COMSUS - Development of sustainable communications of higher education institutions in social media
Starting in 2018, large EU companies must report in accordance with the Directive 2013/34/EU as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information. Companies need to disclose their business model, policies and results, risks and non-financial key performance indicators in the following categories: environmental issues; social and service aspects; respect for human rights; problems of fight against corruption and bribery; diversity on the board of directors. But this is just the beginning. This Directive is a very good starting point, which can be gradually introduced in HEIs. To strengthen HEIs' role in promoting sustainable development goals may be the introduction of sustainable communications. In a time where anthropogenic climate change threatens some of the conditions we depend on, and where inequality and armed conflicts remain global problems, the need for relevant communication on global sustainability becomes urgent. The pandemic years has been a game changer. It has brought to the fore the need to bring the human-to-human approach back into focus.We have seen communication genuinely rooted in emotion, capable of bringing us together in times of great difficulty. Despite the challenges that we face, the time has come for HEIs communication to brand its power to put people at its centre and inspire students, staff, comunity, other key stakeholders all towards a more sustainable future. It’s time for communication to become more sustainable. Given the complexity of communication in this project, we will focus on the direction of communication through social media, the role of which is currently growing rapidly and underestimated by universities and academia.
COMSUS aim is strengthening of higher education institutions' capabilities in promoting the co-creating of resilient, inclusive and sustainable society through sustainable communications with key stakeholders in social media. Project concentrates on the relationship between media and communication and the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. The European Climate Pact (2020), Pact for Skills (2022) are promoting and calling organisations, educational bodies and public authorities to help people to prepare for work in green conditions and be able to get a jobemployment in the green economy. In response to calls from the EU, the COMSUS project partnership decided to join the implementation of green initiatives through educational tools in higher education sector.
Also COMSUS is oriented on European Skills Agenda (2020). We will help HEIs staff develop more and better Sustainable communication in social media skills and to put them to use for:
- strengthening sustainable competitiveness, as set out in the European Green Deal
- ensuring social fairness, putting into practice the first principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights
- building resilience to react to crises, based on the lessons of COVID-19 pandemic.
CICANT Team
Timóteo Rodrigues (Cordinator)
Ana Filipa Oliveira
Margarida Santos (Project Manager)
