January 31, 2025

Sustainability through collaboration: UL, YERUN, and the SDGs

As YERUN celebrates its 10 year anniversary, we reflect on the collective achievements that have shaped our network’s impact. A key pillar of our journey has been our shared commitment to sustainability and the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This month, as part of our “Sparks of YERUN” series, we spotlight the University of Limerick (UL) and its innovative approach to integrating sustainability across education, research, and campus operations.

In this interview, we speak with Andrea Deverell, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation at UL, to explore how the university’s mission-based framework is driving real change. From embedding sustainability into the curriculum to fostering student-led innovation and leveraging YERUN’s collaborative network, UL exemplifies how universities can be powerful catalysts for global impact. Read on to discover how UL is contributing to the creation of a more sustainable future and the role that YERUN plays in amplifying these efforts.

Andrea Deverell, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation at UL

Can you share examples of initiative or projects at UL that directly contribute to advancing the SDGs? How have these projects made a measurable impact?

At the University of Limerick, we take a mission-based approach to advancing the UN SDGs across teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Central to this effort is our UL Mission-based Sustainability Framework 2030, which was developed through a participatory process involving over 70 staff and students. Together, this group identified 21 sustainability missions that reframe the global SDGs to reflect our specific local context. These missions help us focus energy, understand the systems at play, and define UL’s role within them to drive lasting, meaningful change.

Across the university, colleagues are making incredible contributions to these missions, including efforts to:

  • Decarbonise operations through energy efficiency measures and active travel schemes.
  • Embed sustainability into teaching and learning, ensuring graduates understand the importance of sustainable practices in their fields.
  • Boost campus biodiversity, with initiatives like pollinator-friendly habitats where grass and wildflowers are left to grow during spring and summer to support species critical to ecosystem health.

One standout initiative supported by our Centre is the UL Student Sustainability Challenge. This annual programme empowers students to design and implement projects addressing key sustainability issues aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). So far, it has facilitated 10 impactful projects, including:

  • Campus biodiversity surveys and awareness campaigns.
  • Renewable energy prototypes for agricultural and other applications.
  • Public engagement initiatives designed to inspire collective action on improving water quality and other environmental challenges.

The challenge focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and expert mentorship, equipping students with the skills and confidence to engage deeply with sustainability challenges and deliver tangible outcomes. By fostering such student-driven innovation, we are not only advancing the SDGs but also preparing the next generation of leaders to continue this critical work.

Living Bridge, University of Limerick. Picture: Alan Place

How has UL’s collaboration with YERUN supported or enhanced your efforts to achieve the SDGs, either through knowledge exchange, partnerships, or shared resources?

UL’s engagement through YERUN has been instrumental in advancing the SDGs by fostering meaningful connections, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting impactful partnerships. Through YERUN, UL has gained access to a dynamic network of sustainability leaders across Europe, enabling us to engage in action-oriented projects with trusted partners.

One of the key benefits of this collaboration has been the ability to connect our university staff with like-minded colleagues at other member institutions. By leveraging Erasmus+ BIP funding and staff mobility opportunities, we have facilitated cross-institutional learning and joint sustainability initiatives. These exchanges have allowed our staff to explore best practices, adapt innovative solutions from diverse European contexts, and strengthen UL’s approach to sustainability. YERUN’s platform has thus played a vital role in amplifying our efforts to integrate the SDGs into research, education, and institutional strategy.

PHD students at UL for the Engaged Research Design Sustainability programme

In what ways has UL benefited from being part of a network like YERUN in terms of addressing global challenges related to the SDGs? Are there any success stories or milestones you can highlight?

UL’s engagement with YERUN has created numerous opportunities to address global challenges related to the SDGs, fostering partnerships, amplifying impact, and enhancing our capacity for innovation. A highlight is the Engaged Research Design for Sustainability programme, which launched recently and brought together 26 researchers from YERUN universities across Europe. This programme is a powerful example of how YERUN supports collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts focused on societal impact.

Through YERUN, UL has:

  1. Built meaningful partnerships: The network connects us with institutions and experts committed to tackling sustainability challenges, enabling knowledge-sharing and joint initiatives.
  2. Advanced interdisciplinary research: Programmes like the BIP provide platforms for researchers to explore shared challenges, exchange ideas, and develop place-based solutions to the SDGs.
  3. Amplified innovation: The cross-border collaborations facilitated by YERUN ensure that local lessons inform global challenges and vice versa, strengthening both regional and international impact.

These initiatives showcase how participation in YERUN enriches UL’s contributions to the SDGs, creating a collaborative environment for impactful research and education. We are especially grateful to the YERUN network, and to Silvia, Brian, and the wider team for their help in making it happen. UL’s engagement with YERUN continues to open doors for impactful research and collaborative initiatives that align with the SDGs, and we look forward to building on these successes to create even more opportunities for innovation and change.

From left to right: Brian Talty (YERUN Policy Officer), Andrea Deverell (Director of the Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation at UL), Vicky Kelly (Sustainability Engagement & Operations Manager at the Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation at UL), and Annette Bischoff (Head of «USN Sustainability).

Looking ahead, what are UL’s priorities or strategies for further aligning its work with the SDGs? How can YERUN continue to play a role in supporting these efforts?

Looking ahead, UL is committed to deepening its alignment with the SDGs through a multifaceted approach that integrates education, research, operations, and community engagement. A key priority is scaling mission-based education, ensuring that interdisciplinary, mission-driven teaching equips graduates with the skills and perspectives needed to address sustainability challenges in their professional and personal lives. In parallel, UL is strengthening its research and innovation agenda, focusing on solutions-oriented research that tackles both local and global sustainability issues with real-world impact.

Beyond academia, UL is committed to leading by example in operational sustainability, driving initiatives in decarbonisation, biodiversity conservation, and resource efficiency to embed sustainability into the core of campus operations. At the same time, deepening partnerships with local and regional stakeholders remains essential to translating global SDG ambitions into meaningful, context-specific action.

YERUN can continue to play a vital role in advancing these efforts by facilitating knowledge exchange and best practice sharing among member institutions, creating opportunities for joint funding applications and co-designed research initiatives, and expanding access to interdisciplinary programs and capacity-building workshops. Additionally, YERUN’s role in advocacy and engagement is crucial for amplifying the impact of member universities’ sustainability efforts on both European and global stages. By leveraging the collective expertise and networks within YERUN, we can accelerate progress toward the SDGs and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Thank you, Andrea!

The University of Limerick’s mission-driven approach to sustainability is an example of how universities can be powerful drivers of change, translating global SDG ambitions into tangible local impact. Through innovative initiatives like the UL Mission-based Sustainability Framework 2030 and the UL Student Sustainability Challenge, the university is embedding sustainability into its core activities—empowering students, fostering interdisciplinary research, and leading by example in operational sustainability.

This interview with Andrea Deverell highlights not only UL’s achievements but also the importance of cross-institutional cooperation in addressing global sustainability challenges. As YERUN continues to foster collaboration among its members, the path forward is clear: by working together, we can accelerate innovation, share best practices, and create a lasting impact on the world’s most pressing issues.

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