The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) is a global partnership between United Nations entities and the higher education community, aimed at strengthening the role of higher education in driving progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
At the 2025 HESI Global Forum, HESI launched the HESI Partnership Framework — a mechanism designed to coordinate the contributions of its broad and growing community of over 1,300 United Nations entities, university networks, student organizations, and higher education institutions.
At the heart of the framework are the HESI Communities of Practice (CoPs) — thematic groups that provide a structured, action-oriented space for members to collaborate, exchange knowledge, share innovative solutions, and co-develop relevant policy recommendations. Each CoP focuses on a critical priority area of higher education’s contribution to sustainable development:
- Teaching & Learning – advancing education for sustainable development through curricula, pedagogy, and capacity-building.
- Research & Innovation – accelerating scientific discovery, applied research, and innovation to address sustainability challenges.
- Partnerships & Engagement – building cross-sector collaborations and connecting academia with governments, industry, and civil society.
Objectives
The Communities of Practice aim to:
- Highlight innovations that advance sustainable development.
- Inform policy and decision-making by generating actionable recommendations that guide higher education’s contributions to the SDGs.
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships by fostering collaboration between academia, governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
Engagement
Each year, the HESI Secretariat invites applications from across its membership to join the Communities of Practice. Selection is based on expertise, relevance, diversity, and commitment, and operates at two levels:
- Core Members: member who collaborate closely on the group’s activities — contributing to meetings, co-developing recommendations, and helping shape key outputs.
- Supporting Members: A wider network of members who contribute diverse expertise, perspectives, and examples through open consultations, peer-learning exchanges, and knowledge-sharing events.
Activities and outputs
Each CoP will convene at least two core member workshops and one open consultation with supporters each year. The main outputs will include:
- Case studies showcasing innovative practices, partnerships, and institutional approaches.
- Policy recommendations aimed at informing decision-makers within higher education institutions and UN Member States.
All outputs — including curated case studies, meeting reports, and policy recommendations — will feed into an annual HESI publication. Findings and recommendations will also be presented at key HESI events, including:
- HESI Networking Forum: An annual gathering of all HESI members to foster collaboration, exchange of experiences, and exploring new opportunities for joint action.
- HESI Global Forum: Organized annually as a special event of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)- the UN’s central platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda.
Apply
The HESI Secretariat is now accepting applications to join the Communities of Practice from 18 November 2025 to 18 December 2025.
Apply at: https://forms.office.com/e/F04j34ERww
Criteria for membership in COP
1. Relevance and Expertise
- Demonstrated expertise and practical experience in the selected CoP area (Teaching & Learning, Research & Innovation, or Partnerships & Engagement).
- Proven track record in advancing sustainable development in higher education (e.g., projects, publications, leadership roles, or institutional initiatives).
- Clear alignment with HESI’s objectives and thematic priorities.
2. Institutional and Stakeholder Representation
- Applicants should represent higher education institutions, university networks, student organizations, or relevant expert groups working in sustainability, education, or policy.
- Each member should have institutional endorsement to ensure commitment to contribute on behalf of their organization.
3. Regional and Gender Balance
- Selection will seek equitable regional/geographic representation.
- Gender balance and inclusion of youth is strongly encouraged.
4. Engagement and Commitment
- Willingness to actively contribute to at least one CoP activity per year (e.g., peer-learning session, case study, policy recommendation).
- Availability to attend virtual meetings and participate in collaborative drafting processes.
- Commitment to serve at least one year term as a core member.
5. Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
- Openness to share experiences, institutional practices, and lessons learned with other members.
- Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines, institutions, and regions.
6. Diversity of Perspectives
- Preference will be given to applicants who bring unique or underrepresented perspectives—such as those from small island developing states (SIDS), developing countries, indigenous institutions, or innovative education models.
7. Conflict of Interest
- Applicants must disclose any potential conflict of interest with HESI partners or other CoP members to ensure transparency and integrity of participation.
8. Supporting Documentation
- Applicants whose profiles are shortlisted for the Core Group will be asked to submit a supporting letter from the head of their institution or organization confirming endorsement and commitment to participation.
