Socially sustainable universities and human rights education: A necessary binomial to face the challenges of the 2030 agenda
Socially Sustainable Universities and human rights education: A necessary binomial to face the challenges of the 2030 Agenda Editors: Esther Prieto Jiménez (UPO); Guillermo Domínguez Fernández (Cátedra Iberoamericana de Educación en DDHH)
On the verge of the last five years established by the United Nations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda, it seems clear that, as none of the 17 global goals to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all people (UN, 2015) have been fully achieved since they were first formulated in 2015, it will be difficult to respond to all of them in this last 5 years.
Undoubtedly, during this decade, the 2030 Agenda has been established as a framework of reference, understanding sustainability both as an individual and global commitment in which different dimensions converge: environmental protection, sustainable and balanced economic development which leads to achieve a social well-being, with a shared awareness and commitment, including people in the most vulnerable situations in order to achieve justice and a greater equity and quality of life for everyone. Therefore, sustainability relates to social challenges, taking into consideration that they can only be addressed through systemic changes in social regimes (Loorbach et al, 2017).
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, highlights the importance of education as a fundamental tool to promote a worldwide sustainable development. She states that Education for Sustainable Development is crucial to help people understand the interconnection between global and local challenges; and to provide the necessary skills and knowledge to face these challenges effectively at all levels of education. Finally, she calls on all stakeholders, including governments, civil society and private sector to collaborate in building a more sustainable and fair future for everyone (UNESCO, 2020).
In this context in which all institutions need to assume their responsibility for Sustainable Development, several authors highlight the importance of universities as key agents of change due to their capacity to produce and promulgate knowledge, foster innovation and development and promote social transformation through education and research (Mendoza, 2016; Alba, 2017; Bohne et al, 2019).
This monograph emerges in this scenario and considering the strategic moment to carry out a process of self-criticism and define new common global challenges, as well as to respond the following questions, among others:
- What role do universities currently play in educating, advocating and fighting for Human Rights and Socially Sustainable Development?
- What inspiring practices are being developed in universities to respond to the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda in education, research and transfer?
- What are the new challenges that universities must face to become more socially sustainable entities and to attend people in situations of vulnerability in the framework of Human Rights?
- What cooperation or internationalisation policies are being developed in higher education to favour the common commitment to face global challenges?
- Are universities prepared to respond to the arising socio-educational challenges, having Human Rights and Sustainable Development as a reference?
- How can Comparative Education and Supranational Education be the best ally to face this common and global social challenges?
Deadline: July 15, 2025
Publication date: January 2026