Societies need global transformation and clear commitment to sustainable development, the reduction of social inequalities and the improvement of living conditions at local and global levels. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a response to this need: a universal, ambitious, sustainable development agenda involving education, health, environment, industry, justice, governance and cities, among others.
Challenges such as health and demographic change, food safety, quality education for all, safe and clean water, green and energy-efficient sources, climate change, and inclusive and secure communities need the engagement of universities and the higher education community in general to respond on global and local levels. On the one hand, universities need to help to find solutions and transfer knowledge to tackle the global challenges faced by our world (and summarized by the SDGs) and on the other hand, they need to engage with their communities and foster the economic, social and cultural development of their nation, region or society.
It is in this framework that GUNi - as a network of higher education institutions, UNESCO Chairs and research centres seeking to inform policymaking- adopted a strategic line of action around the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs with a focus on partnerships, knowledge and research. Its main activities include the GUNi International Conferences on Sustainable Development Goals, a leading international meeting for analysis and debate between all national and international stakeholders, and most especially universities, governments, cities and public agencies.
Why Barcelona?
Barcelona is one of the most exciting cosmopolitan hubs in the world and it has a long history in hosting major international conferences. It is also home to several international organizations. Barcelona is a prominent example of a city becoming more global, multicultural, sustainable and smart. A referent in the Mediterranean, it appears to be the perfect place to debate Sustainable Development Goals both at the local and the global levels.
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Download Call for Contributions (pdf file)
For this 2nd GUNi International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) we welcome any contributions that present scientific research, innovative practices, projects, programmes and initiatives that demonstrate how higher education institutions are working towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Specifically, we would like to invite applications that put the spotlight on activities designed to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and their achievement in teaching, research, institutional policies, third mission and student initiatives at higher education institutions. We encourage practices that involve collaboration with other institutions and organisations. We welcome applications from different countries, contexts and disciplines.
The different categories of this Call are as follows:
-Teaching
-Research (experiences and specific research on SDGs and sustainable development)
-Institutional policies
-Third mission
-Student initiatives
Evaluation Committee
The evaluation committee will review all abstracts received for each category and session type. The evaluation committee is formed by the Group of Experts on SDGs and Higher Education with support from the GUNi Secretariat and GUNi Regional Offices.
Method for participation
The 2nd GUNi International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has three different types of deliveries:
- Panel sessions (2-3 speakers on a similar topic)
- Poster applications for a poster session, which will be ongoing throughout the conferences
- Speed-dating session, which will introduce initiatives in the form of an elevator-ride pitch (3 min) to a small group of people
Based on the authors' preferences and the accepted proposals, contributions will be allocated to either the panel sessions, the speed-dating session or as poster presentations.
Key dates
- Opening of period for submission: 29th April 2019
- Deadline for submission: 15th September 2019 (23:59 ECT)
- Notification of acceptance/rejection: November 2019
Rules for submission
1. Participants are invited to submit contributions for either poster or verbal presentation.
2. Based on the authors' preferences and the accepted proposals, contributions will be allocated to the panel sessions, the speed-dating session or as poster presentations.
3. The verbal presentation can either be a simple spoken intervention or can be conducted with the help of visual aids, handouts and similar.
4. Abstracts should be written in English using a clear style. Max. 2,000 characters.
5. We recommend that abstracts should be carefully drafted and thoroughly checked before submission, in particular the list of authors, to avoid last minute changes.
6. Abstracts must be submitted
a. by e-mail to: info@guninetwork.org
b. with the title of the abstract as the subject of the e-mail
c. in the template provided here
7. The submission of an abstract carries with it the obligation that it will actually presented at the conference by the author or, at least, by one of the co-authors, provided that the abstract is finally accepted.
8. Notification of acceptance or rejection by the Scientific Committee will be mailed to the submitting author to the given e-mail address by November 2019.
9. Accepted abstracts will be published electronically as a single volume on the GUNi website.
