USI strengthens the culture of sustainability with CAMPUS

Through the Pro-Rectorate for Sustainable Transformation and Equal Opportunities, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) has won - through a competition - funding for the 2025 project-bound funding programme of swissuniversities, dedicated to strengthening the culture of sustainability in universities.

The programme "Strengthening the Culture of Sustainability in Swiss Universities" aims to support the development of a new culture of sustainability at a scientific, educational and institutional level in Swiss universities. To this end, universities will be able to focus on two key areas:

• the institutional anchoring of sustainability through a whole institution approach;
• strengthening collaboration with society and the dissemination of knowledge and skills geared towards change (third mandate).

Thanks to the funds obtained, USI will be able to develop the CAMPUS - Collaborative Action for Multidisciplinary Progress and Understanding of Sustainability project. This initiative will facilitate student research on sustainability-related topics and create new formats to enhance dialogue on sustainability issues. The project includes three work packages (WP):

The Positive Impact Research Market (WP1) will develop and launch an online platform to facilitate student research on sustainability issues in collaboration with organisations and companies committed to sustainable development. This WP will be created in partnership with Impact Hub Ticino, Social Business Earth, and additional stakeholders from within and outside USI.

WP 2 will propose a Cultural Programme for the public and schools developed by the House of Sustainability and L'ideatorio using innovative approaches and languages. Finally, WP 3 will enable the association SEEDS - Students Engaged in Environment, Development, and Sustainability to organise the first University Sustainability Week at USI, scheduled from 10 to 14 March 2025. Thanks to a partnership within this third WP, a lineup of events coordinated with USI will also be held at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI).