Sustainability in European University Alliances: A Thematic Analysis of Mission Statements

Abstract

This study analyzes how 17 European university alliances from the first wave of the European Universities Initiative (2019) frame sustainability education in their mission statements. Using reflexive thematic analysis, three themes emerged: Student Agency, Driving Sustainable Change, and Navigating Global-Local Dynamics through Posthuman Bildung. The findings highlight how alliances align global sustainability goals, such as the SDGs, with local contexts, emphasizing collective responsibility, relational engagement, and ecological interconnectedness. This research sheds light on the transformative role of alliances in advancing sustainability in higher education.