Sustainability

Sustaınabılıty  Plan  2030

For more details see: Sustainability Plan of AUL

"Sustainability" is a broad concept. Although sustainability planning almost always addresses environmental and ecological health, it can also include human health and well-being, equity and social justice, and economic integrity.

Sustainability in higher education is to educate students regardless of course of study to be thoughtful, responsible, knowledgeable individuals who are ready to serve and influence the country, nation and world by further integrating them into the missions of creating a healthy economy, society and environment, education and research.

AUL's Sustainability Plan is broad, covering all aspects of the university's "operations, education, administration and stakeholders," including:

• Academics and Curriculum

• Management and Leadership

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Investment, Resources and Procurement

• Student Activities

• Energy and Infrastructure

• Residential Life and Food Services

• Transportation

• Waste management

Objectives

Through the following existing and new programs, AUL aims to engage students in co-curricular sustainability activities:

· Continue and expand learning opportunities to impart sustainability practices to students and instill a culture of sustainability across campus;

· Support student clubs related to sustainability.

· Virtually all respondents viewed sustainability as interdisciplinary, citing "access to health care," "racial equity," "fair trade," "climate change," and "access to clean water" as highly important.

· Develop sustainability outreach materials, including a sustainability newsletter, website, social media, brochures, sustainability map and self-guided tour, case studies and posters and other signage and displays;

· Organize events focused on sustainability, such as campus energy conservation competitions;

· Assessing the value and feasibility of expanding service learning in sustainability;

· Organizing workshops for faculty members on how to integrate sustainability into their courses.

With these goals in mind, courses at AUL help students achieve one or more of the following:

• Understand the concept of sustainability and be able to communicate it effectively;

• Develop and use an ethical perspective in which they see themselves as part of the fabric of an interconnected

  world;

• Be aware of and explore the links between their chosen course of study and sustainability;

• Develop technical skills or expertise necessary to implement sustainable solutions;

• Understand how sustainable thinking and decision-making contribute to the process of creating solutions for

  current and emerging social, environmental and economic situations.

Plan Outcomes

The AUL Sustainability Plan 2020–2030 specifically outlines the changes we aim to make on campus by 2030. These results include:

1.     Reduce energy consumption in existing buildings by 10 percent. 2.     Developing energy saving practices through office and classroom greening programs. 3.     Re-equipment of lighting devices with LED lamps to save energy in buildings and           significantly contribute to high energy consumption; thereby saving 10-25% of the total          greenhouse energy demand and reducing energy costs, operation and maintenance costs.

AUL plans to divert at least 90 percent of waste from landfill by 2030.

To achieve these goals, the principles and priorities are defined:

·      Optimizing the number and location of recycling and trash bins; ·      Improve procurement of products and services to reduce the amount of waste entering the campus; ·      Durable consumables (cleaning supplies, furniture, office supplies) and durable goods          (household appliances, electronics) should at least comply with LEED standards; ·      Sourcing at least 50 percent of food locally and sustainably. ·      Reduce the sale and consumption of bottled water; ·      To adopt the "Zero Waste" policy, which aims to reduce the waste produced by the university and send almost zero waste to the landfill;

Commuting, study abroad - Transportation and Travel activities account for approximately one-third of the university's greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to local air pollution and traffic congestion. It is planned to implement new programs for commuting on campus. prescribing the planning of a "Bike Friendly" project to significantly reduce emissions from transport and travel; improve bicycle access and incentives;

In the last years, Azerbaijan University of Languages has invested significantly in sustainability efforts. Our university decrease paper usage to protect trees. In order  to protect nature, we do not prefer plastic or anything can be harmful for our nature when we choose our gifts, gift raps and packages, instead of buying new furniture, we repair old ones.

IDEA Public Union has launched a new project dedicated to the collection and recycling of paper and plastic waste in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan and the Azersun company within the framework of the waste management program.Within the framework of the project, it is planned to place special sorting boxes for paper and plastic waste in higher education institutions.     

In order to efficiently use water resources in Azerbaijan, an promote campaign called "Bir Damci" (One drop) is being continued. To inform the students at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, posters and promotional boards were put on the walls, and awareness rising conversations were held among the students.The campaign is organized jointly by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, "Azersu" JSC, Azerbaijan Reclamation and Water Management JSC and IDEA Public Union.

 Join us at Azerbaijan University of Languages as we strive towards a brighter, more sustainable world, one step at a time.                                                    

Academics and Curriculum

Sustainability in the Curriculum is developed to recognize the importance of specific competencies to enable individuals to deal with complex sustainability issues. These competencies are not only about acquiring knowledge, but also about increasing the ability to apply this knowledge in different contexts. They present 6 frameworks for understanding sustainability competencies:

• Systems Thinking Competence: To analyze complex systems and sustainability issues across different domains and scales. • Values ​​Thinking Competency : Establish, discuss and apply sustainability values, principles and principles to plan for the current and future state of a complex system. • Strategies-Thinking Competence : Building and testing sound strategies for transitions and transformations towards sustainability. • Implementation competence : Drive and implement sustainability strategies, including design, implementation, adaptation, transfer and scaling. • Communicating with individuals : Engaging stakeholders to successfully develop within discipline teams and drive sustainability transformations. • Integrative competence : apply collective problem-solving procedures to complex sustainability problems, create   and define sustainability strategies.

