UNICA Days 2027: Universities for a sustainable future: beyond the 2030 agenda | Brussels, 24-26 Feb 2027

As the world approaches the final years of the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stand at a decisive moment. Progress has been uneven across regions, and in some areas – climate action, inequality, peace and justice – the global community is moving backwards. The last decade has been marked by overlapping crises: geopolitical tensions, climate‑related disasters, democratic erosion, global health emergencies, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. These shifts have reshaped the environment in which universities operate and have exposed the fragility of the global commitments made in 2015.

Against this backdrop, the UNICA Days 2027 will convene an international dialogue on the role of higher education in advancing the SDGs in the final stretch to 2030 and in shaping the next global agenda. They will thus serve as a platform for global reflection and collective foresight by bringing together diverse perspectives to examine the SDGs not as a static framework, but as a shared responsibility that must evolve with the world. In doing so, the conference will also reaffirm the essential role of universities as global actors committed to knowledge, dialogue, and the long‑term wellbeing of societies.

Objectives

• Gain a clearer understanding of global progress and setbacks in achieving the SDGs
• Share institutional approaches to advancing sustainable development
• Identify opportunities for strengthening international collaboration and collective impact
• Reflect on the priorities, principles and needs that should shape the post-2030 global framework.