On September 9, the University of Pardubice hosted the third meeting of the Working Group on Sustainability of the Czech Rectors’ Conference, whose activities are coordinated by MENDELU. Representatives of Czech universities discussed current topics related to sustainability management, reporting, and adaptation to climate change.
The working group was established in 2025 on the initiative of MENDELU, and its goal is to promote cooperation among universities, share examples of best practices, and jointly seek solutions to current challenges in the field of sustainable development. Following meetings in Křtiny and České Budějovice, its members gathered this year at the University of Pardubice.
The main item on the agenda was the presentation of a forthcoming voluntary framework for sustainability reporting at universities. Participants discussed possibilities for standardizing approaches to data reporting and shared experiences with implementing sustainability principles into the day-to-day operations of universities.
Another part of the program was devoted to presenting the ClimRisk and Climate Proofing tools, which help organizations identify climate risks and take the impacts of climate change into account when planning projects and investments. The discussion also focused on possibilities for their use in the higher education setting.
The meeting provided an opportunity for individual universities to share their experiences, discuss the working group’s future activities, and plan joint steps for the coming period. The afternoon program took participants on a tour of Pardubice’s historic center, where, as part of a climate walk, they learned about examples of adaptation measures in public spaces.
The Czech Rectors’ Conference Working Group on Sustainability brings together representatives from Czech universities responsible for sustainability, strategic development, and social responsibility. Its activities are coordinated by MENDELU, and the group’s long-term goal is to strengthen cooperation among universities and contribute to the development of sustainability in the higher education environment.
The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice is a member of this group and has been actively involved in the development of sustainability and related topics since the group’s inception.
