Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Sprach- und literaturwissenschaftliche Fakultät - Nordeuropa-Institut

The last report from the UN panel on climate change calls for pervasive societal changes to avoid devastating consequences for millions of people caused by climate change. Higher education is being described as crucial to carry out these transformations. UNESCO argues that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve the SDGs if the universities do not embrace the 2030 agenda and make changes accordingly and argues that “The SDGs represent a unifying challenge for all universities and HEIs and this must be reflected in plans and actions for research, education and outreach”.

Are universities sufficiently prepared to contribute to this transition or must universities be transformed first? If so, what changes are then needed?

In this lecture I will discuss some of the changes policy and research argues that universities must go through to contribute to pervasive societal changes. Using the Norwegian University of Life Sciences as an example, I will also discuss some of the obstacles that must be addressed for universities to fully contribute to this transition.