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Leading Global Change Toward Sustainable Higher Education

The International Office of Sustainability (OIS) is a collaborative initiative between universities in Colombia, Ecuador and Germany, which promotes international academic cooperation focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to the strengthening of sustainability in universities through their administrative management, teaching and research.

Get to know our Mission

The right of people and nature to live in balance.

We seek a balance between the ecological, economic and social dimensions .

Present in 3 countries. Colombia, Ecuador and Germany.

What are the expected results?

Promoting sustainability in higher education

- Creation of an international network to promote North-South cooperation on the SDGs.

- Incorporation of sustainable concepts in university administration, teaching and research.

Training and competency development

- Training of administrators to manage research and teaching projects in sustainability.

- Active participation of managers in the planning and implementation of sustainability projects.

Publication of best practice guides

- Publication of a guide in Spanish and English that compiles best practices in sustainability management, based on the projects implemented by the partner universities.

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Our Mission

To enable universities in the Global South to manage sustainability, fostering equitable cooperation and generating a positive impact on higher education.

Our Vision

To be a reference in sustainability in higher education in Latin America, integrating global voices to face common challenges with local solutions.

Our Approach

We work with universities, leaders and experts to promote sustainable practices, improve operational efficiency and transform higher education with an inclusive and equitable approach.

Meet the

OIS Team

Management

Thomas (Tom) Wilke

Co-Director
Thomas (Tom) Wilke is a passionate evolutionary biologist and professor at Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany. He has held positions at several universities and research institutions in the United States and Germany, focusing his career on addressing global problems and challenges such as the biodiversity crisis, global change and the transition to a circular bioeconomy, taking into account the three pillars of sustainability: ecology, economy and society. In her spare time, she enjoys mountain hiking, scuba diving or simply spending time with her dogs.

Maria Camila Linás

Coordinator
With an academic background in Business Administration and Development Studies, Maria C. brings an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability. Her advanced studies at universities in Germany and Colombia laid the groundwork for a career focused on socio-environmental impact, gender equality and food sovereignty. As director of the International Office of Sustainability, she promotes sustainable development in academia by connecting perspectives from the global North and South. Outside the professional sphere, she enjoys hiking, is a yoga enthusiast and explores ancestral nutrition, reflecting sustainability values in every aspect of her life.

Stefan Peters

Co-Director
Stefan has a Political Science background but rather prefers to present himself as a Social Scientist. He is as a professor for International Relations and Peace Studies at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and Academic Director of the Instituto Colombo-Alemán para la Paz (CAPAZ). His academic interests include (Environmental) Peacebuilding, Social Inequalities, Education, Transitional Justice and Memory Studies as well as Extractivism and Sustainable Development with a focus on Latin America. In his spare time, he tries to reduce his list of must-read novels, maintain his running pace and improve his cooking skills.

Allies

Karol B. Barragan Fonseca

Karol Barragán, professor at the National University of Colombia, combines her expertise in wildlife conservation, sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, One Health and ecosystem services to address global challenges. Founder of CINAT and its spin-off EntoPro, she highlights the key role of insects in agri-food systems and drives initiatives such as "Insects for Peace". Outside of work, she enjoys nature, reading, crafts and traveling to learn about new cultures.

Carlos A. Larrea Maldonado

Carlos Larrea received his Ph.D. in political economy from York U. and has postdoctoral studies at Harvard University, is a professor at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar in Ecuador, and has published 25 books and more than 100 academic articles. He was technical director of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative and interim rector of the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. He has been a consultant to WHO, the World Bank, IDB, UNICEF, UNDP and ILO.

Sustainability from the Global South

The work of the OIS focuses on consolidating a concept of sustainability that considers the realities and epistemologies of the Global South. For this reason, it integrates the concept of sustainability developed by ColombiaCONNECTThe definition of sustainable development, the predecessor project, refers to “the right of people and nature to live in balance”. This definition emphasizes distributive justice, respect for the material livelihoods and cultural characteristics of local populations and goes beyond the strict consideration of ecological sustainability. By integrating sustainability into university management, teaching and research, OIS fosters more equitable international academic cooperation.

Our Activities

We make possible the change towards sustainability in universities from the administrative staff, promoting practices that generate impact from the grassroots.

Sustainability Training

Courses and workshops for administrative personnel, designed to implement sustainable practices that improve university management.

Specialized Consulting

Personalized advice for integrating sustainability into research, teaching and institutional management.

International Collaboration Network

Connection with universities and global experts to exchange knowledge and develop joint projects.

Publication of Good Practice Guides

Access to resources and guides that compile best practices in sustainability management, available in English and Spanish.

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Allied Universities

The International Office of Sustainability (OIS) is a collaboration between universities in Colombia, Ecuador and Germany, all committed to promoting sustainability in higher education. Each university contributes a best practice project, partially funded by the OIS, that integrates sustainability into research, university management and teaching.

Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia)

Responsible for coordinating the best practices guide and the "SDGs in Afro-descendant municipalities" project.

University of Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia)

Develops the "Participatory Aquaponics" project to promote environmental sustainability.

Justus Liebig University Giessen (Giessen, Germany)

Coordinates university didactic training, ensuring the transfer of knowledge among partner universities.

National University of Colombia (Bogotá, Colombia)

He leads the international workshop 2026 and the "Insects for Peace" project.

Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Quito, Ecuador)

Focuses on South-South cooperation and the "Sustainable Management in Higher Education" project.

The Capaz institute

is a key institution in this agreement, contributing its experience in cooperation and peace issues, and supporting initiatives that promote sustainability in the context of peace and sustainable development policies in Colombia.

Connect with us

Ready to be part of the shift towards sustainability in higher education?

JLU Information Point

Universidad de los Andes
Cra 1 # 19 - 27, Edificio Aulas
Bogotá, Colombia

Send us an Email

info@oficinasostenibilidad.org

Call us at

+57 311 871 7661

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