Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 43.00
Liaison Sandra Caeiro
Submission Date April 5, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Universidade Aberta
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:

The sustainability is adressed in the strategic plan 2015-2019 has one of its strategic issues "through the enhancement of organizational and scientific knowledge in e-learning, which constitute the specialization of UAb" (p.8).

Presenting one of its missions "distance education presents the most up-to-date
cultural and scientific development of society, not only in the training and requalification of the population adulthood, but as an evolution of the times,
training of young adults, both as regards to initial training programs, as well as to programs" (p. 16) the Open University identified sprecific proposals focusing on the social and economic perspectives:
"Promoting teachers and UAb researchers involvement in
fundamental and applied research in considered strategic issues (...);
Maintenance of the development of the program open resources (...);
Bringing the research activity together to work with Centers Learning Locations for knowledge transfer" (p.25); " to complete the process of applying the
dematerialization of face-to- evaluating its possibilities and limitations
and providing support to all those involved in the process - teachers, examination logistics, CLA - in order to avoid costs and to make an unequivocal contribution in the speed of the evaluation process of
students' learning" (p.39)


A copy of the strategic plan:
The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
Yes

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:

- 2017 Activity Plan
Propose and collaborate, in articulation with the Departments and UALV, in the development of programs and lifelong learning courses (p.41)
- Start (pending accreditation by the A3ES and the Erasmus Agency) of the Master course -"Joint Master Degree in Digital Projects for an Inclusive Society" (p.44)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:

2017 Activity Plan
- Reinforcement and optimization of open access policy (p.22);enlarging the publications in the sustainability field (in the open university repository is a tag for the sustaianility item.
- To develop the program of open resources, on an ongoing basis (p.24.)
- Develop interdisciplinary research among different CEMRI research groups
in strategic areas and in areas related to Phd in Intercultural Relations
and Masters' Degree in Intercultural Relations and Women Studies (p.26)
- To promote research projects within the scope of the Phd in Intercultural Relations and Masters' Degree in Intercultural Relations and Women Studies (p.32)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:

2017 Activity Plan
-Organize scientific and socio-cultural activities in conjunction with the Departments and Centre Local Learning's (Friday afternoon); Workshops of the Ecology and Society Program (in partnership with the of Functional Ecology of Coimbra University); Seminars of the Circulation of Knowledge Program (in partnershipwith CEIS20 of the Coimbra University); Workshop on Equality and Inclusion Policies; Participation in projects of the Network of Municipal Observatories for Digital Literacy and Inclusionital Literacy and Inclusion (p.30)
- Participate in local initiatives and programs through local Social Action and Education; Supraconcelía Platform; Integrated Response to Violence Network
Domestic Alentejo Litoral and others P.44)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:

2017 Activity Plan
- Rationalize the expense associated with contracts through:
• Evaluation of the real needs for contracting services, especially in the areas of maintenance / communications / printing, namely in terms of paper use and printing there is a new policy of centralized printers by floor.(pg. 62)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:

2017 Activity Plan:
Develop processes for the contracting of goods and the price / quality ratio:
Rationalize the expense associated with contracts through:
• Assessment of the real needs of the car fleet;
• Development of acquisition / slaughter car procedures.
These measures have an important impact in the CO2 emissions impact. (p.62).


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:

-Organize a dissemination event to be held at the UAb, within the framework of the European project "Uptake_ICT2life-cycle: digital literacy and inclusion to learners with disadvantaged background " coordinated by the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém and of which UAb is a partner (p.31)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:

2017 Activity Plan
- Organize gathering moments and / or events with collaborators (pg.70)
- Foster the participation of non-teaching employees in training and valorization actions professional (p.70)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:

"Sustainability is a central issue not only administrative and financial aspects, but also
in the pedagogical plane." pg.10 Strategic Plan 2015-2019


The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):

"Usually the pedagogical sustainability is not adressed, however
is of the most importance. Sustainability depends on the ability to innovate and active intervention of the institution in the knowledge society, in particular their ability to have a competitive educational offer. For this to happen it is required a strict planning process, a financial stability and a capacity for economic growth through the substantial expansion of the training offer in emerging areas. However, it is clear that
for Open University does not serve a model with a business nature, given its incompatibility with institutional commitment to development social, cultural and scientific basis for the knowledge in society." (pg.11) Strategic Plan 2015-2019


Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter No
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment No
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:

The main aim of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme is to establish a platform, on which member universities may undertake more research on matters related to sustainable development, according to an agreed work plan and agenda.

The Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will ensure that energetic, committed experts at member universities have a sound basis upon which they can attract and undertake research projects, train PhD students, publish more in indexed journals, and organize high caliber events, working more closely with their peers (a clear requirement in the sustainable development research community) and hence strengthening their personal and institutional profiles.

In addition, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will strive to develop the ability to leverage organizational resources and maximize the benefits research projects may bring to member universities. The specific aims of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme are to:

assemble interdisciplinary, cross-Faculty teams among its member universities, focusing on sustainable development, with a keen interest to engage on bidding for national and international sustainability research projects
set-up and upkeep a working environment that is fertile for international cooperation, supporting institutional and inter-institutional project development, and hence increase the chances of success in project bidding and acquisition
link and engage the sustainability research community at member universities, in the joint training of PhD students and the organization of specific, strategic events
catalyse and facilitate the production of high quality joint publications in indexed journals, as well as in ground-breaking books and book chapters, in cooperation with well-established publishers.
Operationally, the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme will develop projects which may be submitted for funding to national and international agencies and funding bodies. It will also provide a key support in the promotion of cooperation in the field of sustainable development between the member universities, in a way never seen before.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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