KBSU on the agenda of sustainable development principles and ESG practices
How Russian higher education institutions contribute to solving the problems of sustainable development was discussed on December 7, 2023 at the Conference “Universities and Sustainable Development”, organized by the RAEX Rating Agency with the support of the Russian Union of Rectors. Director of the Center for Sustainable Development of Kabardino-Balkarian State University Zurab Berelidze took part in the Conference.
The purpose of the conference is to promote the development of consensus regarding the tasks of universities to ensure sustainable development and an adequate system for assessing their achievements, as well as the popularization of best practices.
Today, many Russian universities declare their commitment to the principles of sustainable development. However, in practice, there has not yet been a common understanding of the role and functionality of universities in this area. Some universities see their task as formally complying with the UN sustainable development goals, others as training specialized specialists, and others as introducing resource-saving practices into everyday student life.
“It is precisely the higher school that is fully capable of becoming a key center that shapes long-term trends in the sustainable development of the country. After all, the university, unlike any other institution, has unique tools for influencing society: educational, educational, social,” noted Zurab Berelidze, director of the Center for Sustainable Development of the Institute of Management, Tourism and Hospitality Industry of KBSU.
The conference participants discussed approaches to developing a methodological basis for assessing the achievements of universities in the field of sustainable development, on which the new ranking of universities from the “Three University Missions” family will be based.
Also at the event, studies on the implementation of sustainable development principles and ESG practices in Russian universities were presented.