Drivers for Universities’ Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals: An Analysis of Spanish Public Universities

Abstract

Universities have a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), both for implementing active policies and for encouraging other actors to participate. This requires having the skills and mind-sets to contribute to these challenges. The relevance and the commitment of universities to sustainability has led to the inclusion of SDGs in the strategies and agendas of these institutions. This requires the involvement of all the actors and some structural and cultural changes that put SDGs at the core of the governance and management of the university, embracing all the stakeholders. Various internal and external factors may influence the impact and success of the policies and activities aiming at achieving the SDGs, both from an overall perspective and for individual SDGs. This paper assesses the influence of some internal factors, such as the presence of universities on the internet, the level of internationalization or the availability of financial resources. Through both regression analyses and the Gephi method, our results confirm the importance of the presence on the internet, the internationalization of the university and the financial resources for research and infrastructure received from regional governments for Spanish public universities to make a greater contribution to SDGs.

Sustainability and Conflict Management in the University Environment. Analysis of Students of the Degrees in Labour Relations and Human Resources, and Social Work at the University of Granada (Spain)

“…They are therefore central to global sustainable development. In line with this, Blasco, Brusca and Labrador [26]…”

“…They are central to global sustainable development. In line with this, Blasco, Brusca and Labrador [26] state that universities have embraced the SDGs in their research and from multiple perspectives. The transfer of knowledge and pedagogical development involves the inclusion of the SDGs in university curricula and in the teaching guides aimed at academic staff.…”

Reimagining Internationalization in Higher Education Through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for the Betterment of Society

“…We need to keep in mind that not all HEIs operate and internationalize in similar ways, but many of the activities and structures proposed in this article (institutional initiatives, international research and partnerships, mobility, global citizenship education, professional development, and declarations signed through networks or alliances) can be applied to an institution's internationalization efforts and plans (Figure 2). Increasing visibility of an institution on the internet through research and partnerships has shown to be a key determinant of SDGs advancement and has led to increased internationalization, government investment in research and infrastructure, and higher revenues per student (Blasco et al, 2021). These results are not surprising, as internationalization hinges on partnerships abroad and can thrust sustainable development, especially in SDG17 (Partnerships for the Goals).…”

Education for Sustainable Development: A Stakeholder Analysis Between a Chinese and Sino-Foreign University

“…Among a great range of fields involving ESD, this paper focus on the stakeholder analysis in the context of ESD in a typical Chinese university and Sino-foreign university. Universities are leaders in education, research, and innovation [2]. They have a crucial role in promoting students' perception of sustainable development to grow as a sustainable development leader and support the transformation of sustainable societies [3].…”