Reflections from U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership
3 July 2025
This June marked the successful launch of the first U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership, hosted by Lund University in Sweden, a global leader in sustainability in higher education. Designed for postgraduate students from across the Universitas 21 network, the week-long programme brought together a diverse group of future changemakers to explore sustainability, leadership, and global collaboration in action.
As a new U21 initiative, created by U21 Senior Leaders, the School was developed to build on the strong sustainability teaching already taking place across member universities, offering a unique international opportunity for students to develop critical skills in sustainability policy and gain global perspectives. The inaugural cohort took part in a programme of keynote talks, workshops, field visits, and collaborative projects, all centred on real-world challenges.
Hosting the U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership 2025 has been an inspiring milestone. Bringing postgraduate students together from across U21 onto our campus allowed us to showcase not only our campus and interdisciplinary sustainability work, but also the vibrant community and spirit of sustainability that defines Lund.”
-Richard Stenelo, Executive Director, Division of Global Engagement and U21 Senior Leader
Learning from expert voices
Participants heard from leading voices in the field, including Emma Johansson from Lund University’s Centre for Sustainability Studies, whose keynote explored the power of creative, participatory approaches to shaping hopeful futures. By combining scenario thinking with community art, her work inspired students to consider how imagination and inclusion can transform sustainability planning.
The University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy also delivered a thought-provoking workshop led by Professor Kezia Dugdale and Dr Hannah Salamon, drawing on their experience in law-making, civic engagement, and climate policy. The session sparked rich discussions around leadership styles and understanding diverse perspectives to effectively communicate to those with opposing views leading to more effective policymaking.
Group challenge
The programme also featured a group challenge, where teams proposed sustainable interventions for U21 member universities. The winning team, made up of students from multiple countries, pitched an innovative solution “Repair and Create Together: an intergenerational circular hub” to reduce campus waste through Repair Cafés, Waste-to-Art labs, and a living memory library to harness and share local skills and create an intergenerational community.
The U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership was a fantastic experience which provided alternate perspectives on a common issue. This is invaluable for the cross-disciplinary nature of work in sustainability.”
-Andrew Bruce, The University of Hong Kong
Field Trip to UN City in Copenhagen
One of the week’s experiences was a group visit to UN City in Copenhagen, where students learned about the UN’s collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly through the work of the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre.
As part of the visit, students took part in a sustainable photo hunt, capturing features of Copenhagen’s urban design that reflect innovative sustainability thinking.
The U21 School didn’t just teach policy; it challenged me to lead it. If you are looking to sharpen your critical thinking, meet passionate change-makers, and learn what real sustainable policy looks like, this is for you.”
-Elena Lliso, University College Dublin
Building a Community
Throughout the week, students weren’t just exchanging ideas, they were building relationships. From casual coffee chats to exploring Lund’s graduation traditions, the spirit of togetherness was palpable.
