21 February 2020
Bilbao Campus
On 20 and 21 February 2020, the University of Deusto hosted the first international forum, organised by THE-Times Higher Education, on the impact of universities on the promotion of justice and peace, Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event gathered more than 150 experts from 17 countries from all over the world.
In its closing remarks, the rector of the University of Deusto, José María Guibert, concluded that the university cannot be neutral in the face of the many existing challenges: "we are privileged to enjoy high levels of freedom, peace and justice" and "we have to share responsibilities". The Rector believes that we have to collaborate with other social agents to address the great global issues and, therefore, the mission of universities has to be redefined. “The question - he indicated - is how to align the interests of universities with those of governments, companies, NGOs or funding agencies. We have to build trust between each other and share ends. The work cannot be individual”.
During the different sessions, speakers highlighted the increasingly urgent need to address diversity and inclusion in higher education worldwide and discussed the role of public policies and how they can favour the social commitment of universities and their contribution as active agents of justice, peace and human rights. Experts also discussed university-society interactions and the tasks and targets to achieve peace and justice.
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