Abstract:

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global agenda to address socioeconomic and environmental challenges by 2030. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in promoting and implementing the SDGs due to their central functions in education, research, development, and innovation. Consequently, integrating the SDGs into HEIs fosters awareness and empowers students and staff in key areas such as quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reducing inequalities, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions, partnerships for the goals, among others. In this context, the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology (ESTM) of Peniche (Portugal) defined several strategies since 2023 to integrate the SDGs into its activities, both through their inclusion in academic curricula and the incorporation of SDG-related topics across different fields of study, ensuring that students gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable challenges and solutions. Interdisciplinary projects and active pedagogical approaches, such as Project-Based Learning, were also encouraged as effective tools to engage students in seeking solutions to local and global problems. Additionally, the implementation of sustainable practices by ESTM’s management bodies served as a “living laboratory” for the academic community, promoting campus sustainability and reinforcing the institution’s commitment to the SDGs. Examples include the installation of new recycling stations to enable convenient and efficient waste sorting, as well as a conscious collection of medications. Furthermore, with the aim of acting as a catalyst for sustainable change in its community by promoting outreach projects that involve society in sustainable practices, ESTM developed partnerships with the company Ecowaters. The partnership enabled the installation of an ECO Filtration Fountain at ESTM and the free distribution of ECO reusable bottles to the entire academic community. Through this collaboration, the goal is to encourage the habit of reuse by providing free access to filtered water, thus avoiding waste and significantly reducing plastic consumption within the academic community. As a result of all the initiatives developed, ESTM is currently a certified entity by Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle. This international certification recognizes ESTM's commitment and the alignment of its actions with the 17 SDGs. However, the integration of the SDGs into HEIs faces significant challenges, such as resistance to change, the need for financial resources, and the requirement for specific training for teachers and staff. Nonetheless, these challenges can also represent opportunities for innovation and leadership. Successful implementation of the SDGs can strengthen the reputation of HEIs, attract students and researchers committed to sustainability, and generate a lasting positive impact on society. In summary, by incorporating the SDGs into its daily practices and curricula, ESTM not only fulfils its social role but also contributes to building a more just and sustainable world.

Keywords:

SDGs, Environmental Awareness, Sustainability, Partnerships, Society, Students.