SDSN Italy Publishes the Italian Translation of the two SDSN SDG Guides for Universities
On December 20, 2021, SDSN Italia and the Italian University Network for Sustainable Development (RUS) launched the new translated publication, 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Guide for Universities, Higher Education Institutions, and the Academic Sector.
The Italian translation is the first publication to combine the two guides released by the SDSN - “Getting Started with the SDGs in Universities” (2017) and “Accelerating Education for the SDGs in Universities” (2020) – available also in Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese.
Both guides aim to inspire and empower universities, colleges, and tertiary and higher education institutions to help learners develop the necessary knowledge, skills and mindsets to solve the world’s sustainable development challenges.
The first publication, Getting Started with the SDGs in Universities: a guide for universities, higher education institutions, and the academic sector was produced by the SDSN Regional Network for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, in collaboration with the Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS), the global SDSN, and Australian and New Zealand universities. The guide explains why universities are crucial for the achievement of the SDGs, and the significant benefits to universities from contributing to the 2030 Agenda. Compiling resources and experiences from academic stakeholders, it offers guidance to universities to engage with the SDGs through their core functions of education, research, operations, and external leadership.
The second guide, Accelerating Education for the SDGs in Universities: a guide for universities, colleges, and tertiary and higher education institutions , was produced by the SDSN Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific, the Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), and Monash University, and includes contributions from dozens of universities and higher education institutions around the world. This resource focuses on how universities and higher education institutions can contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda by harnessing their learning and teaching functions to provide “Education for the SDGs”.
Supported by the Italian University Network for Sustainable Development (RUS), SDSN Italia has created a single edition of the SDSN’s guides with the aim of promoting their content and facilitating their understanding, dissemination, and use at the national level in Italy.
This guide is intended for individuals and groups of people seeking to implement a coordinated approach to the Sustainable Development Goals in their campuses, as well as anyone who can contribute or influence the implementation of the “Education for the SDGs” in the higher education sector.
“With this guide, SDSN Italia aims to encourage the efforts of the academic sector towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at a crucial time for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We are, in fact, in the UN Decade of Action and the pandemic, the climate crisis, and the increasing inequalities are forcing us to implement transformative actions for a more environmentally sustainable and inclusive development. Universities can play a strategic role both in educating new generations and in inspiring joint actions at the local level."
Sabina Ratti, Chair of SDSN Italy
“ In their dual role of agents of change and subjects of change, universities need to make a fundamental contribution to raising awareness about sustainable development. Many universities are already adopting the SDGs as a framework for measuring their ability to make a positive impact in a rapidly changing society. However, the extent of this change is so great that it requires a faster pace, and a radical transformation. This guide is a precious tool in this direction. "
Patrizia Lombardi, President of the RUS Coordination Committee
Click here to access the Italian translation of the guide.
SDSN Italy is one of the national networks of the SDSN, hosted by Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) and the Santa Chiara Lab Research & Innovation Centre of the University of Siena. The main goal of the Italian network is to support knowledge and increase awareness about the 2030 Agenda in Italy, by promoting interaction between academic institutions, research centres, businesses, and civil society associations. In collaboration with SDSN Mediterranean, SDSN Europe and other organizations, including the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS) and RUS, SDSN Italia operates mainly through education, research, innovation, and training, to develop professional skills in the sustainability sector.
RUS is a network working under the auspices of the Conference of Italian University Rectors. Its aim is to coordinate the efforts of universities around environmental sustainability and social responsibility as well as to share the Italian experience with the rest of the world. The RUS’ purpose is to promote the 17 Global Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to spread good practices, skills, and experiences within Universities and to strengthen environmental, ethical, social, and economic actions within the academic sector. The RUS is organized into working groups with specific focuses on climate change, food, education, energy, inclusion and social justice, mobility, resources, and waste.
