Fourteen national universities join forces for sustainability

The Óbuda University has become a member of the Sustainability Platform of Hungarian Universities, which was established at the University of Pécs on 22 September. For our university, the green approach and the protection of the environment are of great importance. Therefore, it is of particular importance that we can cooperate with prestigious Hungarian universities in this priority area," said Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Óbuda University.

In addition to Óbuda University, the University of Pécs, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest University of Economics, Budapest Metropolitan University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Miskolc, University of Nyíregyháza, University of Pannonia, Semmelweis University, University of Sopron and University of Szeged, the leaders of the universities undertook to share good practices and experiences and to seek common solutions to the sustainability challenges faced by the institutions in their daily work.



In her speech before the signing of the framework agreement on the establishment of the platform, Anikó Raisz, Minister of State for the Environment and the Circular Economy at the Ministry of Technology and Industry (TIM), stressed that global challenges can be met primarily with local solutions, and the current cooperation is an excellent example of this.



Balázs Hankó, Deputy State Secretary for Higher Education at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, pointed out that the energy crisis and the drought have shown that there is nothing more important than protecting the created world, and universities have a key role to play in this respect. This is why sustainability will be a priority in the renewal of the education structure," he added.

According to Attila Miseta, Rector of the University of Pécs, the agreement is particularly relevant in the context of the energy crisis and the fact that human activity is now demonstrably having a negative impact on the environment. He expressed the hope that the institutions will be able to share more and more good practices in the context of sustainability.

Katalin Szili, a member of the Board of Trustees of the PTE Foundation and Honorary President of the National Council for Sustainable Development, pointed out that universities have a serious responsibility to "leave a liveable environment for our descendants", and that the Baranja higher education institution is leading the way in this respect.



Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács said that the past years have shown that sustainable thinking is becoming more and more important not only in our everyday life. He said that one of the most important tasks for universities is to develop technologies in the field of research and development that open up thinking towards new energy use options.



According to the newly signed document, Hungarian universities committed to the realization and achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will work together to actively promote and cooperate. Under the agreement, they will engage in mutually beneficial, exemplary joint activities that will create and achieve results for society, higher education and the scientific community.

ÓE/MTI
Updated: 10.10.2022.

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