2021 Activities

The Activity Plan for 2021 “…summarizes the main activities and projects to be developed, in line with the commitments made in the UTAD Strategic Plan 2017-2021, under the motto “An Eco-University for the Future”, framing the proposed activities with the axes and strategic objectives (SO) established in that same Plan, but strongly conditioned by the external and internal environment of the current period. .”, referring also to “…the alignment of the institution with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals also assumes, in the current context, a redoubled importance, with particular attention to critical issues such as health, community well-being and inclusive and quality education.

In the exercise of aligning the Activities planned for 2021 with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by strategic Axes, the following activities stand out (although they may respond to more than one SDG, we have identified the activity with the greatest impact on that SDG):

	SDG 2 \| Eradicate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture: Support the installation of the Fraunhoffer Institute delegation, in the field of precision agriculture, and of UTAD FOOD ALLIANZ, hub in Portugal of the international Management Food Alliance [SO 2, SO 7] Obtain the quality seal by ISO 22000 standards – Food Safety Management System and EFQM Excellence Model in Social Action Services. [SO 4]
	SDG 3 \| Ensure access to quality health and promote well-being for all at all ages: Promote measures that increase student proximity in decision-making and in the choice of solutions to problems and to improve their quality of life at the University, as well as increase their knowledge and skills. [SO 14] To follow the evolution of the current pandemic scenario, applying and monitoring the prevention measures of CoVID-19, in an integrated way throughout the University – Schools, services, Specialized structures and Social Action Services. [SO 15] Strengthen the policy of safety and health at work, ensuring conditions of use of facilities and monitoring of human resources. [SO 15, SO 16] Promote information and awareness actions for incoming and outgoing Erasmus students on the application of measures for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. [SO 6, SO 8]
	SDG 4 \| Ensure access to inclusive, quality and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all: Continue the dynamization of the Doctoral College, as a transversal unit of 3rd cycle teaching and advanced training, in articulation with the Schools and the Research Units, aiming at the gradual reformulation of the offer of doctoral courses at UTAD. [SO 1, SO 10] To increase the number of students in initial and advanced training study cycles, enhancing the widening of the social recruitment base and the reduction of failure and dropout rates. [SO 1] To foster meritocracy by stimulating the attribution of scholarships for students, master’s and doctorate works under partnerships with companies and by resorting to patronage, or by creating other instruments of merit recognition. [SO 4] Promote interdisciplinary initiatives in the “Open Classroom” format, promoting the coming of specialists from different scientific areas. [SO 3, SO 7] To reflect on the recommendations and activity reports of the Student Ombudsman and implement changes in articulation with the Schools. [SO 14] Promote scientific culture involving the Centers and the Doctoral College, aiming at retaining students in the more advanced cycles. [SO 1, SO 9, SO 10] Consolidate forms of support for students, especially for students with special needs, in articulation with the Schools. [SO 6] Strengthen the visibility of Science and Technology, including Summer University, Science & Technology Week, Junior University and Science and Society Week. [SO 1] Continue the Pedagogical Training Plan for faculty and conduct training in safe classroom behavior from a risk prevention perspective. [SO 15] Collaborate in the implementation of two PhD programs and a master’s program in consortium with universities in northern Portugal and Galicia, as part of the POCTEP project “UNISF, Universities without Borders”. [SO 1, SO8, SO10]
