The Future of Education

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in sustainable development, aligning with their third mission beyond education and research [1]., Conducted within the EU-funded Sustainable Horizons project, this study  introduces a validated model integrating sustainability principles into university structures and their regional impact, advancing the European Green deal and contribute to UN Agenda 2030 SDGs  . The proposed framework encompasses two interdependent dimensions: 1) sustainable operating performance, focuses on the university campuses internal transformation into inclusive and environmentally responsible ecosystems. This approach conceptualizes HEIs as micro-societies composed of students, faculty, administrative personnel, and other stakeholders, whose diverse needs must be met through sustainability-driven strategies, Including mobility, digital infrastructure, waste and food management, and equitable access to education; 2) Sustainable regional anchoring, extends the influence of HEIs beyond their campuses by fostering regional sustainability through structured initiatives  enhancing open science practices, stimulating entrepreneurship and employability, establishing long-term sustainable partnerships, and providing policymaking support. A key component of this dimension is promoting transdisciplinary collaboration and intergenerational research mentorship, creating a dynamic environment where early-career researchers engage with senior scholars in sustainability-driven projects. This approach reinforces knowledge co-creation strengthening sustainability  integration  within academic and societal contexts [2]. A key outcome of this initiative was the European PhD in Sustainability Sciences establishment , designed to consolidate academic training in sustainability from a transdisciplinary perspective. The model has been empirically tested in a diverse universities across developed and developing regions, from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia demonstrating its adaptability to varied territorial and institutional contexts to mitigate negative externalities and leveraging European HEIs good practices in Open science and inclusion-equality policies to impact the diversity of contexts. This initiative also gave rise to the strategy for integrating Education for Sustainable Development into the curricula at UAlg. This strategy is being developed through a co-creation and participatory process involving all the university community, ensuring that sustainability principles are woven into institution’s academic and operational framework.