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  6. SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals

SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals

The ambitious results of the UN SDGs cannot be achieved without the widest partnerships and collaboration amongst multiple stakeholders. IULM is accordingly committed to a comprehensive set of measures aimed at building widespread and deep relationships to support the goals and promoting education for SDGs and a commitment to meaningful education with specific courses on sustainability:


Università IULM has direct involvement and input into national government and regional non-government organisations SDG policy development, identifying problems and challenges, developing policies and strategies, modelling likely futures with and without interventions, monitoring and reporting on interventions, and enabling adaptive management.
This engagement is formally anchored in the Strategic Plan 2025–2027, which recognises institutional partnerships as a key driver for sustainability, inclusion, and global citizenship.

Collaboration with national and international government organisations

  • FAO – Strategic Partnership for Sustainability Communication
    IULM signed a strategic partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support global policy initiatives through research, training, and outreach within the World Food Forum.
    The partnership advances sustainability communication, responsible consumption, and environmental literacy, aligning academic expertise with international policy frameworks on food systems and climate action.
  • UNHCR and the Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
    IULM endorsed the UNHCR “Manifesto for Inclusive Universities”, coordinated by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and the UN Refugee Agency, contributing to national guidelines on inclusion and access to higher education for refugees and asylum seekers — directly supporting SDGs 4 and 10.
  • UNESCO – Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
    By joining the UNESCO Manifesto for the Decade of Ocean Science, IULM promotes ocean literacy and marine sustainability across the Italian higher education system, contributing to SDG 14 and reinforcing environmental awareness through education and communication.
  • Ministry of Environment and Energy Security – COP28 (Dubai)
    At COP28, Professor Stefania Romenti, Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability, represented IULM at the Italian Pavilion coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.
    She delivered the talk “Strategic Communication for Climate Action”, emphasising youth engagement and intergenerational dialogue as key elements of effective sustainability governance.
  • Ministry of Education and Merit – Linguistic Inclusion Policy
    In September 2024, IULM hosted the Roundtables on Arabic Language Education in Italy, organised with the Ministry of Education and Merit and Qatar Foundation International (QFI), to develop policy pathways for linguistic inclusion and intercultural dialogue in Italian schools.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI)
    During the Italian Cuisine Week in the World 2024, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), Professor Vincenzo Russo, Director of the Brain & Behavior Lab, delivered the seminar “The Taste of the Mind: Where Science and Cooking Meet” at Sultan Qaboos University, highlighting sustainable food systems and Mediterranean Diet education.
  • RUS and RuniPace Networks
    IULM is a member of both the RUS – Rete delle Università per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile and RuniPace – Italian University Network for Peace, coordinated by the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI).
    Through these networks, IULM contributes to national policy frameworks for sustainability governance, peace education, and SDG monitoring.
  • Italian Carabinieri Command (Arma dei Carabinieri)
    In January 2024, IULM formalised a national agreement with the Arma dei Carabinieri to deliver joint training and seminars on institutional communication, public information, and crisis management — reinforcing transparency and trust in public institutions.

Collaboration with regional and civil-society organisations

Complementing its institutional role, IULM collaborates with regional administrations, foundations, and civic associations to translate academic research into actionable sustainability policies.

  • EXPO Doha – “Exploring Eco-Consciousness” Congress
    The Exploring Eco-Consciousness Congress, organised by IULM research centres CIMASC and the Brain & Behavior Lab under the patronage of regional institutions, explored environmental communication and behavioural science for sustainability.
    The event provided policy recommendations for local governments and practitioners on promoting ecological awareness and civic responsibility.
  • Milano Green Week 2024 – PlasticFree Cleanup Initiative
    On 28 September 2024, IULM partnered with the NGO PlasticFree for a large-scale cleanup in Affori Centro as part of the Milano Green Week, the City of Milan’s sustainability festival.
    The initiative engaged students, staff, and citizens in removing plastic waste from urban spaces, helping to reduce pollution and protect urban biodiversity.
    By participating in this initiative, IULM directly contributed to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through tangible civic engagement and environmental stewardship.
  • Moleskine Foundation – Creative Education for Sustainability
    IULM collaborates with the Moleskine Foundation to foster creativity and social innovation among young people through educational programmes that connect sustainability, art, and inclusion.

