NOVA 4 The Globe seeks to enhance the societal impact of NOVA University in the community and to facilitate its organizational transformation towards sustainable best practices.
It follows three axes of action anchored in the excellence of the scientific knowledge, innovation, and competences produced at NOVA.
To promote knowledge and technology transfer, capacity building, and outreach activities, collaborating with universities, corporations, and non-governmental organizations. To stimulate community engagement, particularly focused in southern Portugal and Portuguese-speaking world. To facilitate organizational transformation towards sustainability.
To facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue, fostering concerted actions also involving other academic and non academic institutions, to better relate research and innovation to society and citizens' needs.
To stimulate the integration of interdisciplinarity and sustainability in all study cycles and educational programmes, shaping talent towards a stronger commitment to the planet and engaging students with local and regional communities.
NOVA 4 The Globe’s activity is anchored in two important metrics that guide its action:
NOVA’s commitment to meet the SDGs is annually evaluated by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. Among the 17 goals, NOVA highlights its efforts addressing “Good Health and Well-being” – SDG 3, “Quality Education” – SDG 4, “Gender Equality” – SDG 5, “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” – SDG 9, “Sustainable Cities and Communities” – SDG 11, “Peace, Justice and strong Institutions” – SDG 16, and “Partnerships for the Goals” – SDG 17. NOVA’s performance is fully anchored in the excellence of scientific knowledge and competences that the different Academic Units at NOVA produce and disseminate. In its 2020 results, NOVA was ranked 6th in SDG 9 and 16, and 13th in SDG 5, among the Young Universities (that is, universities under 50 years old).