	SDG 5 \| Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls: Complete the plan to renew and enhance the faculty and technical-administrative staff, in a national and international reference framework. [SO 15]
	SDG 6\| Ensure availability and sustainable management of drinking water and sanitation for all: Build the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for the treatment of effluents from agricultural facilities, and foster studies leading to the production of biogas and continuous monitoring of the operation of the WWTP, aimed at improving the efficiency of the effluent treatment process. [SO 5, SO 16]
	SDG 7 \| Ensure access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources for all: Maintain the certification of the campus by the NP EN ISO 14001 and 50001 standards and promote the training and dissemination of good environmental sustainability practices. [SO 4, SO 5]
	SDG 8 \| promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all: Support the establishment of technology-based companies on campus and in the city, framed within a strategy to create spin offs on campus and skilled employment in the region. [SO 7] Promote reflection on the recommendations and activity report of the Non-teaching and Non-researcher Worker Ombudsman. [SO 14] Maintain the policy of reducing operating expenses, privileging dynamics of environmental sustainability. [SO 17]
	SDG 9 \| Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation: Strengthen housing capacity for students by developing a project in the CIFOP space, as well as by optimizing other existing spaces. [SO 6, SO 16] Enable the R&D infrastructures, under the national infrastructure’s roadmap, and requalify the building in the historical area of the campus by funds from Turismo de Portugal. [SO 6, SOC 16, SOC 17]
	SDG10 \| Reduce inequalities within and between countries: Monitor indicators that assess the impact of R&D and knowledge valorization in the region and in the country. [SO 2, SO8, SO9]
	SDG 11 \| Make cities and communities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable: Qualify social support infrastructures, based on the organizational culture of promoting comfort, functionality and sense of community. [SO 6, SO 16]
	SDG 12 \| Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns: Maintain campus certification by NP EN ISO 14001 and 50001 standards and boost training and dissemination of good environmental sustainability practices. [SO 4, SO 5]
	SDG 13 \| Adopt urgent measures to combat climate changes and its impacts: Continue the construction of an Ecovia, framed in the campus mobility plan in articulation with the Development Plan. [SO 5, SO 16]
	SDG 17 \| Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development: Reinforcement of cooperation programs with companies, such as IC&DT projects funded by North 2020, mobilizing, demonstrative and co-promoting programs, as well as cross-border cooperation projects and with municipalities. [SO 2, SO 8, SO 17] Participate in networking and interaction activities with international technology transfer organizations. [SO 2, SO8, SO9] Promote institutional communication and marketing actions, focusing on the environmental sustainability agenda, reinforcing UTAD’s commitment to the Objectives for Sustainable Development, and participate in sustainability rankings. [SO 4, SO 5] Implement an information aggregator system (BI@UTAD), using artificial intelligence algorithms, aiming to collect data and information from the various information subsystems. [SO 13, SO 16] Participate in initiatives within the CURE Alliance, a university consortium that promotes smart, sustainable and inclusive territorial cohesion in its regions of influence through education, research and innovation. [SO 8, SO 9, SO12] Participate in the consortium promoted by the Union of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED) to implement a cooperation project for innovation and sharing of good practices with Libya, “IBTIKAR, promoting research and innovation environment in the Libyan Higher Education System”. [SO 8, SO 12] Hold the IV Forum of Reflection on Internationalization. [SO 8]

