Could you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Pilar Casado and I am lecturer in the field of Accounting and Finance at the University of Almeria. Since 2019, I have had the position of Director in Employability and, being the improvement of student employability and the acquisitions of skills needed in the labour market one of my major commitment. My involvement in the area of Knowledge Transfer, Society and Ecology in UNIgreen has allowed me to raise awareness of the importance of green soft skills for tackling the challenges posed by the new environmental situation.
Can you share one concrete way UNIgreen is making a positive impact?
Becoming aware is the first step to change. Unigreen community is promoting a positive mindset so as to promote sustainable development, connecting education, research, innovation and society. All participants in Unigreen are striving to develop values, attitudes, knowledge, skills and competences that will enable society to foster climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy.
Integrating sustainability principles into our students’ knowledge will have a positive impact on the future labour force, as their knowledge and solutions will be an effective tool in supporting sustainable development goals. What’s more, mobility programmes between the different universities of Unigreen give student the global point of view, making it easier to move from local to global thinking.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from working with such a diverse and international team?
Working in an international team brings academics for different countries in a way that benefits everyone. No matter the special features of each institution, the focus is on achieving the same goal, that is to support the green transition. Sharing ideas and perspectives has allowed me to learn and expand my knowledge of culture and educational systems of the countries belonging to Unigreeen.
Working in such a diverse team has enabled to build stronger ties between the participants of Unigreen, creating a unique approach. Together, we are making our common goal become a reality.
If UNIgreen were Plants, how would you describe them?
The first thing that comes to my mind is an eucalyptus tree. I see UNIgreen as a big, tall tree that can be seen from a long distance away. Furthermore, its thick trunk depicts our common approach. However, it is the length of the eucalyptus tree’s roots that characterises it most, and UNIgreen’s roots or foundations are grounded in the values that reflect our shared commitment to sustainable education, research and innovation in support of a more environmentally friendly and resource-efficient future.
