Deliverable D5.3 UNITA Green Sustainability Report

Context and ObjectivesThe UNITA – Universitas Montium Alliance is a collaboration of 12 Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and a legal entity (named UNITA European Economic Interest Grouping - GEIE) from seven European countries. Task 5.3 (T5.3), under Work Package 5 (WP5) of the Alliance, focuses on Green Sustainability. T5.3 main objective is to develop a sustainability strategy for UNITA, aligned with the European Green Deal and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The specific objective of this deliverable is to assess the current level of sustainability maturity across the partners, contributing to all UNITA’s sustainability related goals, namely to the development of a shared culture of sustainability within the Alliance.MethodologyAn initial analysis of the phase 1 Green UNITA project was carried out, focussing on key milestones, objectives, and outcomes while taking into account the evaluators' comments. To establish a cohesive starting point, comprehensive questionnaires were developed to assess areas of alignment among partners and to identify the common target-oriented measures for carbon footprint reduction. These tools identified common and differing green sustainability practices, highlighting current strengths and growth opportunities. Results and OutcomesThis evaluation was followed by a series of discussions that clarified key concepts and unified sustainability criteria, ensuring consistency. In this process, the exchange of best practices was vital in fostering collaborative learning and leveraging the expertise of different partners. For example, two of the main outcomes of the analysis were the creation of a green calendar and the definition of a framework to guide the Alliance in prioritizing key areas of sustainability, ensuring a more concentrated and efficient approach towards achieving green goals.Additionally, information was collected on education, conducting a review on existing environment-focused curricula, within the Alliance. By identifying overlapping areas, possible opportunities were uncovered for curricular collaboration, fostering synergies in sustainability education across the institutions.Impact and ApplicationsMany of the actions or activities identified in this initial period will guide all the participating institutions in applying suitability related actions throughout the remaining part of the project (the “Green Calendar” constitutes a practical example of that impact).Conclusions and Next StepsThe next phase will focus on practical events and initiatives. Among the upcoming highlights are a best practice training package to be provided to the academic community and the "Green Day Event," which will be organized across all participating institutions. This type of initiatives will involve students, faculty, staff and communities in sustainability-focused activities, promoting environmental responsibility at the local level. Additionally, Task 5.3 will facilitate contests to award grants for the "Best Academic Work on Sustainability," encouraging innovation in this field. Continued sharing of best practices across partner institutions will remain a priority, as the alliance seeks to strengthen collaborative efforts and drive significant progress in green sustainability initiatives.Keywords: Carbon Footprint; Green Calendar; Green Day; Green Sustainability in HEI.