UNIVERSIDADE COMUNITÁRIA A SERVIÇO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL: COMPROMISSO INSTITUCIONAL COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY AT THE SERVICE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The article discusses the role of community universities in promoting sustainable development, emphasizing their institutional commitment to integrating sustainable practices in teaching, research, and extension. These institutions, which emerged in Brazil in the 1960s as a response to the need for more accessible higher education aligned with local demands, have as their primary mission to contribute to regional development and social transformation. The study highlights the importance of the UN's 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as guidelines for these universities, which seek to combine professional training with socio-environmental responsibility. Despite progress, the implementation of sustainable policies faces challenges such as financial resource constraints, resistance to change, and lack of adequate infrastructure. The article suggests strategies to strengthen the commitment of community universities to sustainability, such as the creation of permanent committees, partnerships with public and private sectors, and the integration of sustainability into the academic curriculum. It concludes that these institutions have the potential to become agents of social transformation, promoting sustainable practices that benefit both the academic community and the regions in which they are located.

Keywords: Community universities; sustainable development; 2030 Agenda; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); social responsibility.