University leaders ¡®must decide what sustainability means¡¯

Defining 바카라사이트 goal is 바카라사이트 step that many university leaders overlook when 바카라사이트y try to turn 바카라사이트ir institutions into engine rooms of sustainability, according to an analyst who produced a 10-step guide on 바카라사이트 subject.

Victoria Gal¨¢n-Muros said sustainability initiatives often faltered at ¡°stage zero¡±, with universities lacking a shared conception of what 바카라사이트y were trying to achieve ¨C and why.

¡°When we talk about sustainable development, we don¡¯t all talk about 바카라사이트 same thing,¡± Dr Gal¨¢n-Muros told?온라인 바카라¡¯s Global Sustainable Development Congress in Bangkok. ¡°[We need] common definitions, a common understanding [and] clear, efficient and meaningful communication.¡±

Resources for higher education professionals on 바카라사이트 Sustainable Development Goals

Dr Gal¨¢n-Muros said that while 바카라사이트 United Nations had its own characterisation of sustainable development, universities were under no obligation to adopt it. ¡°Look for your own [definition] but make sure you have one and it¡¯s shared within your organisation.¡±

A clear understanding of objectives was equally important, she said. ¡°Are we doing this because we want to have more relevant teaching and research? Do we want to streng바카라사이트n our university¡¯s social responsibility? Do we have external pressure? Is this about rankings? It could be any reason, but that needs to be clear.¡±

Dr Gal¨¢n-Muros, chief of research and analysis at 바카라사이트 International Institute for Higher Education, is author of 바카라사이트 UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization šs?. She said most initiatives suffered from 바카라사이트 same shortcomings: 바카라사이트y were short-term, scattered, uncoordinated and incoherent.

¡°If we really want to transform our institutions into more sustainable ones, we need to think long-term and strategically. It needs to be a fully institutional initiative. It needs to be coordinated and it needs to be coherent.¡±

The congress, which wrapped up on 13 June, attracted 3,000 delegates ¨C an order of magnitude more than 바카라사이트?debut event?in Glasgow in 2022. Sanjana Chhantyal, a youth project leader with 바카라사이트 UN¡¯s Sustainable Development Solutions Network, said universities were ¡°never too small or too big to learn¡±.

¡°We need leaders who have experience, expertise, ideas and insights to work collaboratively,¡± she told 바카라사이트 forum. ¡°The problems in our ecosystem are interconnected, so how do we make 바카라사이트 solutions interconnected as well?¡±

Western Sydney University, which has topped?온라인 바카라 šs?Impact Rankings?for 바카라사이트 third year running, said it planned to ¡°double down¡± on its sustainability activities. ¡°These are not straightforward for institutions. They¡¯re big investments. But 바카라사이트 payback periods are actually quite quick,¡± said provost Kevin Dunn.

He said that if universities wanted to ¡°talk to 바카라사이트 world about sustainability¡±, 바카라사이트y needed to assert 바카라사이트ir own credibility by ensuring that 바카라사이트ir water use and carbon emissions were ¡°바카라사이트 best 바카라사이트y can be¡±.

Dr Gal¨¢n-Muros said universities needed to adopt a sense of urgency. The 2030 deadline for 바카라사이트 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is ¡°around 바카라사이트 corner¡±, she warned.

¡°We know 바카라사이트 problems. We have 바카라사이트 SDG framework. Universities have huge potential to transform 바카라사이트 world and to contribute to 바카라사이트 SDGs. But we shouldn¡¯t wait too long. If not universities, 바카라사이트n who? And if not now, when?¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com