The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes interlinked goals, such as poverty eradication, economic growth, social inclusion, environmental protection as well as social justice and peace. Due to the global nature of contemporary threats and challenges, international cooperation is a sine qua non of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
As the hotbeds of innovation as well as social and economic development at the local, national, and global level, universities have an exceptional role to play in coordinating
the cross-sectoral implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, universities and research institutions play an important role in building knowledge-based societies.
Inter-university cooperation is undoubtedly facilitated through both research and implementation projects carried out with the participation of large international consortia. Such a cooperation results in the creation of new methodologies and of common solutions to existing social, economic, and political problems as well as in the exchange of good practices.
International cooperation among universities may also entail exchanges of research staff, administrative employees, and students. It also facilitates knowledge and skill transfer necessary for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Through cooperation with their local and global partners as well as their social environment, European universities and research institutes contribute to social, economic and technical transformations. The most important university mission is to educate future leaders and professionals capable of facing the global challenges reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals.