The European Society for Socio-Economic Integration (ESSEI) is proud to announce its participation in SUSTAIN – Sustainable Universities for Society Through Action, Innovation and Knowledge Networks, a new Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project co-funded by the European Union and coordinated by Škoda Auto University (Czech Republic).
Bringing together eight partner institutions from Europe, Vietnam, and the Maldives, SUSTAIN aims to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions to become active drivers of sustainable development, community engagement, and societal transformation. The project places particular emphasis on supporting universities in Vietnam and the Maldives in developing their Third Mission—the role of higher education institutions beyond teaching and research, contributing directly to social, economic, and environmental progress.
Building More Sustainable and Inclusive Universities
Higher education institutions are increasingly expected to address complex societal challenges, ranging from climate change and environmental sustainability to social inclusion and community development. SUSTAIN responds to this need by supporting universities in embedding sustainability and stakeholder engagement into their governance, teaching, and outreach activities.
Over the next three years, the project will focus on:
- strengthening institutional capacities for Third Mission activities;
- promoting sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and green practices within higher education;
- advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles;
- reinforcing cooperation between universities, civil society organisations, public authorities, and the private sector;
- developing practical tools, methodologies, and capacity-building resources that can be integrated into institutional practices and policies.
Through these actions, SUSTAIN seeks to position universities as key actors in achieving sustainable and inclusive development within their communities.
ESSEI’s Role in the Project
As a European partner, ESSEI contributes its expertise in European cooperation, stakeholder engagement, dissemination, and capacity building. Within the project, ESSEI co-leads dissemination activities, supporting the consortium in ensuring that project results reach relevant audiences at local, national, regional, and international levels.
In particular, ESSEI will:
- contribute to the development and implementation of the project’s dissemination strategy;
- ensure alignment with Erasmus+ and European Commission requirements regarding communication, visibility, and exploitation of results;
- support the transfer of European good practices related to sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and university-society cooperation;
- provide methodological guidance to partner institutions in Vietnam and the Maldives in line with the capacity-building spirit of the Erasmus+ programme.
Through this role, ESSEI will help maximise the visibility, impact, and long-term sustainability of the project’s outcomes.
An International Partnership
SUSTAIN brings together a diverse consortium of higher education institutions and education stakeholders committed to strengthening sustainable and inclusive higher education:
- Škoda Auto University (Czech Republic) – Coordinator
- University of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
- The European Society for Socio-Economic Integration – ESSEI (Italy)
- Banking Academy of Vietnam (Vietnam)
- Phu Yen University (Vietnam)
- Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University (Vietnam)
- Islamic University of Maldives (Maldives)
- Zikura International College (Maldives)
This transnational partnership creates a unique platform for exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences, and jointly developing innovative approaches that strengthen the contribution of higher education to sustainable development.
For more information about the project, visit the official SUSTAIN website: https://sustaininitiative.com/
