The scientific, cultural and diplomatic relations between Europe and its partners in North America are very strong. From a scientific point of view, this long-lasting cooperation has been taking place across a wide range of areas. This also includes the field of sustainability, where North America and Europe are working hand in hand, seeking solutions to the many regional and global problems currently being faced.
Against this background and in order to cater for a wide discussion on the contribution of higher education institutions from both sides of the Atlantic, towards a more sustainable future, the «Transatlantic Symposium on Sustainable Development» series was brought to life. The first event, under the title «North American and European Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education» was held at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States, on 2-4 October 2023. The second one was held in Hasselt, Belgium on 10-11 October 2024. The third event was held in Toronto, Canada, on 26-27 June 2025.
This event, the «4th Transatlantic Symposium on Sustainable Development in Higher Education», will be held in Murcia, Spain, under the theme «Global Partnerships for Sustainability: Bridging Continents Through Education and Research», with a focus on strengthening transatlantic collaborations to address the SDGs through joint programmes, research, and student exchanges.
How to participate:
There are two possibilities for attending the symposium:
1. By only attending the symposium (without a presentation): please register on the following form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=jaxsLGGrs0eCCU3y5GrvvI5pXPIeVaZIrmg02Mr37UhUNzA5N09MWjEzTko5NldRWE1EQkxEQjhHWS4u&route=shorturl
2. By delivering an oral presentation: Researchers may submit any complete, original, and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. To participate, participants need to submit an abstract of 200 to 300 words, along with the authors’ names and full contact details, before 15th February 2026. Abstracts should be submitted by using the following form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=jaxsLGGrs0eCCU3y5GrvvI5pXPIeVaZIrmg02Mr37UhUNlRVVlpXSTVGUTNRVTNFQ0VVWEVUSElTUC4u&route=shorturl
For those who submitted an abstract: The authors will receive an email with the registration and payment details. In case you already want to proceed with it, please register here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=jaxsLGGrs0eCCU3y5GrvvI5pXPIeVaZIrmg02Mr37UhUNzA5N09MWjEzTko5NldRWE1EQkxEQjhHWS4u&route=shorturl
Deadlines
Abstract Submission: 15th February 2026
Registration Deadline: 30th March 2026
Full Paper Submission: 30th June 2026
Publication Opportunity
As the title suggests, the Symposium will provide an opportunity for North American and European sustainability experts to meet, present their work, interact and network. As a long-lasting documentation of their works, the experiences from the presenters will be documented and promoted in the Book «Global Partnerships for Sustainability: Bridging Continents Through Education and Research», to be published by Springer Nature within the World Sustainability Series, a leading peer reviewed series on sustainability in higher education: https://link.springer.com/series/13384
Submission is optional, it is a suggestion rather than a requirement. Detailed instructions for chapter preparation will be shared with authors whose abstracts are accepted. Each author will receive a complimentary PDF of their chapter and of the complete book.
Further details
More details can be seen at our website: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/university/newsroom/news-details/news/news/show/fourth-transatlantic-symposium-on-sustainable-development/
If you have any questions, or need further details, please contact the organising committee at FTZ-NK-Events@haw-hamburg.de