Distribution of SDGs in the Activity Plan for 2021

Documents and Reports

	SDG 2 \| Eradicate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture: Support the installation of the Fraunhoffer Institute delegation, in the field of precision agriculture, and of UTAD FOOD ALLIANZ, hub in Portugal of the international Management Food Alliance [SO 2, SO 7] Obtain the quality seal by ISO 22000 standards – Food Safety Management System and EFQM Excellence Model in Social Action Services. [SO 4]
	SDG 3 \| Ensure access to quality health and promote well-being for all at all ages: Promote measures that increase student proximity in decision-making and in the choice of solutions to problems and to improve their quality of life at the University, as well as increase their knowledge and skills. [SO 14] To follow the evolution of the current pandemic scenario, applying and monitoring the prevention measures of CoVID-19, in an integrated way throughout the University – Schools, services, Specialized structures and Social Action Services. [SO 15] Strengthen the policy of safety and health at work, ensuring conditions of use of facilities and monitoring of human resources. [SO 15, SO 16] Promote information and awareness actions for incoming and outgoing Erasmus students on the application of measures for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. [SO 6, SO 8]
	SDG 4 \| Ensure access to inclusive, quality and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all: Continue the dynamization of the Doctoral College, as a transversal unit of 3rd cycle teaching and advanced training, in articulation with the Schools and the Research Units, aiming at the gradual reformulation of the offer of doctoral courses at UTAD. [SO 1, SO 10] To increase the number of students in initial and advanced training study cycles, enhancing the widening of the social recruitment base and the reduction of failure and dropout rates. [SO 1] To foster meritocracy by stimulating the attribution of scholarships for students, master’s and doctorate works under partnerships with companies and by resorting to patronage, or by creating other instruments of merit recognition. [SO 4] Promote interdisciplinary initiatives in the “Open Classroom” format, promoting the coming of specialists from different scientific areas. [SO 3, SO 7] To reflect on the recommendations and activity reports of the Student Ombudsman and implement changes in articulation with the Schools. [SO 14] Promote scientific culture involving the Centers and the Doctoral College, aiming at retaining students in the more advanced cycles. [SO 1, SO 9, SO 10] Consolidate forms of support for students, especially for students with special needs, in articulation with the Schools. [SO 6] Strengthen the visibility of Science and Technology, including Summer University, Science & Technology Week, Junior University and Science and Society Week. [SO 1] Continue the Pedagogical Training Plan for faculty and conduct training in safe classroom behavior from a risk prevention perspective. [SO 15] Collaborate in the implementation of two PhD programs and a master’s program in consortium with universities in northern Portugal and Galicia, as part of the POCTEP project “UNISF, Universities without Borders”. [SO 1, SO8, SO10]
	SDG 5 \| Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls: Complete the plan to renew and enhance the faculty and technical-administrative staff, in a national and international reference framework. [SO 15]
	SDG 6\| Ensure availability and sustainable management of drinking water and sanitation for all: Build the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for the treatment of effluents from agricultural facilities, and foster studies leading to the production of biogas and continuous monitoring of the operation of the WWTP, aimed at improving the efficiency of the effluent treatment process. [SO 5, SO 16]
	SDG 7 \| Ensure access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources for all: Maintain the certification of the campus by the NP EN ISO 14001 and 50001 standards and promote the training and dissemination of good environmental sustainability practices. [SO 4, SO 5]
	SDG 8 \| promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all: Support the establishment of technology-based companies on campus and in the city, framed within a strategy to create spin offs on campus and skilled employment in the region. [SO 7] Promote reflection on the recommendations and activity report of the Non-teaching and Non-researcher Worker Ombudsman. [SO 14] Maintain the policy of reducing operating expenses, privileging dynamics of environmental sustainability. [SO 17]
	SDG 9 \| Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation: Strengthen housing capacity for students by developing a project in the CIFOP space, as well as by optimizing other existing spaces. [SO 6, SO 16] Enable the R&D infrastructures, under the national infrastructure’s roadmap, and requalify the building in the historical area of the campus by funds from Turismo de Portugal. [SO 6, SOC 16, SOC 17]
	SDG10 \| Reduce inequalities within and between countries: Monitor indicators that assess the impact of R&D and knowledge valorization in the region and in the country. [SO 2, SO8, SO9]
	SDG 11 \| Make cities and communities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable: Qualify social support infrastructures, based on the organizational culture of promoting comfort, functionality and sense of community. [SO 6, SO 16]
	SDG 12 \| Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns: Maintain campus certification by NP EN ISO 14001 and 50001 standards and boost training and dissemination of good environmental sustainability practices. [SO 4, SO 5]
	SDG 13 \| Adopt urgent measures to combat climate changes and its impacts: Continue the construction of an Ecovia, framed in the campus mobility plan in articulation with the Development Plan. [SO 5, SO 16]
	SDG 17 \| Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development: Reinforcement of cooperation programs with companies, such as IC&DT projects funded by North 2020, mobilizing, demonstrative and co-promoting programs, as well as cross-border cooperation projects and with municipalities. [SO 2, SO 8, SO 17] Participate in networking and interaction activities with international technology transfer organizations. [SO 2, SO8, SO9] Promote institutional communication and marketing actions, focusing on the environmental sustainability agenda, reinforcing UTAD’s commitment to the Objectives for Sustainable Development, and participate in sustainability rankings. [SO 4, SO 5] Implement an information aggregator system (BI@UTAD), using artificial intelligence algorithms, aiming to collect data and information from the various information subsystems. [SO 13, SO 16] Participate in initiatives within the CURE Alliance, a university consortium that promotes smart, sustainable and inclusive territorial cohesion in its regions of influence through education, research and innovation. [SO 8, SO 9, SO12] Participate in the consortium promoted by the Union of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED) to implement a cooperation project for innovation and sharing of good practices with Libya, “IBTIKAR, promoting research and innovation environment in the Libyan Higher Education System”. [SO 8, SO 12] Hold the IV Forum of Reflection on Internationalization. [SO 8]

Distribution of SDGs in the Activity Plan for 2021

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