The 2030 Agenda in Spanish universities: sustainability and its communication

Carmen  Quiles-Soler; Carmen Carretón-Ballester; Francisco Lorenzo-Sola; Cristina  González-Díaz

doi:10.26441/RC24.1-2025-3784

Authors

Carmen Quiles-Soler Universidad de Alicante https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8706-3180
Carmen Carretón-Ballester Universidad de Alicante
Francisco Lorenzo-Sola UNIVERSITY OF ALICANTE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1168-4423
Cristina González-Díaz Universidad de Alicante https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6981-0499

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26441/RC24.1-2025-3784

Keywords:

2030 Agenda, SDGs, spanish university, public relations, content analysis

Abstract

From global to local, many actors in society contribute to ending poverty, building democratic governance, the rule of law and inclusive institutions. In universities, relations with their publics, through responsible activities or actions, seek to achieve the sustainable development of their environment. This research analyzes the development and progress of Spanish universities in their contribution to the goals of the 2030 Agenda. With this starting point, this paper aims to determine the degree of implementation of the SDGs as well as the communication that has been carried out to disseminate them through their different audiences. For this purpose, the content analysis method is used, analyzing the social responsibility or sustainability reports, and the actions or indicators of the SDGs are located on the official sites of the 77 Spanish universities in their relations with their publics. The main results show that the university community is the group most present in the social and sustainable impact of the institutions. On the other hand, the environmental dimension is the least worked and the communication of the SDGs is at a very early stage.

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Author Biographies

Carmen Quiles-Soler, Universidad de Alicante

Senior Lecturer since 2018 in the Department of Communication and Social Psychology (Universidad de Alicante). Her work as a researcher focuses on the study of communication and addictions, digital communication, social networks and specific audiences, as well as the management of communication by the franchise company and the systems and processes of business communication. The aim of the research is to promote the transfer of knowledge between University and Society. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8706-3180, mc.quiles@ua.es

Carmen Carretón-Ballester, Universidad de Alicante

Full Professor of Public Relations at the Department of Communication and Social Psychology at the Universidad de Alicante, of which she is also Director. Her lines of research and scientific contributions are developed in the research group ‘Public Relations, Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Responsible and Sustainable Communication with Specialized Audiences and Minorities (RPRSS)’ which she has directed at the same university since 2005 and whose transfer has given rise to scientific articles and campaigns to raise awareness, awareness and visibility of social problems. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4851-9683, mc.carreton@ua.es

Francisco Lorenzo-Sola, UNIVERSITY OF ALICANTE

Associate Lecturer since 2011 in the Department of Communication and Social Psychology (Universidad de Alicante). His research work focuses on the study and analysis of the communication of communication departments in institutions, as well as their relationship with their different audiences from the perspective of Public Relations. The aim of the research carried out is to encourage and promote the much-needed transfer of knowledge between University and Society. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1168-4423, francisco.lorenzo@ua.es

Cristina González-Díaz, Universidad de Alicante

Senior Lecturer since 2018 in the Department of Communication and Social Psychology (Universidad de Alicante). Her focus of interest is centered on work on what and how advertising communication and effects are disseminated, paying special attention to vulnerable audiences such as minors and the food sector. The aim of the research is to promote the transfer of knowledge between University and Society. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6981-0499, cristina.gdiaz@ua.es

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