Challenges of sustainability efforts of universities regarding the sustainable development goals: a case study in the University of Zanjan, Iran

¹ President of the University, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, 45371-38791, Iran
² Director of International Scientific Cooperation Office, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, 45371-38791, Iran

^* Corresponding author: najafian@znu.zc.ir

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce some activities and programmes of the University of Zanjan in changing its campus environment towards a sustainable campus, emphasising setting and infrastructure, waste management, water management, and education and research. This comprehensive university with over 10000 students and 1000 staff is located in a semiarid area with a campus area of 421 ha and is 6 km away from the Zanjan City, center of Zanjan Province. In over four decades, it has expanded its tree cultivation to over 72 hectares, and its total vegetation area covers over 94 percent of total campus area. The university has increased and improved its investment on sustainability, smart buildings and water management in both buildings and vegetated areas. The waste management programmes have been implemented through using electronic correspondence and document submission in different activities of the university; separating plastics, glasses and papers and waste recycling; toxic waste handling in all labs; composting organic waste; inorganic waste management; and recycling sewage disposal. Though the university has provided free buses and shuttles to both staff and students inside the campus and between the city and campus to reduce private car use, it still needs to encourage bicycle use and improve its facilities to support it. Developing renewable energy for the future is still a challenge for this university and needs both innovation and investment. Students and academic staff have also been encouraged to move their conventional education and research methods and contents to more sustainable approaches, for example in courses syllabuses, student activities, research projects, publications and investments. The GreenMetric World University Ranking Network is expected to enhance its scope to contribute much more on sustainable development goals. A sustainable university should play an important role in innovation and technology research and development in sustainability; enhancing staff and students’ sustainability knowledge and social capacities; changing the campus environment to an Ecofriendly and sustainable environment; and enhancing social and human capacities of communities and public and private institutions.