On December 23, 2024, the International Relations Department joined an international webinar dedicated to the topic of implementing sustainable development principles in university activities. The event brought together representatives of educational institutions, sustainability experts, and Erasmus+ program participants from different countries.
The main goal of the event is to discuss strategies and challenges towards implementing "green" initiatives in universities that will contribute to the sustainable development of higher education.
Dr. Alfonso Marsal Reynolds, a sustainability expert from the University of Extremadura (Spain), spoke at the meeting. He shared the experience of European universities in implementing environmental projects that help reduce environmental impact and raise environmental awareness among students and faculty.
Key discussion topics included:
- Fundamentals of sustainable development: definition of sustainability criteria and goals, analysis of successful EU projects.
- Approaches to implementing “green” strategies in European universities.
- Challenges that arise when engaging communities in environmental initiatives.
- Presentation of the EUGREEN alliance, which unites European universities for cooperation in the field of sustainable development.
Particular attention was paid to the discussion of the challenges facing universities, including the lack of student involvement in environmental initiatives and the need to adapt infrastructure and curricula.
For Khmelnytskyi National University, this topic is extremely important, as our institution participates in the NAWA project “Green Transition in Ukrainian Universities”. The experience of European colleagues and practical recommendations received during the event will help the university actively implement environmental initiatives and promote the sustainable development of education in Ukraine.
The event ended with an exchange of views and feedback from participants, who highly appreciated the relevance of the topic and the opportunity to learn about the experience of European universities in this area.
The webinar became a platform for exchanging ideas, inspiring universities in Erasmus+ partner countries to take active steps in implementing "green" initiatives aimed at creating a sustainable future.