SDGs in Universities: Athens University of Economics and Business

This report presents a comprehensive assessment of the contribution of the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a structured monitoring and evaluation framework developed within the SDSN and AE4RIA ecosystem, the analysis evaluates AUEB's performance across four core pillars: research, education, governance and operations, and external outreach and leadership. The assessment combines advanced quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including large-scale analysis of research outputs, course curricula, and institutional actions, supported by natural language processing and semantic mapping techniques. Results show that AUEB demonstrates strong and systematic alignment with SDGs related to governance, institutions, partnerships, economic growth, innovation, and gender equality, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which dominate both research and educational activities. In contrast, environmental and resource-oriented SDGs-such as climate action, biodiversity, water, and energy-remain comparatively underrepresented, especially in research outputs. The governance and operations analysis documents a growing but still uneven integration of sustainability practices, with several initiatives lacking consistent quantitative monitoring. The report concludes that while AUEB has established a solid institutional foundation for SDG engagement, achieving a balanced and holistic contribution to the 2030 Agenda requires targeted strengthening of environmental SDGs, improved data systems, and deeper integration of sustainability across all institutional functions. The framework and findings are intended to support evidence-based strategic planning and provide a replicable model for SDG assessment in higher education institutions.