18th ASEF University (AU18)

Watch the 18th ASEF University Video:

Overview

The 18^th ASEF University (AU18), themed “Conscious Consumers for Environmental Sustainability”, took place from 18 August to 1 September in the Estonian city of Tartu. The programme received more than 400 applications and it offered opportunities for the selected 42 students, graduates, volunteers and artists from 33 ASEM countries.

AU18 broadened the participants’ horizons through a dialogue on environmentally sustainable consumption in a multi-cultural setting. Prior to the event, the participants shared pictures of sustainable consumption in their home countries, which can be seen here.

The programme commenced with one week of interactive workshops and presentations given by academics and experts representing Copenhagen Business School, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Earth Hour Global, Consumers International Office for Asia Pacific and the Middle East (CIAPME), European Commission, Association for Development of Youth Exchanges EstYES, Tartu Environmental Education Centre (TEEC), Estonian University of Life Sciences, and Let’s Do It Foundation.

During the second week, the AU18 participants organised creative street actions to promote sustainable consumption. Through this, they engaged the residents and visitors of Tartu in a creative dialogue on the sustainable use of plastics, water and energy, as well as environmental friendly ways to commute, eat, and manage wastes.

More information can be found in the Concept Paper. For further inquiries, please contact Rob van Leeuwen.

As a follow-up activity raising awareness on the high amount of plastic, ASEF Green Action will be organised between February-August 2013 in various ASEM member countries.