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The European Union (EU) is implementing the “European Green Deal” to achieve its 2050 carbon neutrality goal, while also carrying out the “European Universities Initiative (EUI)” to foster innovation and integration in European higher education. The EU aims to maintain the independent objectives of these two policies while pursuing strategic connections to achieve mutually complementary effects. This paper explores the intersection of these two policies and analyzes the role universities play in responding to climate change. The study confirms that the EUI plays a key role in addressing climate change through transnational university alliances. The main findings of the research are as follows. First, it fosters talents equipped with green skills through interdisciplinary education utilizing challenge-based learning. Second, it develops innovative technologies to solve climate change issues through interdisciplinary collaborative research. Third, it leads the sustainable transition of local communities by utilizing campuses as living labs. However, challenges remain, such as differing educational systems across countries, the sustainability of funding, and disparities among participating universities.
유럽연합(EU)은 2050년 탄소중립 목표 달성을 위해 ‘그린딜 정책’을 추진하는 한편, 유럽 고등교육의 혁신과 통합을 위해서 ‘유럽 대학 이니셔티브(EUI)’를 시행하고 있다. EU는 두 정책의 독립적 목표를 유지하면서도 전략적 연계를 통해 상호 보완적 효과를 꾀하고 있다. 이 연구는 두 정책의 접점을 탐색하여, 기후 변화 대응을 위해 대학이 어떠한 역할을 하고 있는지를 분석한 것이다. 연구를 통해 EUI는 초 국경적 대학 연합을 통해 기후 변화 대응을 위한 핵심 역할을 하고 있음을 확인하였다. 주요 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 도전기반 학습(CBL)을 활용한 학제적 융합 교육을 통해 녹색 역량을 갖춘 인재를 양성하고 있다. 둘째, 학제 간 공동 연구를 통해 기후 변화 해결을 위한 혁신 기술을 개발하고 있다. 셋째, 캠퍼스를 리빙랩으로 활용하여 지역사회의 지속가능한 전환을 선도하고 있다. 그러나 국가별로 상이한 교육체계, 재정의 지속가능성, 참여 대학 간 격차 등은 해결해야 할 과제이다.
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- Publisher :The Korean Association of Regional Geographers
- Publisher(Ko) :한국지역지리학회
- Journal Title :REGION AND GEOGRAPHY
- Journal Title(Ko) :지역과 지리
- Volume : 31
- No :3
- Pages :465-478
- DOI :https://doi.org/10.26863/JKARG.2025.8.31.3.465


REGION AND GEOGRAPHY