Embedding sustainability in higher education

Free Webinar: Thursday 26 June. 16:00 BST

With the 2030 deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) looming and global challenges intensifying, the role of higher education in advancing sustainability has become urgent. Learn about ways of embedding sustainability in teaching and learning across the university, in a free webinar with international experts.

The experts will explore how individual academics, staff and universities can become agents for sustainable change in the webinar titled “Time to Act: Embedding sustainability in higher education”. The webinar is co-hosted by University World News and ABET, the United States-based but global operating quality assurance and accreditation agency.

Panelists so far include Professor Fernando Reimers of Harvard University, an expert in education policy, global education and education for sustainability; Dr Debra Rowe, president of the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development; and Dr Ratna Lindawati Lubis, a professor at Telkom University in Indonesia and an entrepreneurship education expert.

Moderated by Brendan O’Malley, editor-in-chief of University World News, the experts will explore a range of questions.

For instance: How might faculty embed sustainability knowledge and skills into existing curricula and courses, equipping students with awareness of sustainability issues and preparing them with the skills to become sustainability drivers in the future workforce? And how might university leaders and staff advance an institution-wide focus on sustainability through policies, strategies, training and support? What are the good practice examples?

The webinar will debate how universities – under increasing pressure to align with global sustainability targets – can act now to embed sustainability as a core institutional value rather than an add-on, and support faculty in their sustainability efforts. The discussion will include insights into balancing global frameworks like the SDGs with local relevance, ensuring that sustainability teaching and learning is meaningful and context-specific.

As with all University World News webinars, the aim will be to combine high-level debate with practical guidance. Participants will come away with real-world examples, ideas and approaches that academics can apply directly to their own teaching and curriculum design – whether they’re new to sustainability or already engaging with it in their work.

The webinar will be held on Thursday 26 June at: 8.00am LA, 11am NYC, 4pm London, 5pm Cape Town and 8.30pm Delhi.

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Speakers

Professor Fernando M Reimers is the Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice of International Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he leads the Global Education Innovation Initiative. He is an expert in the field of education policy, global education, and more latterly on aligning curriculum with the SDGs. Aside from many other prestigious appointments, he is an elected member of the National Academy of Education, the International Academy of Education and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dr Debra Rowe is internationally respected for her work in education and sustainability. She is president of the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, and co-authored the UNEP Global Guidance for Education on Green Jobs. Rowe is a leader of the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), a partnership between 10 United Nations entities and the global higher education community, co-chairing two of its action groups – Education for Green Jobs and its SDG Publishers Compact Fellows programme.

Professor Ratna Lindawati Lubis is a professor of economics and business at Telkom University in West Java, Indonesia, and a fellow of the SDG Publishers Compact of the United Nations’ Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI). She has a PhD in higher education administration and is an expert in entrepreneurship education and strategic management, which she has taught for more than two decades.

Moderator

Brendan O’Malley: Editor-in-chief of University World News.

Duration

60 to 90 minutes.

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