The University of Bologna, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Conference of Italian University Rectors - CRUI, and the Observatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum, organizes a two day conference to discuss the role of education systems in promoting Global Citizenship and Sustainability Education.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development invites all countries to take action in a common development path without leaving anyone behind. The five "P" - people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership - are the main principles of the Agenda and call all countries of the world to decline 17 specific objectives for the implementation of their national policies.

Education plays a central role in supporting people to forge more sustainable, just, peaceful, tolerant and inclusive societies. As agreed through the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, all countries recognize a need to take action on a number of global challenges.

Education is a tool for change. It is often treated as a 'luxury grant' that cannot be afforded in times of socio-economic crisis like the ones we have faced over the last years. Yet, the failure to invest in education has been one of the main reasons why we were unprepared to interpret the global dynamics to find the proper solutions

Poverty, conflicts and geopolitical changes are driving people relocation and migration to unmatched levels. Human impact on the environment is already visible in climate change and declining biodiversity, while food security and access to clean water remain a pressing challenge. Healthy lifestyles must be nurtured to ensure the quality of life for the next generation of global citizens.

Technology and innovation brought benefits to large sections of the global population but pose some risks of digital exclusion, awareness and radicalization. Equal opportunities must be sought in all societies, requiring good governance and enabling policies that promote gender equality within and across national boundaries.

At the same time, young people have a natural desire to reach out to their peers around the world, by travelling or interacting online. Today’s youth are better informed, more travelled and more connected across the world than ever before. They are naturally global citizens with a passion for the world, that is their heritage.

Nowadays, education must nurture global citizens, recognizing that society is a complex network of connections and interdependencies with local, national and global implications.Global citizenship cannot be separated from global challenges.

Promoting Global Citizenship and Sustainability Education means working on the values, knowledge, competences and attitudes that students require to cooperate for engaging with the most pressing societal challenges, in order to make sustainable development an achievable goal.

Those challenges include the environment, the need to promote healthy lifestyles, food security and nutrition, poverty and economic sustainable development, peace, democracy and de-radicalization, awareness of cultural heritage, diversity, migration and technological change.

The Bologna conference will focus on the contribution of education systems to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the promotion of a Global Citizenship and Sustainability Education.
The conference will let the stage to institutional speakers, including Ministers, international organizations, civil society organization, think tanks, academics and international experts that will discuss  "case studies" and share good practices.

The conference is organized under the auspices of the G7 Italian Presidency