Through its multi-level collaborations with ministries, UN agencies, embassies, regional authorities, and civil-society organisations, Università IULM actively supports policy co-creation, monitoring, and implementation of the SDGs.
By connecting research, education, and institutional partnerships, IULM strengthens Italy’s capacity for evidence-based sustainability governance, fostering dialogue among academia, government, and society in pursuit of the UN 2030 Agenda.


Università IULM initiates and participates in cross-sectoral dialogue about the SDGs, bringing together government representatives, international organisations, businesses, NGOs, and civil society through structured forums, conferences, and collaborative projects.
This mission is embedded in the Strategic Plan 2025–2027, which identifies “Dialogue and Partnerships for the Common Good” as a strategic pillar of the University’s contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda.

Global and international dialogue

At the international level, IULM contributed to global policy discussions at COP28 (Dubai), participating in the Italian Pavilion hosted by the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security.
Professor Stefania Romenti, Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability, presented Strategic Communication for Climate Action, engaging policymakers, journalists, and private-sector leaders on youth participation and intergenerational collaboration in climate governance.

IULM also co-organised the international congress “Exploring Eco-Consciousness” at EXPO 2023 Doha, led by the University’s research centres CIMASC and the Brain & Behavior Lab.
The event convened international academics, policymakers, and practitioners to explore behavioural science and communication strategies for environmental sustainability, producing policy-oriented recommendations disseminated to regional institutions.

Additionally, IULM hosted the Roundtables on Arabic Language Education in Italy (September 2024), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit and Qatar Foundation International.
The initiative fostered dialogue between governments, educators, and cultural institutions to design policy pathways for linguistic inclusion and intercultural understanding, advancing SDGs 4, 10, and 17.

National dialogue and multi-stakeholder engagement

At the national level, IULM serves as a platform for dialogue on sustainability, communication, and innovation, convening policymakers, business leaders, NGOs, and academia.
In 2024, the University hosted the Settimana della Sostenibilità IULM, a week-long programme of open lectures and roundtables addressing responsible business, sustainable tourism, and environmental transition.
IULM also hosted the ESG Panel 2024 and the Professioni della Sostenibilità Conference, which gathered speakers from ministries, municipalities, corporations, and non-profits to discuss emerging green professions and ethical communication.

These forums reinforced IULM’s position as a national hub for sustainability dialogue, generating actionable insights on workforce transformation, corporate ESG integration, and sustainable territorial development.

Regional and local dialogue

At the regional level, IULM co-designed public communication campaigns on sustainable urban lifestyles during the Milano Green Week 2024, in partnership with the Municipality of Milan and the NGO PlasticFree.
The initiative combined citizen engagement, environmental education, and volunteerism through a large-scale cleanup event that mobilised students, staff, and residents to remove plastic waste — fostering a culture of civic responsibility and ecological awareness.

IULM also organised IULM for the City 2024, a series of free public lectures and cultural events connecting academics, citizens, and local institutions.
Topics included creativity, sustainability, gender equality, and social inclusion, promoting community dialogue and cultural participation.

Through its multi-level engagement — international (COP28, EXPO Doha), national (ESG Panel, Settimana della Sostenibilità), and local (Milano Green Week, IULM for the City) — Università IULM has established a permanent, inclusive platform for SDG dialogue.
By integrating research, communication, and policy discussion, the University enhances collective learning, civic participation, and evidence-based sustainability governance, reinforcing Italy’s contribution to the SDGs and the values of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.


Università IULM participates in international collaboration on gathering and measuring data for the SDGs through research that integrates quantitative, qualitative, and comparative methods for measuring sustainable development.

Centro di Ricerca Cultura e Scienza della Sostenibilità (CRCS)

Activities are coordinated by the Centro di Ricerca Cultura e Scienza della Sostenibilità (CRCS), established in 2023 and directed by Professor Massimo De Giuseppe (Full Professor of Contemporary History).
The Centre was founded as part of IULM’s participation in the EIT Culture & Creativity (EIT C&C) network — the European Institutional Partnership for the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) within the EU’s Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC).
CRCS serves as IULM’s main interdisciplinary platform for international cooperation in sustainability-related cultural research, innovation, and education.

Its objectives include:

  1. Promoting innovative education and internationalisation in the field of sustainability and culture, equipping students with cross-sectoral skills;
  2. Supporting the design of cultural products and services that address today’s environmental and social challenges;
  3. Advancing the recognition of culture as a driver of innovation and sustainable growth;
  4. Contributing to the creation of an open, resilient European community in the cultural and creative sectors through interdisciplinary research and philanthropic projects.

