International Conference: Lessons Learned and Future Perspectives of the ACT4SDGs Project (2024–2026)

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026 

Venue: EAFIT University, Medellín, Colombia 

This conference is a free, public, in-person event that will take place throughout the day on Friday, September 18, 2026, on the campus of EAFIT University in Medellín, Colombia. 

The main objective of this conference is to share the results, lessons learned, challenges, and impacts of the ACT4SDGs project, in which ten universities from Latin America and four from Europe have participated. The conference aims to strengthen the exchange of experiences among the participating universities while identifying opportunities for future collaboration and the further development of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in higher education. 

The ACT4SDGs (Professionalisation of Academic Teaching to Infuse SDGs in Latin American Universities) project has represented an international academic collaboration aimed at strengthening the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Earth Charter as an overarching ethical framework in higher education through the professionalization of academic teaching, curricular innovation, and the development of institutional capacities for sustainability. 

During the 2024–2026 period, the fourteen participating universities have implemented numerous initiatives to promote Education for Sustainable Development, including institutional assessments, faculty development processes, strategies for mainstreaming sustainability across curricula, the development of action plans, the establishment of collaborative networks, and the generation of academic knowledge. These experiences have contributed to strengthening the role of higher education institutions as key actors in building more just, sustainable, and peaceful societies. 

As this phase of the project comes to an end, it is essential to create a forum that enables participants to collectively reflect on the progress achieved, identify the main lessons learned, recognize the challenges encountered, and explore opportunities to continue and expand the impact of the actions undertaken. 

This international conference seeks to establish itself as a platform for exchanging experiences and building a shared vision for the future of higher education for sustainability in Latin America and Europe.

Specific Objectives 

• Share the main experiences, achievements, and innovations developed by the participating universities during the implementation of the ACT4SDGs project.  

• Analyze the progress achieved in faculty professional development, curriculum mainstreaming, integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and institutional capacity building for sustainability.  

• Identify the main challenges, obstacles, and lessons learned throughout the implementation of the project.  

• Reflect on the impact of the project on faculty members, students, academic programs, and participating institutions.  

• Exchange good practices and strategies that contribute to strengthening university communities committed to sustainability.  

• Explore mechanisms for future collaboration among the participating universities to strengthen Education for Sustainable Development beyond the formal conclusion of the project.  

• Develop joint recommendations aimed at strengthening the role of higher education in achieving the 2030 Agenda, the Pact for the Future, and other international commitments related to sustainability.  

• Explore the scope of the Earth Charter as an ethical reference framework and educational tool for facilitating the mainstreaming of sustainability, using the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda as guiding principles.  

We will soon share the registration link here, along with the conference agenda and information about the invited speakers.