Vision and Strategy

The full adoption of strategies of sustainable management of its activities and resources as well as of social responsibility in its performance are a strong commitment of the University of Coimbra with the UN goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This commitment, clearly reflected in the Strategic Plan in its vision and guidelines, is a daily premise that counts on the strong contribution of the entire academic community.

An open and global university favours knowledge sharing and assumes an unquestionable will to respond to problems that are a concern for society, as advocated by the UN 2030 Agenda.
The great diversity and complexity of societal challenges - across different areas of knowledge - and the imperative that a research university be involved in the search for solutions are a unique opportunity for the University of Coimbra, opening new perspectives in the relationship with society.

Sustainability and social responsibility represent behaviours and actions that are transversal to the entire institution and which are always present, clearly contributing to raising the levels of local and global development. In this context, the University of Coimbra assumes two dimensions that stand out for their relevance and their emergence in the present-day scenario.

The first one is environment and climate action. The UC took on the ambition of being the first Portuguese public higher education institution to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, through the development of an environmental sustainability strategy and community awareness of the impact of changing our behaviour in the fight against climate change.

Within the scope of citizenship, equality and inclusion, the UC promotes an active and enlightened citizenship, socially responsible and inclusive, preserving the right to have rights, respecting dignity, equality and the right to be different, so that everyone can achieve their potential, in a collective construction of common goals and challenges.

We encourage awareness and civic action, impact assessment and we respond to the needs of the present, without compromising the future!

Positioning the UC at levels of excellence entails the adoption of a perspective of sustainable management of its activities and resources and of social responsibility in its performance, allowing it to respond to the needs of the present, without compromising the future, reinforcing awareness and civic action.

Sustainability and social responsibility embody attitudes, behaviours, and actions that underpin all UC activities, are cross-cutting, and actions and should always be present across all its areas of operation in two dimensions that, due to their relevance and their emergence in the current context, establish a strong commitment with sustainable development and with human rights: environment and climate action; and citizenship, equality and inclusiveness.

The University of Coimbra has demonstrated a strong commitment to investment in favour of the environment and climate action and citizenship, equality and inclusion.

It has invested in complementary scholarships to those awarded by the state, for economically disadvantaged students, through its own Social Support Fund, a patronage protocol with the Santander Foundation and also in partnership with the Coimbra Academic Association through the António Luis Gomes Emergency Fund. It also invests in community support at various levels, such as psychological support, health services and integration initiatives for international students and refugees.

From an energy point of view, the UC has invested heavily in significant measures to increase its efficiency, including the installation of photovoltaic panels on several buildings. In addition, the UC is setting up a Renewable Energy Community that will contribute to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. At the same time, an effort is being made to reduce consumption, as part of which sensors are being installed and software developed that will allow energy, water and gas consumption to be monitored in real time in the many buildings that make up the institution's estate.

The UC is committed to research linked to sustainability, investing in attracting national and international funding to respond to environmental and social challenges, in line with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, reinforcing the University's role as a centre for sustainable innovation. The UC's strategic areas concern Health; Climate, Energy and Mobility; Natural Resources, Agrifood and Environment; Digital, Industry and Space; and Heritage, Culture and Inclusive Society.

Another investment that the UC has been making is in education for sustainable development. In addition to its commitment to new training programmes in this area, we should highlight the inauguration of the University of Coimbra Campus at Figueira da Foz (CUCFF), which aims to develop the university's mission in the areas of training, research and innovation, through the development of a range of transdisciplinary activities and projects related to sustainable development, namely in the areas of sustainable tourism, the sea economy and the circular economy.

Implement a strategy of environmental sustainability and efficient resource management that will enable the University of Coimbra to be the first portuguese university to achieve carbon neutrality, while raising awareness of nature conservation and biodiversity within the academic community.

Strategic Guidelines

• Define an environmental and energy sustainability strategy for the University of Coimbra campuses.
• Implement policies for efficient resource management, promote circular economy and combat waste.
• Promote nature conservation and biodiversity.

Aligned with the commitment with the sustainable management of its activities and resources, always aiming to respond to the needs of the present, without compromising the future, the UC is actively involved and encourages the continuous involvement and contribution of its academic community, allocating the competences, technical and scientific skills at its disposal to monitor and mitigate the impact of climate change and achieving environmental sustainability as a whole.

Individual and institutional behaviour is decisive for the future of our planet!

Promote active and informed citizenship that is socially responsible and inclusive, safeguarding the right to have rights, respecting dignity, equality, and the right to difference, and ensuring that everyone has access to a safe, equitable, and welcoming environment.

Strategic Guidelines:

• Address vulnerability factors within the student community by strengthening social support, ensuring equitable access to education, promoting academic success and improving students' living conditions.
• Combat gender inequalities and ensure equal opportunities by eliminating stereotypes, inequalities and barriers through an intersectional approach.
• Promote policies of social inclusion and protection of minorities, social cohesion and human rights, upholding social and ethical principles and the right to difference.
• Promote informed and responsible citizenship and raise awareness of sustainable behaviour, contributing to the integral development of citizens.

The University of Coimbra assumes itself as a global and inclusive University where citizenship, equality and inclusiveness are the premises of daily activities and of building the future.

Social responsibility, human rights, the fight for equality, access and equity are of unquestionable importance today and always.

These aspects take on a fundamental and transversal role in the UC, also through the strengthening of social action, ensuring equity and promoting school success, improving the living conditions of the student community and combating all inequalities.

Attitudes, actions and behaviours determine the path of Humankind!