Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin-American Universities

Paulo Guilherme Fuchs, Carla Patrícia Finatto, Robert Samuel Birch, Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra and José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra ()
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Paulo Guilherme Fuchs: Federal Institute of Santa Catarina—IFSC, Florianópolis 88075-010, Brazil
Carla Patrícia Finatto: Center for Sustainable Development (Greens), University of Southern Santa Catarina—UNISUL, Florianópolis 88015-010, Brazil
Robert Samuel Birch: Center for Sustainable Development (Greens), University of Southern Santa Catarina—UNISUL, Florianópolis 88015-010, Brazil
Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra: Center for Sustainable Development (Greens), University of Southern Santa Catarina—UNISUL, Florianópolis 88015-010, Brazil
José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra: Center for Sustainable Development (Greens), University of Southern Santa Catarina—UNISUL, Florianópolis 88015-010, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: Higher education institutions (HEIs) are notable promoters of sustainable development (SD). Thus, it is understood that the sustainable development goals 2015–2030 (SDGs) need to be substantially operationalized in these institutions. Based on this idea, the QualEnv (quality and environment) consortium of universities stands out for having as its main objective the increase in contribution to sustainable development (SD) by universities through the implementation of systematic environmental practices and quality processes in line with the SDGs. The objective of this article is to present how the QualEnv consortium of HEIs adopts the SDGs and demonstrates their contribution to SD. For this purpose, a qualitative analysis was performed based on documentary research, a systematic review of the literature, and notes collected from participant observations. The results show that the adoption of the SDGs in the QualEnv consortium was enhanced by the contribution of the social relations within the partnership, which promoted the exchange of experiences and synergy between participants that promoted improvements in the necessary strategies. Along with the highlighted actions and concentration of different axes with dispersed interventions, a potential for central cohesion and focus on evolution in each SDG was noted. The adoption of the same indicators involves the unification of the actions planned for the SD and the common objective of involving communities more consistently, which impacts mainly SDG 04. This article discusses the practical implications in HEIs and the need to integrate the SDGs into their activities, as it demonstrates how universities belonging to the QualEnv consortium have been creating their own strategies to achieve the 2030 agenda and adopt the SDGs.

Keywords: education for sustainable development; sustainable development goals; higher education institutions; university consortium; partnership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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