On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, the CZU CSR 2021 Conference entitled "Social Responsibility and Sustainability at Universities" took place in the Aula of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Representatives from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and representatives from other universities met in person to discuss various approaches to the CSR agenda and sustainable management in the university environment.
The principles of sustainable development have become an integral part of the management of organizations, and universities are no exception. Sustainable development is the primary process shaping the future of humanity and our planet. Today, it is essential that all private and public institutions take responsibility for their activities, however, not only in terms of the direct impact of their actions on society, the environment, and the economy but also on a broader scale that takes into account how organizations develop society at the national and transnational level, how it contributes to the quality of life, environmental protection, conservation of global resources, equal employment opportunities, ethical behaviour, community development, and other socially responsible actions.
Anna Josková, CZU Coordinator of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, presented the approach of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague to social responsibility and sustainability at the conference. Zuzana Huňková, the UP Sustainability Coordinator, contributed to the path to the sustainability of Palacký University. She explained the complexity of implementing the sustainable development agenda in the university's organizational structure. She shared details from the process of approving the UP Sustainable Development Strategy. The origin and functioning of the AMU Environmental Panel were presented by its chairman Lukáš Livkačan. He also described one of the main intentions of the panel, which is to support green art, i.e., art that minimizes its negative impact on society and nature. Adam Gromnica followed his lecture and pointed out the importance of the purchasing power of universities. Using examples from the practice of various universities, he explained that through responsible purchasing, it is possible to meet the sustainability goals at universities significantly.
The evaluation of universities' approach to sustainable development and social responsibility most often consists of analyzing strategic documents and a non-financial report, which should provide verifiable data. However, non-financial reports (CSR reports, Sustainability Report) are optional for colleges and universities with no standardized form. The contribution of Mgr. Pašmik from the University of Economics, Prague, introduced various non-financial reporting standards used at universities abroad. In a similar lecture, Mgr. Dan Heuer of the consulting firm Fair Venture presented a framework of current ESG sustainability indicators (based on Environmental, Social, and Governance factors). He explained how organizations dedicated to the same activity could be compared according to these sustainability standards. The topic of standards for non-financial reporting was concluded by a lecture on the emerging EU legal framework for ESG, prepared by Kristýna Vejvodová and Ondřej Janků from the Responsible Companies Section at Frank Bold. They focused on the emerging EU Taxonomy of Sustainable Activities and the new CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) standards, forming a comprehensive set for corporate responsibility analysis. Reporting according to CSRD standards will be a mandatory part of non-financial reports for private organizations with more than 250 employees from 2023.
The conference ended with a tour of the CZU campus, during which various sustainable elements located on the CZU campus were presented. The tour included an explanation of green roofs, rainwater retention and use, the green technologies of the new Tropical Agriculture Pavilion, organic waste composting, waste prevention through Filtermac fountains, the use of solar energy, the operation of Uniqway University Carsharing and much more.