The University of Szeged participated in a panel discussion at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, in Dubai. The session organized by the University included representatives from seven higher education institutions in four continents, and aimed to share experience related to the development of the UI GreenMetric Online Course on Sustainability. Thus, it hoped to inspire other similar initiatives that enable learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development.
The session proposal by the University of Szeged was selected for inclusion in the programme of the Greening Education Hub in the Green Zone of the recently closed COP28 UN Climate Change Conference. The Hub aimed to highlight and advocate for education’s central role in tackling the climate emergency.
The University is Szeged is committed to education and awareness-raising for sustainable development, and to this end it seeks innovative solutions also through courses developed in national and international cooperation. The panel discussion organised by the University of Szeged presented and shared the experiences related to the development and delivery of the UI GreenMetric Online Course on Sustainability.
Dr. Dénes Mátyás, Deputy Director for Sustainability at the University of Szeged while speaking at the conference
This elective English-language course discusses the complex interplay between the economy, social life and our planet’s physical environment, and gives students an understanding of the key challenges and pathways to sustainable development in different countries. It is offered by University of Sao Paolo, Brasil, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia, El Bosque University, Colombia, University of Szeged, Hungary, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Ecuador, and University of Sousse, Tunisia. The course was first launched by the partner institutions within the UI Greenmetric World University Rankings Network in the academic year 2021/2022, and it has been offered every autumn since then.
– The panel discussion was very inspiring. The audience could learn about the participating universities’ commitment to sustainability. Good practices and future ideas for the course were discussed, which is designed and run by 7 universities from 4 continents. During the academic year, students also work in international teams to develop their own projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals, making this course an excellent opportunity for international networking. The 60-minute session raised the interest of the audience and served as an inspiration for similar initiatives that enable learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development. – said Dr. Dénes Mátyás, Deputy Director for Sustainability at the University of Szeged, and leader of the “Green SZTE” Development Programme of the Third Mission Development Cluster of SZTE IKIKK (Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation of the University of Szeged).
