UNESCO International Day of Education: ENLIGHT University alliance illuminating the way to an equitable, sustainable and resilient society

How do we picture the education of the future? And if the education of the futre were an itinerary through multiple European universities where you could end up being a globally committed citizen, multicultural, with a multilingual perspective, benefiting from the teaching of the best academics and regional agents' expertise and knowledge? Do you want to become part of this ambitious dream?

ENLIGHT: The European Network of universities to promote equitable quality of life, sustainability and global commitment through the transformation of higher education (European University Network to promote Equitable Quality of Life, Sustainability and Global Engagement through Higher Education Transformation

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind. Following this claim, we at Euskampus want to join UNESCO and celebrate this remarkable day to remind us all of the importance of education as a human right, a public good and a social responsibility. Particularly, we want to emphasize the role that higher education institutions can play in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals and achieving a better future for all. However, this is an Endeavour that no single university can accomplish alone. Therefore, our two patron universities, the University of the Basque Country and the University of Bordeaux, joined forces with seven other universities across Europe to create an European University Alliance, ENLIGHT, that aligns and can contribute to this kind of education.

ENLIGHT is an Alliance of European universities that aims to transform their way of operating and educate future globally engaged citizens who will lead to a more equitable and sustainable world, a resilient society. ENLIGHT starts from the premise that higher education institutions (HEIs) have an important role to play in fostering the great social transitions we are facing: ecological, demographic, and digital. ENLIGHT proposes to generate the bases of knowledge, skills, and competences, as well as to deploy the educational innovation potential of the participating universities so that students from all over Europe become globally committed citizens, capable of promoting an equitable quality of life and planetary sustainability.

The nine universities share an education, research, and innovation agenda focused on five emblematic challenges, which are key determinants of social well-being and future sustainability and which affect at least 10 of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. These five challenges aim to address challenges in the areas of health and wellness, the digital revolution and the impact of digitalization, climate change, energy use, the circular economy, and equity.

Like a lighthouse guiding sailors to shore, the ENLIGHT alliance will guide students to become lifelong learners and agents-of-change ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Visit the official web to know more about ENLIGHT.

Watch the video to find out all about this university education of the future.