Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) was launched in June 2012, in the lead up to RIO+20 and the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI). The partnership currently currently counts over 500 partners worldwide. The goal of GUPES is to promote the mainstreaming of environment and sustainability practices and curricula into universities by supporting innovative approaches to education.
The partnership provides points of contact so information can be shared with other institutions or networks around the world. It is an opportunity to promote your activities, exchange information and find collaborators for your work across the globe. Sharing information about your activities enables GUPES to plan its activities to enhance work already being undertaken rather than compete with existing initiatives. There are also opportunities to participate in events such as GUPES Partnership Forum that helps shape strategy for the future and other workshops and events
Membership is free and open to all higher education institutions. It provides access to the GUPES newsletter and other UNEP resources. For example, information about UNEP e-learning programmes development and creation, such as the MOOC on Disasters and Ecosystems, developed together with Cologne University of Applied Sciences, launched recently, https://iversity.org/en/courses/disasters-and-ecosystems-resilience-in-a-changing-climate. The course (audit track) is free and is currently ongoing. To join the GUPES network, simply send a letter expressing your interest in being involved from your dean or Faculty Head giving the name and contact details of the GUPES Focal Point to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
It is an opportunity to suggest ways GUPES in Europe could develop its future collaborations. It will also help define the diversity and scope of current activities in the region so GUPES can plan to enhance rather than compete with current activities. Currently we are collating input form universities and higher education networks from around Europe to develop a road map for GUPES development. This included working with Copernicus Alliance who is beginning to work with GUPEs to identify ways to work together. If you are interested in knowing more about GUPEs you can visit their web site, or perhaps contribute ideas for the road map by writing to:
Mahesh Pradhan
Chief, Environmental Education and Training Unit
Division of Environmental Policy Implementation
United Nations Environment Programme
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (+254 20) 762 3381/ 4101
Fax: (+254 20) 762 3917
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.