The University of Warsaw and Charles University in Prague have recently developed strategies to integrate sustainable development into all areas of university activities. To reflect on their implementation, the two universities carried out a project in 2024, which was supported by a CA Cooperation Fund. The aim was to raise students' awareness of the sustainability strategies of both universities and to involve them in sustainable development processes in this context.
The University of Warsaw and Charles University in Prague are two major universities in the capitals of geopolitically close countries. Recently, these universities have developed strategies to integrate sustainable development into all areas of university activities (University of Warsaw in 2021 and Charles University in 2023). To reflect on their implementation, the two universities carried out a series of activities throughout the year 2024. The aim was to raise students' awareness of the sustainability strategies of both universities and to involve them in sustainable development processes in this context.
Several activities were jointly prepared with the students, including group discussions, mind mapping, answering Slido questions and, most importantly, a survey, which was developed similarly for students from both cultural backgrounds and translated into local languages. The students provided feedback in different formats (written text, pictures, mind maps), which showed their low awareness of the university's commitments. The interest in receiving relevant information and developing expertise on sustainability aspects of their disciplines was high, while commitment to individual action was almost non-existent. Emerging, often innovative, ideas indicated students' potential to be involved in the sustainability transformation of university management practices, but an official framework for their activities is urgently needed. It was concluded that student empowerment to initiate incremental change is still low and should be encouraged through appropriate lectures, courses or coordinated practical actions, some of which are currently being initiated at both universities.
The results of the project have been presented at the 2024 Higher Education Summit, a paper will follow.
