Articles

Transforming universities: Service-Learning as a paradigm
Opinion article by Josep M. Vilalta, GUNi director. Originally published in Spanish by Universidad SÍ .
Embedding Sustainability in Academia: Deans as Change Makers
'Deans have a unique role in driving sustainability transformations at universities. By linking top-down and bottom-up efforts, they serve both as connecting pins and amplifiers – as change-makers.'
Rethinking universities, why and how?
"Indeed, universities must rethink themselves and, in this regard, initiate processes of internal transformation and innovation. Those that remain anchored in the past will probably end up disappearing or becoming marginal."
Do we educate to strengthen democracy and the common good?
"Curricula seem to be an infinite repository to which we tirelessly add subjects and knowledge"
Education as a pillar of the 2030 Agenda. Evolution and perspectives in the context of the Covid-19 crisis
“Education is the point at which we decide if we love the world enough to take responsibility for it”, wrote Hannah Arendt more than 60 years ago. Education as a responsibility towards others and the planet on which we live. In short, this is the concept of quality education promoted by the 2030...
Present and future of the humanities (II): between digitisation and artificial intelligence
We humans have entered a technological scenario in which, for the first time in history, we have the ability to capture almost all the events in our lives and we have sufficient machines and computing power to examine them (Cortés).
The SDGs: our new north star
In the year 2020, the United Nations 2030 Agenda no longer needs introduction. Almost five years after its approval, nearly everyone knows about its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the challenges therein, including ending poverty in the world; fighting against the climate emergency;...
After Covid-19 (I): Either we swim together or we drown
Despite repeated warnings from the scientific community, some people are still viewing the Covid-19 crisis (not just a health and humanitarian crisis, but also an economic and social one) as a one-off, isolated, unpredictable event. This perspective, fuelled by certain politicians from here and...
Humanities: neither catastrophism nor protectionism
They are profound transformations that affect the very meaning of the notion of “human” in relation to society and life on the planet as a whole. In this context, humanities are not a set of disciplines to be preserved or conserved, but a set of activities that must be built up through relevant...
Revisiting Gandhi: What does the life of Gandhi mean for the world today, for higher education, and Knowledge Democracy?
Gandhi throughout his life has written, spoken and emphasised extensively on the importance of education and learning. On this 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi, we will introspect on what Gandhi means for the world today, with a special emphasis on Higher Education and Knowledge Democracy.
The global agenda for sustainable development, a feasible dream?
A critical aspect of the establishment of a global agenda is the need to have indicators and reliable and agreed information systems. This aspect alone is an enormous challenge that requires shared knowledge and efforts.
Synergies and Agnotology
“If we do not work together, the Sustainable Development Goals are not worth the paper they are written on"
Engaging partners is a key role for HE in sustainability
Higher education experts discuss how to make the Sustainable Development Goals reality
State control over academic freedom in Hungary threatens all universities
The Hungarian government’s clampdown on gender studies and research into migration sets a dangerous precedent
The Criminalization of Knowledge
Why the struggle for academic freedom is the struggle for democracy