On 15 November 2023, UNU-IAS organized the 29th workshop of the UNU SDG–Universities Platform (SDG-UP). The online event featured guest speakers from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Belgium, Charline Urbain (Professor and Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development) and Anne Weyembergh (Professor and Vice-Rector for External Relations and Cooperation). The workshop engaged 39 participants from 19 universities across Japan.
Introduced by Yasushi Katsuma (Academic Program Advisor, UNU-IAS), Prof. Urbain gave an overview of ULB's sustainability efforts. She explained that ULB's strategic goal is to enhance sustainability education through a cross-disciplinary approach in order to equip graduates with an understanding of sustainability and the ability to think systemically. Prof. Urbain also noted that the university was actively communicating through its biennial sustainability reports and a student-created website called “Prism.”
Prof. Weyembergh discussed ULB's sustainability efforts in the context of international relations as an opportunity to collaborate with partners and strengthen the internationalization of the university. While there is a desire to deepen international cooperation, ULB has developed a sustainable travel policy to conduct travel responsibly and eliminate non-essential travel. She emphasized that she hoped to continue working with international partners to promote SDG initiatives through active exchange of ideas.
Shunichi Murata (SDG-UP Advisor; Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University) concluded the workshop, noting the impressive cross-border thinking that had taken root in European universities, as well as the top-down systemic approach involving the president and deans while respecting a bottom-up approach. He emphasized that the SDG-UP approach is similar to that of ULB, and that he hoped to strengthen inter-university collaboration through the transfer of credits among member universities and active exchange of students.
Participating Universities
This workshop engaged 19 participating universities, which are listed below in alphabetical order.
Ehime University
Hiroshima University
Hokkaido University
International Christian University
Keio Gijuku University
Kwanseigakuin University
Okayama University
Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Osaka Metropolitan University
Osaka University
Ryukoku University
Showa University of Music
Soka University
Sophia University
Tokyo City University
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Toyo University
University of Tokyo
University of Tsukuba