In 2024, CRCS coordinated a range of initiatives linking culture, environment, memory, and innovation, including:

  • the international conference L’Europa e i suoi altrove (2 May 2024), an interdisciplinary dialogue on Europe’s cultural imagination and its global “others”, organised under the patronage of the Società Italiana per lo Studio della Storia Contemporanea (SISSCO);
  • the public lecture La macchina del tempo: quando l’Europa ha iniziato a scrivere la storia del mondo (22 May 2024) by historian Serge Gruzinski (École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, EHESS);
  • the documentary project Il libro delle ombre, developed with RuniPace and directed by Giuseppe Carrieri, exploring human rights, peace, and environmental sustainability through the testimonies of hibakusha, survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki;
  • the project Memoria della Terra, building an oral history archive and documentary on community archaeology in the Sierra Ancash (Peru), in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Museo delle Culture di Milano, and IULM’s Human Lab and IulMovieLab.

Key data-driven and internationally collaborative projects (2024)

Università IULM also participates in international collaboration on gathering and measuring data for the SDGs through other research projects, below are some examples from 2024:

SDG 8 & 11 – Integrated Mobility and Urban Sustainability

SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  • La Nautica in Cifre 2023-2024: In partnership with Confindustria Nautica, the project builds two national reports ( Log and Monitor) analysing the boating industry’s economic impact, labour trends, and sustainability profile, providing official sectoral statistics for policy and trade use.

SDG 10 – Reducing Inequalities

SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Cultural Heritage

SDG 9 & 17 – Digital Innovation and AI Ethics

  • AI MAGISTER. Polo di innovazione digitale: National hub (European Digital Innovation Hub candidate) joining 12 Italian and EU universities. IULM AI Lab leads training and assessment on AI adoption for SMEs and municipalities, generating datasets on digital maturity and skill gaps.

SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • GIG UP 2: Creates a national Observatory on Gig Workers, using machine-learning and NLP tools to analyse job platform data and survey gig-economy professionals, producing longitudinal datasets on employment trends and digital labour.

SDG 15 – Life on Land / Cultural and Natural Heritage

  • Sounding Images – Screening Sounds (SISS): PNRR – NextGenerationEU project (2024-2026) led by Conservatorio Bonporti with IULM and IED Milan; combines artistic production, digital heritage scanning, and data visualisation to map Italy’s cultural landscapes and audio-visual heritage.

SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Together, these projects demonstrate IULM’s role in collecting, harmonising, and disseminating SDG-relevant data across multiple domains — mobility, digitalisation, tourism, culture, gender, and governance.
By sharing methodologies and indicators with ministries, research networks, and European agencies, the University contributes to a culture of open science, transparency, and evidence-based sustainability policy advancing  the SDGs.


Università IULM, through international collaboration and research, systematically reviews comparative approaches and develops international best practice on tackling the SDGs through its specialised research centres and research projects.


Research centres contributing to SDG best practices

Each centre contributes to a specific SDG domain, developing evidence-based frameworks and transferable models across disciplines and regions.

Research projects generating comparative frameworks and best practices (2024)

Through its network of research centres and projects, Università IULM generates replicable comparative frameworks, cross-sectoral guidelines, and open-access datasets applicable across nations and industries.
These outputs foster transparency, inclusion, and innovation—core values of SDG 17—and demonstrate how IULM’s research actively shapes global best practices in education, communication, sustainability, and governance.


Università IULM collaborates with leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to tackle the SDGs through: development of educational resources, research programmes, student volunteering programmes.
These partnerships combine academic research, creative education, and community engagement, producing replicable models of social innovation in the fields of culture, environment, and health.
Through long-term cooperation with international and national NGOs, IULM contributes to evidence-based solutions that promote inclusion, sustainability, and well-being.

PlasticFree – Civic engagement for environmental sustainability (SDGs 11, 13, 17)

In September 2024, IULM joined forces with the environmental NGO PlasticFree during the Milano Green Week, the city’s official sustainability festival.
Together, they organised a large-scale cleanup in the Affori district, involving students, staff, and local residents in removing plastic waste and promoting environmental stewardship.
The initiative — part of the City of Milan’s Green Week — raised awareness on waste reduction and circular economy, directly contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
PlasticFree’s participation, backed by its national record of removing over 4 million kilograms of plastic through volunteer action, made this event a model of academic–NGO collaboration for civic environmental engagement.

