During the Sustainable Development Gala broadcast by TVR1 on January 2, 2024, the West University of Timișoara was recognized as champion in the "Universities and Research" category for the innovative "Urban Garden UVT" project.
In the context of the importance of multidimensional education in the field of sustainability and environmental responsibility, UVT adopted an innovative approach, expanding the idea of "Green Week" to "Green Month", thus offering students and university staff the opportunity to experience and learn in contexts educational different from the traditional ones. A specific example is encouraging the UVT community to reduce the use of personal cars and adopt more sustainable practices.
UVT Urban Garden plays a central role in this initiative, serving as a "living laboratory" for the experimentation and validation of sustainable ideas. This space not only facilitates collaboration between different actors who would otherwise not normally interact, but also encourages the development and testing of new concepts in the field of sustainable development. The Urban Garden thus becomes a place where theory meets practice, allowing the UVT community to explore nature-based solutions in a real and tangible setting.
The Western University of Timișoara thus assumes a pioneering role in the field of education for sustainability, emphasizing the collective responsibility to protect the planet for future generations. The projects carried out by the university, including the Urban Garden, are connected to the real needs of the community and are supported through partnerships with local government, civil society and the private sector. This multidisciplinary and collaborative approach underlines UVT's commitment to sustainable development and environmental education.
In addition to UVT, four other organizations were awarded in various categories, demonstrating their commitment to responsible production and consumption. Among them, Kindergarten No. 35 Brașov, with the "Protectors of nature" project, Asociatia Ateliere Fără Frontiere, with the "Social and ecological company bio&co" project, Teatrul de Tăndărică animation, with the "Introducing MetaPuppet" project, and Transavia SA, with the "From bean to fork" project. Zero losses".
The Gala jury, made up of renowned experts such as Aura Răducu, Andreea Paul and Cristian Iordache, had a difficult task due to the high quality of the projects presented. As a result, special mentions were awarded to six other organizations, including the Nature Talks Association, the Suceava County Agriculture Directorate, Carrefour in partnership with InspirAction, the British Council, the "Otilia Cazimir" Secondary School in Iași, and the Baia Sprie High School for Motor Vehicles from Maramureș.
This Gala was part of a larger effort by the Department of Sustainable Development, started in 2021, aimed at identifying and recognizing organizations with sustainable initiatives in various fields. Next year, the competition will focus on the field of digitization.
The Sustainable Development Gala aimed to inspire other organizations to follow the example of those awarded and to become champions of sustainable development, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), included in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania - Agenda 2030, a strategy coordinated with the European Union and the UN.
