From 3–6 June 2025, the Second Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management gathered global higher education leaders at the Hub Social in Barcelona to explore how universities can drive transformation, resilience, and social responsibility.
The program, hosted by the GUNi HE Leadership and Management Hub, offered a mix of dialogue, peer learning, and institutional reflection around pressing topics such as transformative leadership, sustainability, innovation, and the evolving role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in society.
Among the guest speakers was Prof. Thorsten Kliewe, Chair of ACEEU and partner in the SHIFT Project, who facilitated a workshop on “Sustainability in Higher Education: Leadership Strategies for Institutional Change”. Through the interactive workshop, participants reflected on how their institutions embed sustainability and examined strengths and weaknesses in teaching, research, governance, community engagement, and support structures.
Prof. Kliewe emphasized ACEEU’s role in the SHIFT Project, particularly in developing the ESG Impact Index Open-Access Platform. The platform is designed to help higher education institutions implement and monitor environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices while providing students, academics, and staff with practical tools to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Complemented by training, certification, and communication activities, SHIFT strengthens transnational cooperation by providing universities with ESG strategies.
The Summer School is valued as a hub for collective learning and impact, and SHIFT was proud to be part of the dialogue shaping the future of higher education sustainability.
