Sustainable Development Day

THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GDAŃSK

The event's main goal is to integrate the University of Gdańsk into the European network promoting sustainable development as part of the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW), organised annually for the past nine years. This Europe-wide initiative aims to encourage and highlight actions, projects, and events supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Day at the University of Gdańsk aims to promote the principles of sustainability through various projects and activities across all areas of life and economic activity. These activities raise environmental awareness and shape pro-ecological attitudes among students, staff, and the university community, fulfilling the university’s social responsibility by engaging with stakeholders.

The theme of this year's event is the preservation of natural resources, which are essential for the well-being of current and future generations. Under the slogan "Respecting Resources—Reducing Waste!" academic staff will present lectures, while students and scientific clubs will conduct workshops and demonstrations for youth. Student clubs, the student council, and student groups will propose initiatives to promote sustainability actions.

The event is open to a wide audience, including primary and secondary school students, university students, staff, entrepreneurs, and the local community. Various external partners involved in sustainable development are also invited to participate in the project.

The primary goal of this task in the "Bay of Knowledge – Developing Ecological Competencies through Education" project, funded by the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk, is to educate, explain, and demonstrate the benefits of pro-ecological behaviours and an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Raising environmental awareness and fostering pro-ecological attitudes among students, staff, and the university community also aligns with the university's social responsibility, which is achieved through stakeholder engagement and collective actions promoting sustainability.

Additionally, these activities foster and strengthen relationships between the university and its surroundings. By motivating and engaging students in conceptual and organisational efforts for Sustainable Development Day, they develop soft skills as both organisers and participants. This includes project management, teamwork, knowledge dissemination, and interdisciplinary collaboration, as the planned activities require creativity, openness to new challenges, and consistency in implementing eco-friendly solutions.

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

Detailed information about projects organised across Europe can be found on the website.

https://www.esdw.eu/  and https://www.esdn.eu/esdw/events-detail/sustainable-development-day-at-the-university-of-gdansk-respecting-resources-reducing-waste