Symposium: Sustainable Futures in Higher Education

Call for Papers
Symposium: Sustainable Futures in Higher Education
In a world facing complex social, environmental and ethical challenges, higher education institutions play a fundamental role in shaping responsible professionals and engaged global citizens. Universities are not only spaces for knowledge production, but also laboratories for new forms of learning, collaboration and societal transformation. Within the framework of the One World Academy Week, the Symposium: Sustainable Futures in Higher Education – Ethics, Responsibility and Global Education invites academics, researchers, and higher education practitioners to share research and pedagogical practices that contribute to advancing sustainability, ethics and global responsibility in higher education. Aligned with the One World pillar of the Universidade Europeia’s Academic Model, this symposium aims to foster dialogue around innovative teaching approaches, impactful research and institutional practices that promote a more inclusive, ethical and sustainable academic ecosystem. The symposium will bring together scholars and educators interested in exploring how higher education can actively contribute to addressing global challenges and preparing students to act with responsibility, critical awareness and intercultural understanding.

Topics of Interest
We welcome contributions that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into higher education curricula
• Ethical education and applied ethics in academic contexts
• Innovative pedagogical approaches for sustainability and global citizenship
• Intercultural learning and internationalisation in higher education
• Human-centred learning or community-engaged learning addressing societal challenges
• Institutional strategies for sustainability in universities
• Higher education as a driver of social innovation and environmental responsibility
• Interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges in education
• Case studies of impactful educational practices in higher education

>>> Submit your abstract here.

Submissions may include:

• Research papers
• Pedagogical practices or educational case studies
• Innovative teaching methodologies applied in higher education

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: 17 April
• Notification of acceptance: 24 April
• Symposium date: 18-20 May

Submission Guidelines Authors are invited to submit an abstract of up to 300 words, clearly outlining the objective, methodology (if applicable), and main contributions of the work. Submissions should indicate whether the proposal corresponds to:

• A research paper, or
• A pedagogical practice / educational innovation

Accepted contributions will be presented during the symposium as oral presentations.

About One World
The One World pillar of the Universidade Europeia’s Academic Model promotes a holistic educational vision that integrates academic excellence, ethical commitment and global citizenship. Through interdisciplinary learning, international collaboration, applied ethics and sustainability-oriented education, One World aims to empower students to understand and shape a rapidly transforming world. The symposium forms part of the One World Academy Week, an initiative that brings together students, faculty, researchers and international partners to explore new ideas, share best practices and strengthen the role of higher education in building a more sustainable, inclusive and responsible future.