The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB), together with other Czech public universities, will join the European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW) for the first time this year, which will take place from 20 to 26 September 2023, or until 8 October 2023. Individual universities are preparing a rich accompanying programme for students, staff and the general public this week.
Thousands of events take place every year across Europe during European Sustainable Development Week. This year, almost all public universities or higher education institutions in the Czech Republic will also take part in this initiative, organising a range of activities from 20 September to 8 October 2023. ‘As an educational institution, we are aware that it is very important not only to highlight sustainable development ideas or activities, but also to actively engage in them. Giving space not only to students and university staff, but also to the general public. The main message is to show the above-mentioned groups that sustainability is not just a theoretical concept for us, but that we can also do it in practice. For example, by organizing various educational activities in the form of lectures, seminars and workshops in the field,’ says doc. Zuzana Tučková, project leader from Tomas Bata University in Zlín.
Among the participating universities is also the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. During the European Sustainable Development Week, it will present its various activities on its website and social networks, as well as organise lectures and excursions on the topic of sustainable development. For example, the lecture of doc. Ing. Jaroslav Bernas, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, USB, on the topic 'Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) & Environmental Design', which will take place on 2 October 2023 at 14:30 in the large meeting room of the USB Rectorate (Branišovská 31a, České Budějovice). The USB Faculty of Fisheries and Water Protection has prepared a lecture for those interested on 3 October at 10 a.m., combined with an excursion to the Aquaponics Hall, which is located in the central campus of USB. Last but not least, on 2 October at 3 p.m., a lecture for the general public on 'Bioecomonics' by doc. Ing. Eva Cudlínová, CSc., and Ing. et Ing. Nicola Sagapová, Ph.D., from USB the Faculty of Economics, will take place.
The University of South Bohemia has been committed to sustainable development for a long time and in accordance with the Strategic Plan of the University of South Bohemia, many central steps are being taken to contribute to the internationally declared Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. These include the forthcoming installation of photovoltaic panels on several university buildings. Last year, two smart solar benches were added to the campus, which will enable mobile phones and laptops to be charged using solar energy. Students, staff and the public can also now use the playground and workout area.
‘In view of the ever-increasing consumption of drinking water not only for operation, but also for research and teaching, a project to build a borehole well was already planned for 2021. This borehole was built using an environmentally friendly method and is equipped with the necessary technology for water quality treatment, which will allow the replacement of potable water with non-potable water, also with regard to the essential requirements for its quality,’ completes the list of activities Ing. Michal Hojdekr, MBA, Bursar and USB Vice-Rector for Development.
Other steps in sustainability include central measures related to efficient building management, promoting sustainable mobility and responsible purchasing and procurement. Data collection and regular reporting is also an integral part of strategic decision-making in the area of sustainability. This year, the University of South Bohemia actively participated for the first time in the international rankings of the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
A list of events taking place from 18 September to 8 October 2023 promoting sustainable development in universities can be found at https://sustain.muni.cz/en, further information at https://www.tydenudrzitelnosti.cz/.
The ESDW is a pan-European initiative and other European countries outside the EU are also participating, with 24 countries participating last year, 28 the year before and 34 in 2018. Last year, 7,047 events took place in Europe under the ESDW banner, of which 113 were in the Czech Republic.
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