Moleskine Foundation – Creativity for social change (SDGs 4, 5, 10, 17)

Moleskine Foundation is an international NGO recognised by UNESCO, committed to fostering creativity for social transformation.
Università IULM signed an agreement with the Moleskine Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes creative potential among young people to drive social change. Through this collaboration, IULM students have the opportunity to volunteer in a training program dedicated to preserving African culture, history, and language. The partnership exemplifies how creative education can be leveraged as a tool for empowerment and civic participation, generating measurable outcomes in social innovation and global citizenship.

One Ocean Foundation – Ocean literacy and sustainable blue economy (SDGs 13, 14, 17)

The One Ocean Foundation (OOF) is an Italian-based NGO with ECOSOC consultative status, operating globally to promote ocean literacy and the sustainable blue economy.
IULM and OOF have collaborated on communication for sustainability through joint seminars, corporate engagement initiatives, and research dissemination.
The partnership contributes to the development of best practices for ocean governance communication, reinforcing the link between scientific literacy, business responsibility, and global environmental policy.

AVIS – Health prevention and community well-being (SDGs 3, 10, 17)

Every year, IULM hosts a blood donation day on campus in collaboration with AVIS. In 2024 the initiative takes place within Transfusiasm, the national event promoted together with AVIS and La Rete di Tutti to encourage solidarity and raise awareness about the value of blood donation among students, translators and interpreters. On 16 October 2024, a mobile AVIS unit will be available on the Milan campus from 8:30 to 11:45, and a second unit will be present in Rome at Eur-Fermi from 8:00 to 11:30. Inspired by the Joyce-coined neologism “Transfusiasm,” the event symbolically connects the act of transfusion with the cultural exchange between author and translator, celebrating a simple but life-saving gesture open to everyone.

Through these structured and outcome-oriented collaborations with Moleskine Foundation, One Ocean Foundation, AVIS and PlasticFree, Università IULM demonstrates the transformative role of universities as co-creators of sustainability impact with civil-society organisations.
Together, these partnerships:

  • reach diverse beneficiary groups (youth, women, citizens, corporate stakeholders);
  • combine scientific knowledge and creative methods for social and environmental innovation;
  • and produce evidence-based frameworks that strengthen progress toward SDGs 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 17.

IULM’s approach exemplifies how academic–NGO collaboration can translate research and education into measurable, replicable best practices for sustainable development.


Università IULM has a commitment to meaningful education around the SDGs across the university, that is relevant and applicable to all students - across undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes - to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda.
Sustainability is embedded as a core educational principle in every degree area, articulated through three interdisciplinary pillars: social inclusion, environmental responsibility, and cultural sustainability.

Strategic commitment

The University’s Strategic Plan 2025–2027 identifies sustainability education and social innovation as transversal priorities across all academic programmes.
IULM is also a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), aligning its teaching and research with international frameworks for sustainable business and communication.
The Sustainability Committee — chaired by the Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability — ensures that sustainability-related objectives are systematically integrated into curricula, teaching methodologies, and campus initiatives.

Curricular integration of sustainability (2024–2025)

Sustainability is a learning outcome embedded in all of IULM degree programmes, adapted to each disciplinary area: management, communication, languages, tourism, arts, and creative industries.
Each course includes at least one module or learning activity addressing sustainability themes in line with the SDGs. Below are the main examples:

Undergraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

Through its fully integrated approach, Università IULM educates over 8000 students annually in sustainability-related disciplines, preparing future professionals to balance cultural, social, and environmental objectives.
By aligning teaching, research, and institutional governance, IULM transforms sustainability education from a theoretical topic into a practical framework for responsible leadership — directly supporting SDGs 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 17.


Università IULM has dedicated courses (full degrees and electives) that address sustainability and the SDGs, across the areas of communication, management, marketing, tourism, and creative industries.
As a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), IULM ensures that sustainability is not only a transversal principle but also a specific field of study, equipping future professionals with the competencies to address economic, environmental, and social challenges through evidence-based and ethical approaches.

