Hokkaido University, whose predecessor was the Sapporo Agricultural College, has been aiming to contribute to a sustainable society since the days when the SDGs were not even a word. The following is an introduction to our history to date and the structure for advancing the SDGs.

Progress toward the SDGs

The promotion of sustainability at our university began in 1996, before the United Nations adopted the SDGs in 2015, when we became the first national university to formulate Campus Master Plan (https://www.sustainability.hokudai.ac.jp/about/policy/cmp/).
In 2008, the Sapporo Sustainability Declaration was adopted at the world's first G8 University Summit, which our university hosted in Sapporo as vice-chairman.
In 2014, the university set out a near-future strategy entitled "Hokkaido University: A University that Contributes to Solving Global Problems" in preparation for its 150th anniversary in 2026, and is conducting education and research that will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
As a result of these accumulated efforts, we have been ranked first in Japan for four consecutive years in THE Impact Rankings from 2020 to 2023.
　

HU VISION 2030

HU VISION 2030, announced in 2023, targets the year 2030, four years from now, and clearly visualizes "Excellence" and "Extension," outlining Hokkaido University's medium-term vision for creating a virtuous cycle and ecosystem through the integration of these two.
For an explanation and video of HU VISION 2030, please click here. *You will be redirected to the Hokkaido University main site.

System to advance the SDGs

The 17 goals of the SDGs are interrelated, and cooperation among different fields is required to solve the issues.
The university has established a system to advance the SDGs and sustainability.

Institute for the Advancement of Sustainability

https://www.sustainability.hokudai.ac.jp/
A platform for promoting education, research, social collaboration, and the construction of a sustainable campus that contributes to the creation of a sustainable society. The organization has established an "SDGs Initiative Division" and a "Campus Management Division."

Integrated URA Office

https://u4u.oeic.hokudai.ac.jp/
An organization of experts in research management responsible for planning and implementing strategies to strengthen Hokkaido University’s research capabilities, including global rankings such as THE Impact Rankings, support for scientific research grants, and support for the acquisition of large-scale research projects.