The second discussion of the G7
university event on June 29-30 in Udine will focus on the
sustainability and universities.
"In order to achieve the objective of a 'global approach to
sustainability', as suggested by UNESCO, universities should
develop special curricular and extracurricular activities, as
well as teaching and research, within environmentally friendly
facilities," reads a document published by Angelo Riccaboni,
Silvia Aru and Cristina Capineri from the University of Siena in
preparation for the discussion 'Education for Sustainability.
Practices, Tools and Solutions'.
Some 150 university rectors, professors and students will be
participating in the G7 Environment, as part of the Italian
'Conoscenza in Festa' knowledge festival.
To stimulate the discussion, the speakers at the Tuscan
university have said that "universities should also strengthen
the link between the world of education and the wider social
context in which they operate."
"The aim would be," they wrote, "to become spaces that
'breathe' sustainability: inclusive, democratic, healthy and
carbon-free spaces for the sake of sustainable development."
The researchers underscored that "there is still a great deal
to be done, even though there are positive signs".
The event - organized by the Italian national university
rectors conference (CRUI) in collaboration with the Friuli
Venezia Giulia regional government, Fondazione Friuli, the
University of Udine and the education ministry - will seek to
illustrate how education as sustainable development can play a
decisive role "both in the achievement of sustainable objectives
and in the implementation of Agenda 2030".
The coordinators said that "as a result, courses, master
classes, and massive online courses are springing up everywhere,
alongside a network of diverse key inter-governmental,
institutional and educational players."
They stressed that "the introduction of sustainability
requires methodological innovations as well".
"At the moment," they said, "we are seeing a transition from
a purely technical perspective to approaches based on practice
and oriented towards the search for concrete solutions. This
highlights the importance of interdisciplinary and participative
pedagogies, enabling students to contribute in diverse ways to
the building of a safer, greener and more equal planet for all."
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