Transition Teams as an Innovative Tool in a Higher Education Institution on the Road to Sustainability: A Case Study

Abstract

The integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Strategy & Policy Statement 2021–2026 and in the operational policy implementation lines of a Higher Education Institution (HEI) are reported. These institutions become more adaptive, innovative, and socially engaged, resulting in greater impact and a stronger position in today’s rapidly changing world.

To accommodate this transition project, the HEI initiated a strategic co-creation with CIFAL Flanders, a United Nations (UNITAR)-affiliated centre of expertise on the SDGs. The rollout of this methodology in both policy and curriculum is reported. Inside the HEI, the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) approach is implemented. The MLP is a strong tool to gain insight into transition processes. A transition team grows bottom-up via a coalition of the willing towards a coalition for change and acts as a catalyst for adopting sustainability across the organization. It is composed of internal stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and job descriptions. To become SDG proof the HEI started the PCA2030 Trajectory (towards SDG Pioneer, Champion, Ambassador) on the following working fields: learning, organizing, formulating, implementing, evaluating, and communicating. The steppingstones to receive the “SDG Pioneer” learning- and implementation certificate by CIFAL Flanders | UNITAR (CIFAL Flanders) are described. This project proves to be a good benchmark for other HEIs to integrate the SDGs into strategy and policy. In addition, this approach has a multiplier effect in the broader society.