In celebration of World Environment Day 2025, 05 June 2025 (webinar), the ProSPER.Net Sustainability Forum convened a thought-provoking webinar under the theme “EcoSmart Universities: Pioneering Sustainability for Future Generations.” This year’s Sustainability Forum, co-organized by the ProSPER.Net Circular Economy Expert Advisory Panel and the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at the University of Peradeniya, brought together scholars, sustainability practitioners, and institutional leaders to explore how universities can lead the charge toward a greener future. The event was further supported by Arabaev Kyrgyz State University, Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, Institut Teknologi Bandung, RMIT University, and the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
Recognizing that universities are powerful agents of change, the webinar emphasized how these institutions can integrate eco-friendly policies, circular economy strategies, and environmental consciousness into every aspect of their operations—from campus management and academic curricula to cutting-edge research and community engagement. The webinar provided a dynamic platform for sharing insights, best practices, and innovative policy approaches, highlighting how universities worldwide are taking bold steps to green their campuses, empower students as sustainability champions, embed circular economy principles into education and research, and collaborate with local and global communities for broader impact.
The programme opened with remarks from Prof. Deepak Sharma, Chair of the ProSPER.Net Board and representative of the Asia Institute of Technology. Prof. Usha Iyer-Raniga, Professor of Sustainable Built Environment at RMIT University and Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) moderated the session and introduced the EAP on Circular Economy.
The forum showcased a rich array of presentations, including Ms. Julie O’Brien from RMIT University, Mr. Josiah Theodore J. Cacayan from the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, Ms. Kamani Sylva from the University of Peradeniya, Dr. Chinnara Sadykova from AKSU, Dr. Subarna Sivapalan from the University of Nottingham, Prof. Tirto Prakoso from Institut Teknologi Bandung, highlighting practical approaches to advancing sustainability in higher education. Topics included strategies for driving meaningful change through the UN Sustainable Development Goals, innovative campus initiatives that transform university grounds into living laboratories for sustainability, and the integration of circular economy principles into institutional practices. Presenters also shared experiences in mainstreaming sustainability within academic curricula and research, as well as efforts to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and societal needs to support the Sustainable Development Goals. The panel discussion further enriched the dialogue by offering insights on fostering innovation and education in sustainability, emphasizing the pivotal role universities play as catalysts for positive environmental change.
The panel discussion included Dr. Anupam Khajuria, Research Fellow and Academic Associate at the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, who provided forward-thinking approaches universities can adopt such as cross-disciplinary teaching, collaborative research on circular and sustainable solutions, and sustainable campus operations, to drive meaningful change.
As the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, the ProSPER.Net Sustainability Forum reaffirmed the critical role of higher education institutions in shaping resilient, responsible, and future-ready societies. The discussions underscored the urgent need for universities to act as catalysts for sustainability, inspiring the next generation of leaders to create lasting positive change.
The recording of the forum is available at https://youtu.be/7ISQhGLR3Vk