Jönköping University works actively with contributing to a sustainable development of society through education, research and collaboration. The work is done both locally and globally and is based on the Global Goals in Agenda 2030, adopted at the UN Summit in 2015.

One of JU's five strategies for the 2020-2025 period is 'Contributing to a sustainable future'. This strategy emphasise the importance of taking responsibility as a higher education institution and ensuring that our activities contribute directly and indirectly to sustainable development - environmentally, socially and economically.

Accreditations, external reviews and degree objectives linked to sustainable development are important tools in our efforts to integrate sustainable development into our programmes.

Many research projects at JU are linked to goals of the 2030 Agenda, such as the goals Good Health and Well-being, Good Education for All, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Sustainable Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Responsibility for JU's sustainability work lies with the respective companies, which also choose the direction for how they want to work with the goals of Agenda 2030.

Three arenas for sustainable development

JU's commitment to sustainable development takes many forms. The most important internal arena for sustainability work is our environmental certification. Our collaboration with other social actors on sustainability takes place, for example, through the Climate framework for higher education and the Climate Council of Jönköping.

Environmental certification

The environmental certification is an environmental management system offered by Jönköping Municipality that JU uses for the organisation's systematic environmental work. JU focuses on the global goal of good education for all and the goal of combating climate change, where the latter is linked to measures to reduce the environmental impact of operations.

Climate framework for higher education institutions

The Climate framework for higher education institutions (Klimatramverket) is a national network of nearly 40 higher education institutions that priorities the climate issue. The network aims to make a clear contribution to the climate transition. Every university that has joined the framework must have implemented measures to be in line with the 1.5-degree target by 2030.

The Climate framework for higher education institutions defines a number of key areas for higher education institutions' climate work, including education, research, collaboration, students, business travel and energy use.

Climate Council of Jönköping

Jönköping University is a member of the Climate Council of Jönköping (Klimatrådet). It is a collaborative council based on a long-term, sustainable and broad collaboration in the county with members from both private and public organisations. Among other things, the council serves as a platform for joint regional projects that link academia with various actors in the rest of society.

Through our international profile, with for example global student exchanges and programmes focusing on sustainable development, JU contributes with an international focus.