The main point of student-led society policy is to use the intellectual and resourceful capabilities of student-led organizations at Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) in order to effectively engage them in the university's dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthen AUL's sustainability standing.

The main directions of this policy of AUL can be listed as below :

Student Youth Organization. Student Youth Organization of AUL regularly organizes sports competitions among students, intellectual game and debate tournaments, excursions and charity actions, meetings with outstanding athletes, etc. Being a self-governing organ of the students, SYO aims to protect the rights of students, identify their potential, expand the scope of the student network, direct their minds to the future, support them to build their strategy, arrange interesting leisure time. This organization also helps to improve students’ specialties and to expand their interests in different fields.

The members of AUL Student Youth Organization also take advantage of the opportunities and become department heads, realizing themselves in different positions, as well as, practicing the future work life.

Student Scientific Society. Student Scientific Society (SSC) was established at AUL in 1998. Initially, 80-100 students participated in the annual conference of SSC. For many years, the students of AUL took the highest places in the Republic Olympiads and conferences.

Involvement of students in scientific research activities and organization of these activities, promotion of various forms of scientific creativity among students based on the principle of unity of science, education and practice, assistance in increasing the interest of young people in these forms and fundamental research, as well as, motivation of students to research activities and study of scientific methods, to help them to master teaching materials in a deep and creative way is considered to be the main responsibilities of the Student Scientific Society.

All forms of discrimination are prohibited by the university. AUL's mission is to advance an understanding, polite, and accepting culture where everyone, regardless of their identification, may reach their full potential.

Effective equality, diversity, and inclusion practices ensure clear, fair, and accessible services for both internal and external stakeholders at the university. It is important to guarantee that people are treated equally, receive the respect and dignity that they deserve, and that their diversity is acknowledged

Equality Statement Azerbaijan University of Languages is fully committed to respect and fair treatment for everyone, eliminating discrimination and actively promoting equality of opportunity and delivering fairness to all. In addition to being compliant with the equality laws, the University also supports diversity and promotes equality of opportunity for all staff and students regardless of their:

·        Age

·        Gender

·        Disability

·        Marriage

·        Pregnancy and Maternity

·        Race

·        Religion or Belief

·        Sexual Orientation

·        Financial disadvantages

·        Freedom to choose areas of research and to speak and teach publicly about the area of their research

AUL's commitments to equality include: 

To guarantee that representatives of diverse racial, gender, religious, age, and ethnic backgrounds, as well as individuals with disabilities, have equal rights. 

· To ensure that members of the university community get equitable treatment following a set of rules, policies, and other state laws.

· To encourage equal opportunities, do away with discrimination, and change prejudices based on one's background.

· To promote inclusivity and equity to build a community where people feel respected and like they belong. 

· To provide a framework and reference point, as well as to raise awareness of inclusion, diversity, and equality. 

· To guarantee involvement from a variety of administrative and academic positions, as well as from student representatives and voices from committees and groups.

· To support academic freedom (Freedom to select study topics, as well as the ability to lecture and teach in public about those topics).

Legal Basis

The legal basis of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy (hereinafter – EDI) is based on the respective provisions of the respective legislations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Decrees, and (or) the orders of the President and the Cabinet of Ministries of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Labor Code and the Law on Education and other related legal documents

Scope

All employees, researchers, students, and those who apply to work or study at the university are covered by the policy. The principles of equality of opportunity and non-discrimination also apply to the way guests, staff members, contractors, service providers, suppliers, and everybody else involved in the operations of the university should be treated.

Current Situation  

The University encourages academics, administrators, and students to pay attention to policies of equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

The University encourage people to demonstrate their support for equal rights and bring attention to injustices.

The University often hosts training courses, workshops, and informational meetings for staff and students.

All students can meet directly with the Rector on Wednesday of every week, and solve their appeals and complaints for all kinds of unfair behavior. 

There is The Quality Assurance Department which performs and investigates any violation cases on equality, diversity, and inclusion and monitors the implementation of the policy

This Quality Assurance Department conducts surveys for students, and based on the results, concerns are addressed before taking any further action. If unfair behavior is reported, a timely and thorough investigation is initiated. Following that, take prompt action and notify the people in charge of the problems. The department also conducts student-teacher, and student self-assessment surveys, preparation of reports, and preparation and implementation of measures based on the obtained results.

The Appeal Commission is established through the exam period, and students may submit complaints to The Appeal Commission at any time. 

Freedom of Choice

Research Freedom: AUL promotes research freedom by allowing students to explore a broad range of research subjects and methodologies and fostering a culture of innovation and intellectual exploration.

Academic Freedom: AUL respects the idea of academic freedom, making sure students are free to follow their interests and goals in learning, investigate a wide range of subjects, and make decisions about their academic careers.

Student Club Freedom: AUL supports the freedom of choice in student clubs by TGT (Student Youth Organization). Students are encouraged to initiate and join clubs that align with their passions and hobbies.

Freedom in Extracurricular Activities: AUL respects students' freedom to participate in a range of extracurricular activities, ensuring students can take part in events, sports, and cultural activities that relate to their interests.

Respect for Diversity of Thought: AUL students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to engage in open communication and intellectual exchange by creating an inclusive atmosphere that values diversity of opinion and ideas.