UPWr and EU GREEN as Examples of Good Practices in the EUA Report

The European University Association (EUA) is the largest organization representing European universities, comprising over 850 universities and national rectors' conferences from 49 countries. With over 19 million students across its member institutions, the EUA plays a pivotal role in the Bologna Process and influences EU policies on higher education, research, and innovation.

The European Green Deal is one of the areas addressed by the EUA, ensuring that universities' contributions to green transformation extend beyond scientific and educational dimensions. This requires engagement, coordination based on target groups, and the promotion of actions to enhance the impact and visibility of universities in the pursuit of a climate-neutral, environmentally sustainable, and socially just Europe.

The report "A Green Deal Roadmap for Universities" provides directions and a catalog of good practices to assist these efforts.

– It's primarily an inspiration and an example of how universities can tackle climate and environmental challenges. Being invited to participate in discussions on the role of universities in green transformation is a significant honor – says Prof. Szymon Szewrański, who participated in programmatic discussions on the roadmap at the European University Association.

The EU GREEN project, an international initiative in collaboration with nine other regional universities from France, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Italy, is highlighted in the report. The project's strategic goal is to establish a European center for education, research, and innovation in sustainable development, extending beyond the consortium's borders and operating globally to provide local or regional solutions replicable globally.

Our Response to the Green Deal

The EU GREEN's stated goal, outlined in the application, is to raise awareness of the role of regional universities as key stakeholders in the Green Deal.

– In the case of our university, activities in agriculture or clean energy seem obvious. However, we actively work towards a just transformation, ensuring that within the EU GREEN activities, it includes providing access to education through lifelong learning opportunities, including refresher courses and soon, the possibility of obtaining micro-credentials, access to online materials such as MOOCs, or entire modules dedicated to sustainable development – says Paulina Zaweracz, project manager for EU GREEN at UPWr.

She emphasizes that the consortium's goals align directly with the guidelines outlined by the EUA. As part of the developed Education Strategy, experts from nine member countries are devising cutting-edge solutions, ensuring the creation of a set of Graduate Attributes that respond to the Green Deal's requirements in terms of knowledge, skills, social competencies, values, and attitudes.

– It's gratifying to know that the tasks defined in EU GREEN and the goals set before us are recognized and distinguished as examples of good practices. It confirms that the path we have chosen is the right one, leading to our goal. UPWr, as part of EU GREEN, is keeping up with the times and following the most current trends and prevailing policies – adds Paulina Zaweracz.

• 

  UPWr's success in two international rankings

  Securing the top spot in Poland for Food Science & Technology in the Shanghai Ranking and clinching the second position in the industry indicator for the Veterinary Science discipline in THE WUR by subject are just a couple of examples highlighting UPWr's noteworthy successes on the global stage.

• 

  Agenda 2030: Tasks and Goals

  The Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations are all about research, initiatives, and actions, but also about changes in attitudes that aim to stop the negative results of human civilization.