The Forum on Education Abroad has announced Temple University Education Abroad & Overseas Campuses as a 2022 finalist for its award for Advancing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals through Education Abroad.
This award recognizes member institutions and organizations that promote economic, environmental and social sustainability through their programs. The selection committee ranks nominees based on how well they have implemented the guidelines for Advancing the UN SDGs through Education Abroad over the past academic year.
“Our cross-campus team–Associate Director Suzanne Willever, Institutional Relations Manager Sarah Short, and Director of Sustainability Rebecca Collins–have collaborated closely for more than two-and-half years, bringing together faculty and staff experts, as well as student voices,” said Maureen Gordon, Director of Education Abroad. “As part of our ongoing goals, Willever and team are continuing to integrate sustainability initiatives in all we do.”
Earlier this year, Temple University Education Abroad launched the Global Green Commitment as a way to incorporate sustainability across all aspects of its study abroad programs and operations and with the ultimate goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. The Temple Global Green website, compiled over the last two years, hosts a variety of resources with more continuing to be added.
The selection committee said the following about Temple’s efforts thus far: “The Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses at Temple University has partnered not only with their own Office of Sustainability and global campuses, but with other international education offices in partner institutions to share resources, develop new strategies, and co-present on current sustainability efforts. Temple’s newest effort is shown in the Global Green Grants, which funds students to implement a sustainability project in one of Temple’s global campuses during their semester abroad.” Temple is in good company, having been nominated alongside Dickinson College, IES Abroad, and the University of Virginia. The winner of the 2022 Award will be announced during The Forum’s 19th Annual Conference, which will take place in Seattle, Washington on March 22-24, 2023.