Sustainability and Sustainable Development at Universities in Spain: Challenges and Opportunities

•    Prof. Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DL, DLitt) Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
•    Salvador Ruiz de Maya (BBA, Ms in Intnal Trade, PhD) University of Murcia (Spain)
•    Longinos Marín Rives (BBA, PhD) University of Murcia (Spain)
•    Pedro J. Cuestas Díaz (BBA, Ms in Intnal Trade, PhD) University of Murcia (Spain)

The objectives of the Symposium are:

• a) to promote the importance of the topic sustainability in research and study programmes at higher education institutions in Spain;
• b) to provide a platform for universities to share successful initiatives in respect of research and teaching in these areas, and promote good practice. Sharing successful case studies and innovative practices from universities in Spain and beyond will provide attendees with practical examples and inspiration. These examples can serve as models for other institutions aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts;
• c) to encourage partnerships between universities, industry experts, and government bodies working in this field.

The event also aims to motivate universities to implement new, effective teaching and research initiatives which may foster a better awareness among students on the many opportunities offered by the inclusion of a sustainability dimension in university programmes.

The Symposium will be of special interest to academics, researchers, administrators, policy-makers, and students, who will explore together the critical role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable development. The focus is on how universities can integrate sustainability into their curricula, research, operations, and community engagement to foster a more sustainable future.

The Symposium  is hosted by the University of Murcia, Spain. It is organised by theEuropean School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), theInter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) , the European North American Sustainability Research Consortium (ENASRC) and the University of Murcia, Spain, which is hosting it, in cooperation with other organisations.

The Symposium “Sustainability and Sustainable Development at Universities in Spain: Challenges and Opportunities” aspires to be a transformative event that not only educates and inspires but also ignites action.

We expect contributions to be around one or more of the following topics.
1.    Curriculum Development for Sustainability:

• Strategies for integrating sustainability into undergraduate and post-graduate programmes.
• Developing interdisciplinary courses and programmes focused on sustainable development.

2.    Sustainable Campus Operations:

• Best practices in energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and sustainable transportation.
• Case studies of universities that have successfully implemented sustainable campus initiatives.

3.    Research and Innovation for Sustainability:

• Encouraging and supporting sustainability-focused research projects.
• Bridging the gap between academic research and practical implementation.

4.    Community Engagement and Outreach:

• Universities’ roles in promoting sustainability in their local communities.
• Partnerships with local governments, businesses, and civil society organizations.

5.    Policy and Governance for Sustainability:

• Institutional policies and governance structures that support sustainability.
• Role of university leadership in driving the sustainability agenda.

Other themes are also welcome, and the organising team welcomes suggestions.
The topics discussed in the Symposium aim to foster a rich dialogue that bridges the gap between theory and practice, and fostering more sustainable practices.

Colleagues interested to contribute to the event should send an abstract of 200 words, including the title of the contribution and the full contact details of the authors, to: info (at) iccip (dot) net 

The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 20th January 2025. Please note that the deadline for the submission of abstracts is not the date they are due. Rather, this is the last possible date. Therefore, in order to avoid possible disappointments, colleagues are kindly requested to consider sending their abstracts as soon as possible.

Papers admitted to the event and presented on it, may be submitted to theInternational Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (IJSHE),  the leading peer-reviewed journal on sustainability in a higher education context. Launched in the year 2000, IJSHE has documented the evolution of the debate on sustainable development at universities in an unrivalled manner, and most researchers active on the topic, have published their papers there.  All papers submitted to the journal will be subjected to peer-review. The papers may be submitted after the event, with 10th September 2025 as the deadline.

Registrations are now open and will close on 30th April 2025. Delegates whose abstracts have been selected, will be sent the details on how to register.

A registration fee of Euro 290 will be charged to delegates, to offset some of the preparation costs. It includes the coffee breaks and lunches on the 2 days.  Invoices will be sent to the registered delegates, using the information provided during the registration.

All questions related to scientific inputs and strategic partnerships should be sent to:
Professor Walter Leal  (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DEd, DLitt, FSB, FRGS, FLS)
European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR)
info (at) iccip (dot) net

and to:
Pedro J. Cuestas Díaz (BBA, Ms in Intnal Trade, PhD) University of Murcia (Spain)
pcuestas (at) um (dot) es