(AGENPARL) – Rome, 8 June 2024
(AGENPARL) – Sat 08 June 2024 University event, University Network for Sustainable Development, Conference of Rectors
MORE THAN 50 UNIVERSITIES JOINED AT THE FRIULAN UNIVERSITY
FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY
On 11 and 12 June, the conference will culminate with the new national manifesto
which updates the one created five years ago in Udine
Udine, 8 June 2024 – What role do universities have in the green transition of local communities?
What is their contribution to the sustainable development of cities and territories, in particular to
urban decarbonisation? What is the social impact of universities with respect to the advancement of
knowledge, the co-production of innovation and the change necessary to bring them closer together
socio-economic objectives of the 2030 Agenda? We will try to answer these and other questions
national comparison “The universities for the sustainable development of the country” scheduled for the 11th and 12th
June at the University of Udine in which over 50 Italian universities will participate
(https://shorturl.at/ni4ci).
Organized by the Friulian University and the Network of Universities for Sustainable Development (RUS), with the
sponsored by the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (Crui), the conference aims to
analyze the role and actions of Italian universities in recent years.
Furthermore, it will produce a new poster, on the fifth anniversary of the first edition in May 2019
entitled “From Universities for Sustainability to Sustainability in Universities”, elaborated during
“Knowledge in celebration”, the scientific festival of the Friulian University organized with Crui.
The conference will be inaugurated on Tuesday 11 June, at 2.30 pm, in the Velario of Palazzo di Toppo
Wassermann (via Gemona 92). Greetings will be brought by: the rector Roberto Pinton, the president of the
Friuli Venezia Giulia Region with a video message, the mayor of Udine and the regional councilor
at work, training, education, research, university and family.
«The objective of this prestigious two days – explains the rector Roberto Pinton – is to understand how
be able to strengthen the role that universities can have on sustainable development: promote a
comparison and an update, together with national and territorial bodies, on the available tools, i
expected results and the problems to be resolved to maximize the impact of the actions implemented
from universities. Since 2016, the University of Udine has been part of Rus, participating in working groups on
transversal themes functional to achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. For many years strong and
The University’s commitment in the field of sustainability is constant with educational, scientific and
informative, in constant sharing and co-planning with the various institutions and economic realities of the
territory”.
«Universities represent key players for the sustainable development of territories – underlines the
President of RUS Patrizia Lombardi – and play a fundamental role in the implementation
of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in the dual role of agents of change and as
subjects of change. As agents of change, it is the responsibility of universities to support the
transformation of society, teaching how to manage the socio-environmental critical issues present in the contexts of
reference, support the social debate and encourage the development of socio-economic policies and
environmental. As subjects of change, it is essential to focus on the contribution made in
terms of a rethinking of the strategies to be implemented and the actions to be implemented”.
«The Friulian University – highlights the sustainability delegate, Salvatore Amaduzzi – has achieved this
numerous projects in the field of sustainability: among the main ones, the home-work project by bike, the service
of carpooling, the reuse portal, the course on sustainable development intended for male and female students.
Furthermore, for some time the University has been implementing virtuous energy efficiency and well-being policies
student and work (canteen tables and transport as an example). The conference will offer the opportunity to
compare and share good practices at a national level and the possibility of outlining new lines
of intervention aimed at making the proposed activities even more incisive”.
The commitment of the RUS
The University Network for Sustainable Development followed up on the implementation of the Manifesto
starting a specific working table, Capacity building and best practices, which produced a report
on the definition of indicators, guidelines and best practices. The Report, in addition to giving indications
about organizing sustainability governance structures and how to identify one
“good practice”, aims to provide indications on how to measure the success of impact actions and initiatives
social issues of universities in relation to eight major themes: climate change, food, education, energy,
inclusion and social justice, mobility, resources and waste, universities for industry.
The 100 Mission Cities project
The “100 Mission Cities” project was launched in Europe with the aim of achieving one
decarbonization of cities by 2030. The participating Italian cities are: Bergamo, Bologna, Florence,
Milan, Padua, Parma, Prato, Rome, Turin. Territories, cities and regions are involved in this
transition which sees universities committed to supporting the sustainable development of the country through
training, research, innovation, knowledge sharing, external leadership and capacity
internal organisation.
JOBS
The work will be divided into three sessions on Tuesday 11 June. From 2.30pm to 4pm, in room T9
Toppo Wassermann Palace (via Gemona 92). Introduced and moderated by the President of RUS,
Patrizia Lombardi, the institutional table will gather from the bodies of the high school system
training, research and innovation, including local authorities, available tools, i
expected results and the issues that should be resolved to maximize the impact of the actions
of the university in the territories. Among others, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Safety will speak about it
energy; the advisor to the Minister of University and Research; the president of the Crui,
Giovanna Iannantuoni; the director of the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (Asvis), Enrico
Giovannini; the president of Anci Fvg; the president of the National Council of University Students
(Cnsu), Alessia Conti.
From 4pm to 5.30pm the focus will be on the relationship between universities and cities with the aim of
compare good practices and opportunities for experiments and living labs at campus and district level
urban. After the presentation of the activities of the various RUS working groups for sustainable development
of campuses, university neighborhoods and cities, the round table will give space to the interventions of
representatives of some Italian cities involved in the “Horizon Europe Climate-neutral and
smart cities”. The meeting will be attended by: Roberto Di Lenarda, Crui delegate for relations with the
National conference of rectors’ delegates for university penitentiary centers (Cnupp) and with the
National university conference of disability delegates (Cnudd); city representatives
carbon neutral Florence, Padua, Parma and Turin; the mayors of Udine, Gorizia and the deputy mayor of
Pordenone; the Rus working group.
Finally, from 5.30pm to 7pm we will take stock of the social impact of universities. Will be addressed
potential role and the one actually played by universities, regional RUS networks and entities with
in which RUS has initiated collaborations to pursue social equity in an integrated and systemic way
intergenerational, economic development and community well-being, together with protection
of the ecosystem. The round table will see the participation of the RUS sub-networks of Abruzzo,
Campania, Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany, Sicily, Veneto and Puglia; of national networks and associations,
such as Apenet, Netval, Forum on inequalities and diversity, Network of Italian UNESCO chairs (Recui),
as well as the working group on the Third Mission of the Crui and Sissa.
THE FINAL MANIFESTO
On Wednesday 12 June work will resume at 9am in the Sgorlon auditorium and in rooms 11 and 12 of the
hub in via Margreth 3 in Udine. The objective is to arrive at the drafting of the final document of the
RUS at approximately 4pm. The work will be developed in three work sessions: methods, indicators and metrics for
the evaluation of sustainable development; sustainable development activities, practices and procedures; structures,
organization and planning of sustainable development.
