The SHIFT project collaborated with the ESG4SMEs Erasmus+ Project to explore opportunities for synergy during the ESG4SMEs Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) held on July 22, 2025, in Münster, Germany.
Organised and hosted by ACEEU, the coordinator of ESG4SMEs and a key partner in SHIFT, the event gathered eleven participants, including Sustainability Managers, HR Officers, and industry professionals from the ESG4SMEs consortium.
The LTTA provided a valuable opportunity for SHIFT to share its innovative approach to integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within higher education. ACEEU presented the project’s goals, approaches, and outputs, with emphasis on two key results:
— The SHIFT ESG Impact Index Matrix for Higher Education, a benchmarking tool that supports universities in assessing and improving their ESG impact; and
— The Certification for ESG Impact in Higher Education, designed to promote transparency, accountability, and excellence in institutional ESG performance.
Participants engaged in discussion and compared ESG practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and in higher education institutions (HEIs). The discussion led to a shared understanding that:
— Universities play a vital role in producing ESG-competent graduates for the labour market.
— ESG fosters new forms of university–industry collaboration.
— Embedding ESG in teaching, research, and governance ensures that public investment in higher education leads to sustainable social and environmental outcomes.
By connecting with the ESG4SMEs network, SHIFT expanded its community of collaborators and strengthened cross-sector dialogue on the future of ESG integration. The project looks forward to continued cooperation with ESG4SMEs partners to advance shared goals for sustainability and impact-driven innovation.
