KTU is integrating the United Nations sustainable development goals (17SDG) in all areas of its activity. The University aims to develop responsible future leaders and specialists in their areas, and attempts to achieve long-term goals concerning well-being of people and environment.
KTU is integrating the United Nations sustainable development goals (17SDG) in all areas of its activity. The University aims to develop responsible future leaders and specialists in their areas, and attempts to achieve long-term goals concerning well-being of people and environment. Following the guidelines of socially responsible activities, the University conducts educational activities, initiates projects; the principles of sustainable development are integrated in various University’s activities.
According to this attitude, the University aims for new knowledge and technologies to serve for the well-being of the people and the environment. It includes focusing on cultivating the culture of sustainable development and responsibility within the University’s community and strengthening of the University’s responsibility to the environment, society and region.
KTU acts in a responsible manner based on the common university values:
Responsible attitude towards environment and the society at the University is based on the philosophy of sustainable development activities, such as:
In order to fully implement the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Magna Charta of the European Universities, Kaunas University of Technology organises its activities while creating an open environment where individual differences, characteristics, potential and contribution of all its staff and students are acknowledged and appreciated. Each employee and student has a right to work and study in the environment that encourages respect to everyone’s dignity.
To foster and ensure the implementation of the fundamental human rights which are set out in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the Equality and Diversity Policy was approved and the University’s Equality Committee was established.
Report of the violation of equality
The alleged cases of the violation of equality or misbehaviour issues in the University should be reported in the electronic system pranesk.ktu.edu or by email pranesk@ktu.lt
The main Tasks of the University’s Equality Committee
The University’s Equality Committee acts as an independent, objective and impartial agency with no preconception in cases of discrimination, harassment, violation of equality and persecution.
The members of the University’s Equality Committee
Head of the Human Resources Management Office Jekaterina Rymonienė (Chairwoman of the Committee), Address: K. Donelaičio Street 73, Kaunas, email: jekaterina.rymoniene@ktu.lt
Albinas Baranauskas, Head of the Occupational Safety Group
Asta Švarcaitė, Head of the Administration of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design
Mindaugas Žilys, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Živilė Rutkūnienė, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Danguolė Rutkauskienė, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Informatics
Akvilė Montrimaitė, student (secretary of the Committee)
Redminas Šegžda, student
Division coordinating the activities:
KTU Internal Communications
Tel. +370 (608) 21 745
Email sustainability@ktu.lt
In 09 2015 the United Nations General Assembly announced 17 global sustainable development goals (SDG17), 169 tasks and 230 indicators that are planned to be implemented till 2030.
SDG17 is a strategic direction of global development oriented to various participants, including implementation of courageous change-promoting instruments.
Essence is to take immediate actions to “shift the world in sustainable and flexible direction” “leaving no one aside”, because the implementation is based on “overall beneficial cooperation between the present and future generations”.
5 key elements (5P) that SDG17 actions are directed towards:
The basis of the sustainable development concept is a constructive interaction of three key components – environment, economy and society.
It is dedicated to the generation that can be named as:
KTU sustainable development related activities are implemented according to the programmes of the United Nations:
10 UN Global Compact Principles UN Global Compact (Principles)
Global Compact is the largest voluntary social responsibility initiative of companies/corporations that has two main goals:
1) To help companies introduce the principles of Global Compact in their business strategy
2) To promote cooperation and partnership between various sectors within and outside the state to achieve the universal goals of global development
Global Compact is based on the principles of human rights, labour force and environmental protection that are established in the following international documents:
Human rights
Principle 1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
Principle 2. Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour force
Principle 3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
Principle 4. Elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour.
Principle 5. Abolition of child labour.
Principle 6. Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
Principle 7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
Principle 8. Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
Principle 9. Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-corruption
Principle 10. Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Sustainable development goal (SDG) – #4 Quality education – is one of the main goals reflected in the University’s activities.
Cultivation of sustainable development culture and the University’s responsible approach is being shaped by all its activities – from providing studies and conducting scientific research, to the management of the University’s infrastructure, which all are contributing to the sustainable solutions relevant to society, business, region and environment.
Therefore, targeted University’s partnership (goal #17) with business, social and other scientific and non-governmental organisations directly influences and creates value for Kaunas region and Lithuania, while international partnerships lead to the implementation of regional or global challenges.
The University supports the creation of sustainable and smart cities (goal #11). Together with the public sector and business, it contributes to the development of smart cities and the creation of a more sustainable environment to make the daily lives of the people and businesses in the city as comfortable as possible.
The University’s direct activities do not contradict any values of sustainability introduced in the process of research and studies, they contribute to the consolidation of these values and demonstration of good examples.
Scientific research and results integrate SDG17 and directly contribute to the regional and KTU sustainability.
The University’s students acquire knowledge and understanding of how to contribute to the creation of sustainable future.
The University’s community is encouraged, enabled and supported in their contribution to KTU and regional sustainability via their personal activities and those of their division.
KTU infrastructure and administrative activities are an example of the implementation of sustainable development goals.
KTU sustainable development strategy and activities received an international award of the European Union – QUESTE-SI accreditation.
KTU received QUESTE-SI award for sustainable development activities in 2013.
KTU – “The Most efficient Energy User” – ESO “Green Protocol”, 2013.
PR Lapės 2014. For publicising of the long-term, nature-friendly and most economic initiative, 2015.
Award of Kaunas City Municipality – To the educational institution that cycled the most kilometres in the European Cycling Challenge in Kaunas, 2016.
Award of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania for the events of the Week for Waste Reduction in 2016, 2017.
