EUTOPIA Alliance representatives visit the University of Ljubljana for international sustainability management assessment

The evaluation interviews with various stakeholder groups were led by representatives of the University of Gothenburg, a partner university in the EUTOPIA Alliance. A representative of NOVA University Lisbon, also a member of the EUTOPIA Alliance, attended the interviews as an external observer. By participating in this pilot impartial evaluation visit, aimed at improving sustainability management processes, UL also supported its partner, the University of Gothenburg, in developing a mechanism for conducting peer reviews in the field of sustainability at higher education institutions. This mechanism is being developed as part of the EUTOPIA MORE project, in which UL is also involved.

Over the two-day visit, more than 30 participants were involved in discussions with the evaluators, including representatives from the leadership of UL and its member institutions, as well as higher education teachers, researchers, students, and professional non-teaching staff. The first day of discussions was held at the UL Rector’s Office, while the second day was hosted by the UL School of Economics and Business, which also provided a practical demonstration of its sustainability efforts during a tour of the faculty.

"The initial feedback provided at the closing meeting was very positive. Significant progress in sustainability management at UL was recognised, as was the commitment of all participants to implementing the sustainability strategy and action plan," noted Professor Dr Janez Vogrinc, Vice-Rector for Quality and Sustainability at UL, summarising his impressions at the end of the visit.

At the final meeting, the evaluators summarised the key observations from the visit, including:

• the importance of maintaining and further strengthening institutional commitment to sustainability;
• the ambition of the UL Sustainability Strategy and the action plan for its implementation, as well as their role in establishing a common framework for putting change into practice;
• challenges in raising student awareness of the role and content of the UL Sustainability Strategy and in actively involving them in the development and implementation of activities to support sustainable operations at UL;
• the need for increased cooperation and the exchange of best practices between UL member faculties;
• the need to ensure systemic support and funding to sustain existing best practices and successful projects; and
• the importance of establishing a feasible framework for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the progress and impacts of implementing the UL Sustainability Strategy.

The assessors will compile their observations into a final report, which will include a comprehensive list of opportunities for further improvement. These will assist in the further planning of activities to support the implementation of the UL Sustainability Strategy measures.