GUNi at the International Week on Service-Learning in Higher Education in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- The University of the Balearic Islands hosts two events: the International Week on Service-Learning in Higher Education (23-27 September 2024) and the “XII Congreso Nacional y VI Internacional de aprendizaje-servicio universitario” (25-27 September 2024)
- GUNi leads a masterclass titled “The Social Commitment of Universities: Ways of Incorporating UNESCO’s Recommendations into University Transformation”
From September 23-27, 2024, the University of the Balearic Islands hosts the International Week on Service-Learning in Higher Education (#iApS2030). This event features a series of masterclasses, meetings, and workshops aimed at exploring the role of service-learning in promoting human development, sustainability, and global social justice.
Short for “Aprendizaje-Servicio 2030” (Service-Learning 2030), #iApS2030 focuses on creating educational and social innovation strategies to address complex issues like sustainability, planetary health, and global social equity. By collaborating with public entities, the nonprofit sector, and scientific institutions, the International Week on Service-Learning in Higher Education aims to share best practices and design educational solutions that align with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, human rights, and cutting-edge sustainability models.
iApS2030’s work extends beyond academia. It partners with the economic sector to help businesses develop socially responsible initiatives that promote sustainability, health, and human rights. Acting as a living lab, iApS2030 fosters open innovation by bringing together public, nonprofit, and private organizations. Additionally, it functions as a hub for global and regional organizations and promotes advocacy tanks that provide research-based policy recommendations to decision-makers.
One of the event’s highlights has been a masterclass led by the Executive Secretary of the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP) and Director of the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi), Josep María Vilalta. Titled “The Social Commitment of Universities: Ways of Incorporating UNESCO’s Recommendations into University Transformation,” the session took place in the afternoon on the 25th of September. This in-person session explored how universities can integrate UNESCO’s recommendations into their transformation processes to enhance social responsibility and engagement. The masterclass posed questions to encourage discussion and active debate around GUNi’s programmes and service learning: “What changes can be made to the Service-Learning model to strengthen the university-city bond through students’ active roles? How should university management and leadership evolve to support this transformation? At the institutional level, how can we make HEIs more socially committed?”
The International Week on Service-Learning promises to be a pivotal moment for educators, policymakers, and innovators working to advance global sustainability through higher education.
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