SEGIB seminar on universities' role in the 2030 Agenda

The Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) recently organized The role of the university in the 2030 Agenda, a seminar to address universities' challenges and strategies for achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. It was held at the University of Salamanca on 1 and 2 February. Pastora Martínez Samper, UOC Vice President for Globalization and Cooperation, was invited to participate as president of the University Development Cooperation working group within the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE).

The seminar was part of the work plan of the SEGIB and the Pro Tempore Secretariat (SPT) in Guatemala to obtain inputs for the 26th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held in Guatemala in November, with the slogan A prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Ibero-America. The UOC's participation in this seminar was an opportunity to highlight universities' strategic involvement in attaining the 2030 Agenda objectives, to impact on the public policies required, and to reaffirm universities' role as agents for social transformation.

Over the course of the two days, university authorities and representatives of the SEGIB and the SPT in Guatemala discussed the role that Ibero-American universities should play in implementing the 2030 Agenda, aiming to define the priority lines of action for attaining the SDGs. Some of the lines of work discussed at the seminar included training and research focused on the Sustainable Development Goals; the university as a driving force for awareness raising, transformation and fostering societal dialogue for innovation; and the university as a meeting point for generating international alliances.