General Guidelines for the Implementation of Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda is underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are the common goals that humanity has chosen for itself through the agreement of all the United Nations Member States. The SDGs are based on a multidimensional understanding of development, including environmental, social and economic sustainability. The SDGs are a benchmark that countries, individual institutions and civil society can use to guide their efforts towards enduring peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Established in 2015 with a 2030 horizon, we are currently halfway, but the 2023 SDG Report´s review is not positive. Until 2020, the progress was slower than expected and the polycrisis in which we are immersed, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have set back gains made towards realizing the SDGs by decades. Progress is now severely derailed, so the forecast is not promising. It is therefore more important than ever to mobilize attention, take responsibilities and call for increased focus and efforts towards the implementation of the SDGs disseminating this knowledge and technology and establishing alliances with other actors of the Quadruple Helix (governments, industry and societal groups). • The management and administration of the HEIs offers an opportunity to lead by example making governance, strategies and operations more ethical and sustainable. This unique position provides HEIs with a large potential of not only participating in but leading the way towards sustainable economic, social and environmental development. And this potential should be paired with a large responsibility to do the utmost to advance sustainable development. Most HEIs already contribute to the SDGs in different ways and to different extents, but this is often done through scattered initiatives without an overarching approach to sustainability or a sustainability strategy at institutional level. Recently, HEI leaders have an increased interest in better understanding how they can contribute to the SDGs and in gaining knowledge on how to systematize this approach. However, a very small share of HEIs worldwide can afford external guidance of professionals to support them in this process. WHY THESE GUIDELINES? The need of a more rapid progress towards the SDGs, the unique position of HEIs to accelerate this progress and the HEIs leaders´ interests towards sustainability are the base of this document. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide general guidelines for leaders in HEIs to systematize and maximize their institutions’ contributions towards the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. These general guidelines outline the essential elements that can help HEIs systematize their approach and increase their contribution to the SDGs, transforming into more sustainable organizations. These guidelines are a starting point that highlight general steps to consider and high-level actions to lead a change towards sustainability within HEIs. These guidelines will b