A Holistic Approach to Integrate and Evaluate Sustainable Development in Higher Education. The Case Study of the University of the Basque Country

Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara, Idoia Fernández and Nekane Castillo-Eguskitza
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Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara: Vice-Rectorate of Innovation, Social Commitment and Cultural Action of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, 48940 Bizkaia, Spain
Idoia Fernández: Vice-Rectorate of Innovation, Social Commitment and Cultural Action of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, 48940 Bizkaia, Spain
Nekane Castillo-Eguskitza: Vice-Rectorate of Innovation, Social Commitment and Cultural Action of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, 48940 Bizkaia, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Since the United Nations (UN) approved the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in 2015, higher education institutions have increasingly demonstrated their commitment by supporting several initiatives. Although a great deal of progress has been made, there is still a lack of integrative approaches to truly implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education. This paper presents a practical case that illustrates how to design and articulate SDGs within an institutional setting adopting a holistic approach: EHUagenda 2030 plan of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). It is based on empirical inquiry into global and holistic sustainable transformation and a real experience to move towards a verifiable and pragmatic contribution to sustainability. This plan describes the contribution to 12 of the 17 SDGs, along with three sectorial plans (Equality Campus, Inclusion Campus and Planet Campus), as well as the refocus of the UPV/EHU’s Educational Model and the panel of sustainable development indicators, which addresses the technical aspects of monitoring the SDGs. The methodology (mapping; mainstreaming; diagnosis and definition and, finally, estimation) is systematic and replicable in other universities yet to embark upon this integration. This case study makes a contribution towards the understanding of the complexity of the changes in Higher Education and the ways to approach it.

Keywords: sustainable development goals; university; institutional policy; learning strategy; indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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