Making Higher Education Sustainable:

Do we need a Copernican Revolution?

Hans-Peter Winkelmann

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 – 1543)

Effects of globalization and sustainable development on the

university

Globalization and sustainable development as challenges for European universities

• A global social space• Knowledge in a global society• Education in a global society

Effects of globalization and sustainable development on the university

Ambitions of the European Union related to globalization and sustainable development

Effects of globalization and sustainable development on the university

The Lisbon European Council held in March 2000 acknowledged that

• "the European Union is confronted with a quantum shift resulting from globalisation and the challenges of a new knowledge-driven economy".

and set the Union a major strategic goal for 2010 • "to become the most competitive and dynamic

knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion".

It stressed that this would require not only a "radical transformation of the European economy", but also a "challenging programme for the modernisation of social welfare and education systems".

Never before had the European Council acknowledged to this extent the role played by education and training systems in the economic and social strategy and the future of the Union.

“The Lisbon strategy seeks to improve the economic and social performance of the Union and guarantee sustainable development.”

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION "EDUCATION & TRAINING 2010, THE

SUCCESS OF THE LISBON STRATEGY HINGES ON URGENT REFORMS”, (COM(2003) 685 final)

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION "EDUCATION & TRAINING 2010, THE SUCCESS OF THE LISBON STRATEGY HINGES ON URGENT REFORMS”, (COM(2003) 685 final):

“There can be no Europe of knowledge without a Europe of higher education”

Mobilizing for sustainable development

The three traditional vocations of universities

• Research

• Education & Training

• Outreach

How must universities contribute to sustainable development?

The University Process

Students

Resources Water, Energy, Materials

Knowledge on Sustainability

New employees with capabilities to address sustainability

Reduced Emissions, Waste, Sewage

Education Research Transfer

Services and Management

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Input: Output:

The contribution of universities to sustainable societies

Civil Society

University

Education Research

University Management/

Campus

Economic

prosperity Ecological balance

Social well-being

Education

Research

Management/ Administration

Outreach

The challenges to universities will add a fourth mission to universities:

• Research

• Education & Training

• Outreach

• Sustainable Development

How should European universities respond to this challenge stemming from

globalization and sustainable development ?

Innovation in Innovation in Higher EducationHigher Education

Efficiency

Excellence Internationalization

Sustainability as strategy for universities

Strategic alliances as models to respond to globalization

Strategic alliances as models for universities to respond to globalization?

More than 300 European universities have signed the COPERNICUS-Charter, thereby declaring that they will give sustainable development a place in their activities.

We now ask you:

Would you like to become a part of COPERNICUS-CAMPUS?

Re-think your position:

Join the COPERNICUS-CAMPUS in the cooperation for a

sustainable future in Europe!

Thank you for your attention!

www.copernicus-campus.org