The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) has unveiled its first collaborative publication titled Driving Global Change, a report that highlights the vital contributions of students and staff from Catholic universities around the world to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This landmark initiative emphasizes the critical role of academic communities, particularly young people, in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of our time.
Zlatko Skrbis, President of SACRU and Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University, described the report as more than an academic exercise it is a moral compass. He affirmed that the responsibility of caring for our common home is not only scientific or political but profoundly ethical, requiring the collective conscience, imagination, and action of humanity.
The publication compiles 15 initiatives from students and researchers across SACRU’s member universities. These efforts span continents, disciplines, and generations, presenting education as a force for unity, transformation, and hope. Each project reflects a shared commitment to advancing human dignity through research, outreach, and collaboration, reaffirming SACRU's mission to promote integral human development.
Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, SACRU Secretary General and Dean at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy, stressed the necessity of youth participation. He noted that solving global problems demands not just seasoned experts but also the energy and innovative thinking of young scholars and students who see the world with fresh eyes and courageous hearts.
The report addresses a wide audience, including academic institutions, policy-makers, international organizations, civil society, and the media. It urges coordinated global efforts and thoughtful reflection to build a future that is just, inclusive, and sustainable. SACRU comprising eight institutions across Australia, the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia serves as a living example of what international collaboration can achieve in higher education.
Among the standout contributions is that of Sofia Torneiro, a psychology student at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, who launched MindCast, a podcast that combats mental health stigma and advocates for teletherapy and mental wellness programs in schools. Similarly, Universitat Ramon Llull in Spain explores the integration of artificial intelligence in education through a model of digital humanism that safeguards human dignity.
Boston College students brought clean water to communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon by designing and installing an irrigation system that bridges academic knowledge with on-the-ground service. At UC Chile, researchers connect climate strategy with the spiritual vision of Laudato Si’, showing how faith and science can guide policy and ecological responsibility.
In Japan, Sophia University promotes the Satoyama model, a sustainable approach to land use that harmonizes biodiversity with cultural heritage. Italy’s Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore emphasizes the duty of universities to act as agents of civic formation and moral clarity, while the Australian Catholic University reflects on how cross-border academic alliances are essential for achieving shared global goals.
This publication is not just a testament to academic excellence; it is a call to action. Through the voices and visions of young people across the globe, SACRU demonstrates that universities are not ivory towers but active contributors to global justice, peace, and sustainability. These stories serve as beacons of hope in a world in search of direction proof that education, rooted in values and collaboration, can truly drive global change.