Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) took part in the pilot run of Responsible Futures International, an accreditation and supported change programme. Participation and leadership in this pilot demonstrates MRU’s strong commitment to embedding sustainability and social responsibility across the formal and informal curriculum in partnership with students.

Since its launch in the UK in 2014, 35 institutions have worked with their students across take part in Responsible Futures, demonstrating their commitment to creating an environment where education for sustainable development can thrive. Students Organising for Sustainability and the International Association of Universities are partnering to deliver a Responsible Futures international pilot, working closely with a small group of invited institutions, including MRU and 6 other institutions across the globe to co-create the programme, including an international framework of good practice.

The cohort of institutions worked closely with their students throughout the year to engage with the framework of good practice, effecting changes to teaching and learning. Students Organising for Sustainability and International Association of Universities provided support throughout the year, including opportunities for network learning between institutions and their students. At the end of the pilot year MRU participated at the a student-led audit to determine Responsible Futures accreditation. For more information on the Responsible Futures international pilot, please visit our site: https://www.sos-uk.org/project/responsible-futures

"Students have always been the driving force behind the societal change. With their youthful enthusiasm, up-to-date knowledge and the courage to act, they constantly remind us how to nurture the community and the environment," says Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, Rector of the MRU and Vice President of the International University Association.

“Exciting times ahead! As a student at MRU, I couldn't be more enthusiastic about our university's participation in the Responsible Futures International Pilot. It's not just an event; it's a transformative journey that promises to shape the very essence of our educational experience. I firmly believe that this endeavour will empower MRU students like me to become catalysts for change, equipping us with the knowledge and skills to lead sustainable lives and contribute to a more environmentally conscious society. It's a step towards creating a better, more equitable, and more sustainable future for all,” said Yuliana Shuhani, Student of Mykolas Romeris University.

About Students Organising for Sustainability

Students Organising for Sustainability is a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability. We know environmental sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation, so our work spans across issues of social justice and wellbeing as well.

Through our work we want to see...

• More students leading on, and learning for, sustainability.
• An education system repurposed around the climate emergency and ecological.
• Sustainability that is more inclusive, so it is for everyone.

About the International Association of Universities

The International Association of Universities (IAU) advocates for the role universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) play in support of sustainable development, since the early 1990s. Already in 1993, the IAU Kyoto Declaration called for higher education leaders to articulate better HE’s work to achieve a sustainable future. This was reaffirmed in 2014 with the IAU Iquitos Statement. The IAU strongly advocates for the inclusion of higher education as a key stakeholder when it comes to achieving Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. The IAU was one of the Key Partners in UNESCO’s Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (GAP ESD 2014-2019), and is currently a partner to the follow-up initiative, the ESD for 2030 Global network.

The IAU’s strategic priority Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) includes surveys on HESD, the IAU Global HESD Cluster Network, specialised publications, the IAU HESD portal, representation at events and more around sustainability in higher education. See also: https://iau-aiu.net/, http://www.iau-hesd.net/