Better Places for People: The Pivotal Role of Education in Creating Sustainable Cities

This keynote presentation is from the “Global Goals: Local Action” EAUC Annual Conference 2017, presented by Julie Hirigoyen - CEO, UK-GBC, Maria Adebowale-Schwarte – Director, Living Space Project and is chaired by Graham Long, Senior Lecturer in Politics – Newcastle University.

How are colleges and universities doing at leading and creating sustainable buildings, campuses, communities and cities? What more should we be doing with our unique nature and position to facilitate local economic and social prosperity, cross-sector collaboration, participation, equity and democracy?

Spaces and buildings are at the heart of our communities and cities. Brought into focus by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably Goal 11 which determines the need ‘to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable,’ there is a growing demand and necessity for our communities and buildings to become spaces people want to live and work in.

This keynote session considers how building design can improve health, wellbeing and productivity and how buildings themselves can act as a starting point to build a community and an inclusive, cohesive fair one at that. It also reflects on the role regeneration and community development can play in improving quality of life, specifically in our urban spaces.  

Universities and colleges have a key part to play in creating sustainable buildings, campuses, communities and cities – this session will consider what this role is and how we can better fulfill it.