Sustainable Development Objectives
The Agenda 2030 is the result of the joint work of governments and citizens around the world to create a new global model for ending poverty, promoting prosperity and well-being for all, protecting the environment and combating climate change, and integrates 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to be implemented by all countries and covering such diverse but interlinked areas as: equitable access to quality education and health services; the creation of decent employment; energy and environmental sustainability; conservation and management of the oceans; the promotion of effective institutions and stable societies; and the fight against inequality at all levels.
UTAD Commitments and Activities 2019
The University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), as higher education institution, has the ambition to contribute, through the commitments established in its Strategic Plan 2017-2021, as an active agent in the transformation of the world, to achieve all objectives of this Agenda. In the framework of the values underlying this Plan, we assume the centrality and value of people and their participation, the importance of equality and inclusion, and the promotion of the sustainability of the Planet. On the other hand, we affirm ourselves as an institution that thinks globally and acts locally and globally, engaged in reflection and action for a more prosperous and sustainable world, with a culture of social responsibility and networking, focused on quality and with an international vision, in interaction with the scientific, business and political worlds, and with the society in general.
As general commitments, transversal to the Sustainable Development Objectives, we highlight:
- Strengthening the internationalization of the knowledge produced by UTAD, with potential impacts in several SDG, associated to the mechanisms for dissemination and promotion of good practices in open science and sharing of knowledge;
- Inclusion of the Agenda 2030 and the SDG in the curricular structure of the various courses taught by UTAD;
- Strengthening the role of UTAD as a vehicle and promoter of the Agenda 2030 in the context of its relations with the community, with businesses and other public or private entities.
Activities for 2019

Allocation of scholarships through patronage (Symington Estates, Maria Rosa Foundation, Júlio Resende Foundation and other institutions).
Qualification of social support infrastructures, based on the organizational culture of promoting comfort, functionality and sense of community.

Support to the Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition in the preparation of the map of the distribution of food aid in Portugal.
Installation of the Fraunhofer Center delegation in precision agriculture.

Implementation of a program of sports, cultural and social responsibility activities, through the Library, the Cultural and Sports Activities Sector of the SASUTAD and the Academic Association.
Education for the consumption of fresh food, dissemination of nutritional information of the menus and encouragement of healthy choices.

Consolidation of forms of support for students, with special emphasis on students with special needs.
Reinforcing the visibility of Science and Technology in society in general and in the educational community in particular, by promoting a Summer University, Open Day, and by the continuity of the Science and Technology Week, the Junior University and the Science and Society Week.



Implementation of measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings with a view to reducing consumption and emission of greenhouse gases.

Valuation of human resources including the opening of competitions for associate professors and professors and the career mobility of non-teaching staff.
Implementation of the Pedagogical Training Plan for teachers in articulation with the consortium UNorte.pt.
Training of non-teaching and non-research workers.

Reinforcement of connectivity in collaboration with the Foundation for National Scientific Computation (FCCN) and preparation of the application to strengthen internal connectivity on campus and in the residential area.
Creation of the innovation office that aims to boost pre-incubation with the Regia Douro Parque, transfer of technology, innovation and industrial property, and the promotion of a culture of entrepreneurship.

Allocation of scholarships through patronage (Symington Estates, Maria Rosa Foundation, Júlio Resende Foundation and other institutions).
Promotion of circular reading through Bookcrossing in the Library: sharing of books for enjoyment and encouragement of the taste for reading.
Consolidation of forms of support for students, with special emphasis on students with special needs.

Interaction events with society, Eco @ utad and the Summer Innovation Campus.
Promotion of campus enjoyment initiatives by community members, ensuring that it is green space, safe and affordable.
Training of the sustainable mobility plan, involving the initiation of the construction of a bicycle lane in articulation with the local authority, under the Strategic Plan for Urban Development (PEDU) financed by the North of 2020 and the reinforcement of the ongoing U-bike program.
Creation of the platform for resource management and accounting for carbon sequestration on campus.




Valuing the Eco-Campus as a space for the promotion of biodiversity and conservation of ecosystems, carrying out information and training activities involving academia and the community.
Implementation of the waste management plan and design of an action plan for the treatment of liquid effluents, including training activities for the academy.
Support for the recovery of wild animals through the Center for the Recovery of Wild Animals of the Veterinary Hospital of UTAD.
Installation at UTAD of the Collaborative Laboratories in the areas of Forest and Vine and Wine.

Review and update of the Risk Prevention Plan for corruption and related infractions of UTAD.

Reinforcement of the internationalization culture involving, among other actions, the provision of pedagogical content in English, including study and information plans on the web page and the intranet.
Strengthening the network of international partnerships, including joining the Compostela Group of Universities.
Strengthening the participation of teachers and researchers in international events.
Promotion of a program of activities within the framework of the UNESCO Chair in Geoparks, Sustainable Regional Development and Healthy Lifestyles.
Reception of the Ibero-American Summit of Universities in collaboration with the Ibero-American General Secretariat, promoting the implementation of cooperation protocols.