Collaboration Network for the SDGs (U2 SDGs) are involved in the work on organizing the conference and special session.
Contact to the organizers: Dominik Drzazga, Ph.D. Assistant professor | Department of City and Regional Management, Faculty of Management, University of Lodz, POLAND | e-mail: dominik.drzazga@uni.lodz.pl