Just over two months ago, hundreds of thousands of students started their studies at Swedish universities and colleges for the spring semester. Some will soon graduate and are worried about a job market affected by the corona pandemic, others are expectant and have just started a new chapter in their lives. What they have in common is that we live and study in a time when sustainability with a focus on the climate is the biggest challenge and transition society is facing.
In order to build a sustainable society that can tackle both the climate crisis and the humanitarian challenges facing the world, all parts of society must contribute to change. Small steps are not enough; larger shifts must take place to write a new story for our future.
We see a labor market that faces different challenges than it has in the past and a time that is constantly changing. The transition that must take place takes into account global fluctuations and understanding this requires skills that higher education can provide by simply explaining complex situations.
The Higher Education Act states that universities and colleges must promote sustainable development in their operations, which means that current and future generations are assured of a healthy and good environment, economic and social welfare, and justice.
Academia, as well as the business community, has a very important role in sustainable development. Through education, research and collaboration, universities and colleges can create, refine and disseminate knowledge that benefits society as a whole.
It is about understanding, explaining and improving as well as interpreting. The academy can be this hub where today's and tomorrow's citizens and leaders are formed and set the agenda for a better tomorrow. Sweden as a knowledge nation should fulfill the commitments and agreements that have been signed, but we cannot see this being done.
Many students are young and have not yet entered the job market. As representatives of students and student unions, we see a great commitment to sustainability and climate issues. There are several initiatives where students influence higher education institutions. They are working to ensure that the higher education sector takes greater responsibility in the climate issue. After all, the institution that has the mission to educate is also expected to live as it teaches.
But we also see a concern. A concern about how the climate issue will affect one's own life and the lives of future generations. There is an immense power and will to change and get involved. To build a more sustainable future together. It is urgent. We must make as big a difference as we can in as short a time as possible. At the same time, these efforts need to be long-term, they can no longer be temporary. We do not want to see more paper products.
Just as every company and the business community in general needs to look at its operations and see where the biggest difference can be made, academia needs to do the same. We see that higher education institutions need to take greater responsibility for their own climate footprint, but above all, it is about the strength of education.
Sustainability needs to permeate all education. It is not a separate part that can be taught in a few lectures, but a perspective that needs to become part of the entire operation.
Because it is not an isolated puzzle how we will build a sustainable future and solve the challenges we face – it is part of everything we do. The solutions therefore need to permeate our entire future. A future with foundations to last.
Linn Svärd, Vice Chairman
Simon Edström, Chairman
Read more about SFS's views and work in Sustainable Development here
This text was previously published in Dagens Industri as part of a campaign.