ABD and UAB host Partners Meeting and Training for EDU4SDG Project in Barcelona

On September 25-27, 2024, the ABD Group and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona UAB organized a series of meetings and training sessions in Barcelona as part of the EDU4SDG project. The event gathered international partners to discuss activities related to promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education and partnerships with the third sector.

Day 1: Steering Committee Meeting

The Steering Committee, held on September 25 at the UAB premises, focused on activities such as defining micro-credentials and learning pathways for the SDGs, the next steps for creating the SDGs University Knowledge Hub and developing a board game to support the understanding of SDGs. Other discussions included the upcoming “EQ = social responsibility” summer school for the target group organized by RTU. Additionally, an overview of completed and upcoming project activities was provided, alongside discussions on project management, quality assurance, evaluation, dissemination, and future activities.

Day 2: Training and Cultural Tour

On Thursday, September 26, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) hosted the “Working with Emotions” workshop, delivered by Team Coaching. This training session aimed to enhance the emotional skills of the project team. The day concluded with a cultural tour in Barcelona organized by Migrantour, offering participants an enriching and alternative manner of exploring the city.

Day 3: Workshop on HEIs-NGOs Cooperation for the SDGs

ABD hosted a workshop on September 27th titled “HEIs-NGOs Cooperation for the SDGs,” facilitated by the Project Manager and Trainer, Catarina Alves, ABD’s General Director, Àngels Guiteras, and the Director of Inclusion and Poverty, Mònica Plana. The session emphasised the role of collaboration between universities and third-sector organisations in achieving the SDGs and examined effective strategies for fostering collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the third sector. Discussions focused on how to incorporate SDGs in higher education practices, highlighting the importance of the third sector’s mission-driven focus on social and environmental issues. Several examples of best practices and collaborative projects between the third sector and universities were presented, such as Cooltorise, EU3Digital, and ABD’s involvement in the international ECIU network.

The EDU4SDG meetings and training sessions successfully strengthened partnerships between academic institutions and third-sector organisations, reinforcing the essential role of collaboration in addressing global sustainability challenges. Participants gained insights into practical approaches for integrating SDGs into education and fostering synergies for sustainable development.

About EDU4SDG

The project #edu4sdgs aims at accelerating higher education’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by cultivating social responsibility, developing emotional intelligence (EQ) and shaping agents of change. It is addressed to students, academic and administrative staff, HEIs’ (Higher Education Institutions) decision-makers and lifelong learners from outside the university who want to upgrade their skills for SDGs and EQ.

Funded by the European Commission (Erasmus+ Program) and coordinated by Lodz University of Technology (Poland), it will be carried out from October 2023 to September 2026  in partnership with the organisations Welfare and Development Association ABD (Spain), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona UAB (Spain), Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities ACEEU (Germany),  Team Coaching (Poland), Rigas Tehniska Universitate (Latvia).