Be a changemaker for sustainable campus

The project aimed to create a transformative model for sustainability in European university campuses by achieving several key objectives. It sought to empower staff, enhancing their skills in sus...

The project aimed to create a transformative model for sustainability in European university campuses by achieving several key objectives. It sought to empower staff, enhancing their skills in sustainable management processes. Another goal was the co-creation of European guidelines defining the standards for a Sustainable Campus, which included ecological footprint reduction, climate justice, and social inclusion. Engaging students as central stakeholders was pivotal, achieved through innovative workshops, participatory events, and the development of a replicable engagement methodology. The project also aimed to establish a "Sustainability Community" through dissemination, networking and knowledge exchange. Ultimately, the project aspired to position university campuses as exemplars of ecological and social responsibility, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030.

The project involved three core activities: 1. Defining european sustainable campus guidelines: this included peer-learning sessions, site visits, and the drafting of comprehensive sustainability standards. Staff from partner organisations participated in structured exchanges, comparing best practices and refining the framework. 2. Being a changemaker for sustainable campus: this activity focused on student engagement through workshops on climate change, sustainable food systems, and waste management. Events like "Sustainable Mobility Day" and "Changemakers Mountain Weekend" facilitated hands-on learning. 3. Campus sustainability and networking: the implementation of a dissemination website was accompanied by a branding initiative, which included a student-led "Logo design challenge". These activities not only advanced project goals but also reinforced long-term stakeholder collaboration.

The project produced several outputs. First, a set of uropean Sustainable Campus guidelines was developed, based on the experiences of numerous sustainable campuses mapped across the EU. These guidelines are now available to the staff of partner organisations, who have disseminated and shared them widely, making them accessible to all as a European tool for the ecological transition of university infrastructures. Another key output is the European Sustainable Campus logo, which can be adopted by organisations meeting the standards outlined in the guidelines. Numerous events were also organised, with young students taking on a leading role under the coordination of the Erasmus Student Network. These events, primarily consisting of workshops and conferences, raised awareness and enhanced the green skills of university students while establishing a direct channel of communication between students and partner organisations committed to defining sustainability standards.