The Sustainable Development Goals in the context of university extension projects: the Brazilian case of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Abstract

Due to the nature of their activities and their mission, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) can implement sustainability concepts, therefore contributing to the development of a more sustainable society and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Universities can translate this agenda into practices in different domains, such as education and curricula, research design, institutional framework, and community outreach, generating positive spillovers in several economic sectors. In this context, diverse efforts are being made by universities worldwide to make sustainable development part of their institutional frameworks by proposing new teaching and pedagogical approaches and curricula, besides encouraging campus sustainability life experiences. This research focus on analysing the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé campus, as a case study for developing sustainable extension projects in the Engineering courses, especially in the context of the SDG and the 2030 Agenda. Such projects represent a great ripening potential in environmental and sustainable issues and in the internalization of the SDG at UFRJ. From the results, it was possible to map some gaps and propose some actions that could better align the assessed projects with the SDG, inspiring new attitudes both within the university environment as beyond that sphere.