ISSUE 03 | 26 APRIL 2019

This 3rd eBulletin provides you with all practical information needed for your ARC7 conference preparations: starting from sustainable travel tips to airport transfers, directions to venues as well as some insider tips on Bucharest. We are also happy to share with you details on the cultural tour, for those interested in extending their stay in Romania.

Next to these practical matters, we include again several articles that illustrate nicely the diverse commitments and actions of Asian and European universities and organisations towards the SDGs. Many of the featured institutions are taking part at ARC7.

For any further inquires on ARC7, we are glad to help (arc@asef.org). Do also check the ARC7 webpage for the latest news and previous eBulletins.

Conference Updates

Practical Information

This Practical information document includes important practical information for your travel and conference preparations including: registration and visa, venues and directions, airport transfers and general information on Romania.

Airport Transfers

Airport shuttle pick-up service will be available for participants arriving between 11-13 May, from 7.00AM to 23.00PM. The meeting point is in the Arrival Hall, visuals of ARC, SNSPA, ASEF and local students will provide guidance. Find out more in the Practical information document.

Walk the Talk

Here are 10 Tips on Sustainable Travelling by participants of the 22nd ASEF Summer University (ASEFSU22) on Sustainable Tourism. Minimise the potential negative impact of our conference on the local community, the economy and the environment. We are glad that one of the hosting universities of ASEFSU22, Algebra University College, is participating in ARC7.

Cultural Tour

For those interested, our local hosts are organising on Wednesday, 15 May, a cultural tour to explore Romanian country side and historical highligths. We will visit Prahova Valley, the Dracula Castle, the City of Brasov, and will enjoy lunch at the Transilvania University of Brasov, kindly hosted by Prof Ioan Vasile Abrudan. Find out more about the programme here.

Related Reading

The Role of Universities on creating a more Sustainable Society

The University World News summarises the findings of the conference on “Rethinking Higher Education: Inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals’” held in Stockholm, Sweden in March 2018 and elaborates on the role of universities in educating and navigating students to create a sustainable society.

Mapping the structure of research on SDGs

The Institute for Scientific Information created a unique map to showcase the progress being made via global research activity that’s driving progress towards the 17 global sustainable goals. Did you know that larger, richer nations publish the greatest number of papers on SDGs (USA, UK, Australia, China, Canada, in rank order), but when indexing SDGs as a percentage of research output, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and the Nordic nations take the lead. The map also tells, that it is Europe – not North America – that is the second most frequent collaborator with the Asia & Pacific region.

Show your commitment and sign the SDG Accord

Inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by signing The SDG Accord. The Accord is a commitment learning institutions are making to one another to do more to deliver the goals, to annually report on their SDG implementation progress. Thereby, institutions may learn both nationally and internationally from each other. Find out more by visiting the website.

Irish universities showing great commitment towards the SDGs

Recently, the University College Cork was ranked 9^th in the list of the “greenest” universities in the world. Other Irish universities also demonstrate a high commitment to bringing sustainability in universities up to the next level, as described in the article below. Great to have leaders from National University of Ireland Galway, University College Dublin, University of Dublin, Technological University Dublin on board and to learn from their experiences at ARC7.

Mark your calendars: 2nd GUNi International Conference on SDGs

GUNi will organise the second edition of the GUNi International Conference on SDGs: Higher Education and Science Take Action on 5-6 March 2020 at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain. Take a look at their recent publication Approaches to SDG 17 Partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and here from GUNi’s perspective in a debate session at ARC7.

Voices of #ARC7

Interview with Professor Mutanov

Professor Galimkair Mutanov is the Rector of al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and Vice-President and Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University is located in Almaty in the Republic of Kazakhstan and consists of 16 faculties, 67 departments and more than 2000 professors, doctors, scientific candidates and PhD’s. In the interview, Professor Mutanov shares the university’s contribution to the SDGs and comments on the financing of sustainable research and teaching.