Undergraduate programmes (Laurea Triennale)

  • Fashion and Creative Industries – Interculturalità, Sostenibilità, Inclusività (Prof. Giacomo Pozzi): explores sustainability and inclusivity within the fashion and creative sectors, analysing the ethical dimensions of production, cultural representation, and social responsibility.
  • Tourism, Management and Culture – Marketing Territoriale e Sostenibilità (Prof. Valeria Pecorelli): introduces sustainable territorial development through branding, place identity, and the Smart Cities Laboratory (24 hours), connecting tourism innovation with environmental impact reduction.

Postgraduate programmes (Laurea Magistrale)

  • Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM)
  • Marketing, Consumption and Communication
  • Strategic Communication
    • Principles of CSR Communication (Profs. Colleoni, Fazi): analyses stakeholder communication, corporate ethics, and sustainable brand reputation.
    • Sustainability Communication (Profs. Carignani, Manzotti, Romenti, Corsaro, Salimi): a dedicated second-year specialisation covering sustainability narratives, ESG strategy, and policy communication.


Università IULM has dedicated outreach educational activities for the wider community, through a comprehensive programme of outreach and lifelong learning activities open to alumni, displaced people, refugees and the local community.
These initiatives extend the University’s mission beyond the campus, providing accessible, inclusive, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Lifelong learning and alumni engagement

IULM offers continuing education opportunities for graduates and professionals through thematic events and workshops on sustainability, innovation, and leadership.
Key 2024–2025 initiatives included:

  • W Leadership Summit 2025 – a national forum on female leadership, ESG governance, and inclusive management, organised in partnership with IULM Alumni and Class Editori.
  • Le Nuove Frontiere del Marketing – an open discussion with alumni and corporate leaders on sustainability communication, AI, and digital innovation in post-pandemic markets.

These programmes promote continuous professional development and foster a community of alumni committed to the principles of sustainable leadership.

2. Open-access education for the public

IULM provides free and open learning opportunities to promote civic education, critical thinking, and global awareness:

  • Fondamenta – a free online programme of 12 masterclasses led by IULM professors, addressing topics such as ethics, communication, and sustainability.
  • IULM for the City – a cycle of public lectures and dialogues on culture, creativity, and sustainability that connect academia with citizens and local organisations.
  • TOP – Tutoring Online Project – digital mentoring for students and graduates, providing personalised support in study methods, employability, and academic inclusion.
  • Teacher Training Courses and Progetto Licei – capacity-building for secondary-school teachers and orientation for high-school students, fostering SDG literacy and intercultural understanding.
  • Junior Summer and Winter Schools 2024 – open courses introducing secondary-school students to communication, languages, and creative industries.
  • Graduate Summer School – Open Lectures – postgraduate seminars on sustainability and strategic communication, accessible to the wider public.
  • Civil Week 2024 and International Week 2024 – civic and educational programmes promoting active citizenship, inclusion, and global awareness.
  • “Leggo molto” at IULM – a reading promotion initiative organised with Libraccio, encouraging literacy and community engagement through an open-access book fair.

3. Public lectures and international Flow Talks series

The IULM Flow Talks are open webinars featuring global experts addressing sustainability, innovation, and social issues.
 Recent 2024 sessions included:

  • TALK 56 – Empower Leadership: Creative and Critical Thinking Perspective
  • TALK 55 – Addressing the Complex Challenges of Global Food Security (with FAO)
  • TALK 54 – Communicating Sustainability Effectively
  • TALK 53 – Gamification for Environmental and Social Education
  • TALK 52 – Green Deal: Local Innovations for Sustainability
     This format encourages global dialogue and public participation, reaching over 4,000 online attendees annually.

4. Experiential learning through art, cinema, and theatre

The IULM campus functions as a cultural laboratory open to the public, hosting exhibitions, performances, and debates that connect art, sustainability, and social dialogue.
 Notable 2024 initiatives included:

5. Inclusion and outreach for displaced learners and refugees

During the 2023/2024 academic year, IULM participated in the InZone programme coordinated by the University of Geneva, offering distance courses for students in refugee camps in Azraq (Jordan) and Kakuma (Kenya).
Courses cover Strategy and Management, Data analysis for Communication, Social Media relations Management, Sociology of media supporting inclusion, resilience, and employability among displaced youth.
This initiative exemplifies IULM’s commitment to extending education to vulnerable communities globally.