Environmental Unit
Institute of Education Sciences
UFASU
Centre for Development Cooperation
The UPV assumed the integration of the SDGs in its policies in 2015. As a preliminary step to the preparation of a strategic planning according to the new challenges that this one proposes, a training program, addressed to the entire university community, was structured that contemplated different phases and led by the Centre for Development Cooperation
In the first phase, it was decided to train the teaching and research staff through the Institute of Education Sciences in order to know and understand first-hand the nature of the SDGs in the framework of the 2030 International Development Agenda, as well as its connection with learnings, contents and academic programs in the University. In this sense, the teaching staff has been able to identify strategies that allow them to incorporate the SDGs in university teaching and rethink, from the experience, whether future UPV graduates will have the necessary skills to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
In a second phase, a massive free online course was offered (https://www.edx.org/es/course/ods-en-la-agenda-2030-de-las-naciones-unidas-retos-de-los-objetivos-de-desarrollo-sostenible-2) about the Challenges of the SDGs in the current panorama of cooperation for development addressed to the University community but also to the NGDOs and other public administrations staff. This course is part of a joint collaboration experience between five Spanish universities. The course is always open and is self-pace.
In this training offer, great topics are addressed in a more specific way, ranging from the 2030 Agenda, international cooperation for development in the current panorama of the new Development Agenda, ethics in front of global challenges and challenges in global and local governance. The course ended with practical examples of implementation.
The third phase offers an on-line course addressed at all the Administration and Services staff of the UPV with the aim that they can incorporate the content and discourse of the 2030 Agenda in their workspaces. For this, all the parts that integrate the 2030 Agenda are analysed, the international and institutional process that has led to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda is announced, and a space for debate is created for the generation of critical thinking and exchange of opinions among the staff of the UPV.
The last phase of this initiative is a compulsory course offered to all students of the university with two objectives: make the 2030 Agenda known to UPV students and provide a space for debate, generation of critical thinking and exchange of views among students on global development.
– Debate on sustainable human development in undergraduate and master academic projects incorporated. From the 2019-2020 academic year, it will be necessary to establish links of these academic works with the SDGs.
– Teaching and research staff committed to carry out a teaching and research activity in line with the challenges of global development.
– Contribute to the sustainable management of their university campus
– Creation of a Commission in the Governing Body to monitoring the 2030 Agenda
– The MOOC course of the EdX platform has been studied by more than 5,000 people; he online course for UPV staff has been done by 980 workers; more than 50 UPV teachers have participated in the on-site courses on the SDGs; and from next year it is expected that all the students who enrol in the UPV must do an introductory course on the ODS (about 5000 students/year are enrolled)
The training program revolves around the five central axes of the 2030 Agenda: the PLANET, PEOPLE, PROSPERITY, PEACE AND ALLIANCES.
Training the entire university community in the framework of the new international agenda means a new challenge for the university to eradicate poverty, extend access to human rights and achieve a sustainable global economic development that respects the planet and the resources that offers through a committed training and research and a management in accordance with the challenges of development.
After the experience, the university community has understood that without the commitment of all the people who work or study in the university it is not possible to achieve a sustainable development.
The program has had a wide institutional support. However, it is necessary to continue working to improve some aspects such as:
– The need to have innovative tools and instruments that help bring the debate of the SDGs to the classroom and to the academic works
– Provide a greater impulse to the research associated with the SDGs.
– Increase the culture of participation in the university community so that in the area of management can be implemented innovative initiatives around the sustainable management of resources on campus.
