Transition governance at ULiège is ensured by several advisory, strategic, executive and operational bodies. These ensure that questions of sustainability and equity are systematically taken into account in strategic and operational decisions, in order to implement policies and practices that meet today's challenges. These governance bodies provide a structured framework for participation and collaboration between the university's various stakeholders. By monitoring and evaluating progress, they ensure that the university remains true to its sustainability and transition commitments. Finally, these governance bodies help to better coordinate initiatives by mobilizing resources, creating synergies between different projects and programs, and aligning the university's actions with global sustainability objectives. These governance bodies dedicated to transition thus help to establish a culture of transition within the university, and ensure that the institution plays an active and exemplary role in building a sustainable, eco-responsible and inclusive future.
In December 2019, the University of Liège established a Sustainable Development Council, an advisory body responsible for providing support and expertise to university authorities in developing the institution's transition strategy. Chaired by Sybille Mertens, Advisor to the Rector on Social and Environmental Transition, this Council brought together nearly fifty members, specialists from various fields of sustainable development, thus enabling a resolutely interdisciplinary approach to the actions to be undertaken.
With the creation of the Transition Laboratory in January 2025, the members of the Council joined the General Assembly of this new body, which had around 220 members in June 2025. This body is now tasked with putting its expertise at the service of the University's Transition Strategy, in particular by analysing and evaluating the priority projects to be carried out each year.
The Laboratory collaborates with the institutionnal Unit of Sustanaibility & Transition, an operational body also created in 2019. It is made up of the Sustainability Officer in charge of transition strategy, who coordinates the cell, and the Green Office, whose mission is to raise awareness and support the university community's move towards sustainability.
Since 2023, ULiège's Sustainability Officer, Sophie Blain, has had a cross-functional role within ULiège, and is dedicated to developing, implementing and monitoring the institution's transition strategy. She participates in the identification, design, implementation and follow-up of initiatives in favor of sustainability and transition, working in close collaboration with academic authorities, Faculties, administrations, members of the university community; as well as the institution's partners. She is also responsible for reporting on the implementation of transition within the institution.
Contact: sophie.blain@uliege.be
Created in 2020, ULiège's Green Office is a platform for raising awareness and supporting members of the university community in the practical implementation of sustainability and transition-related projects. It is managed by its director: Cécile Van de Weerdt and her team: Aurore Berhin, Laura Germain and Sarah Robinet.
Contact: green.office@uliege.be
The Executive Office oversees the implementation of the strategy by coordinating the various departments in the execution of the institution's Transition strategy. It is made up of members of the rectoral team, the Administrator, the Director of Communications, a student representative of the General Assembly, as well as members of the CiDD and the Green Office.
In 2024, a network of Sustainable Development (SD) relays was set up within faculties and administrative departments. These SD relays play a key role in sharing sustainable practices and behaviors within the institution. They are the privileged contact for communications relating to sustainable development in their entity. They share the Institution's sustainability and transition information from the ULiège CiDD with their colleagues, and inform the CiDD of any sustainability needs, questions, proposals or actions undertaken in the entity concerned. They also consolidate the process of implementing Sustainable Development in the institution's practices by exchanging best practices carried out within their respective entities.
Would youlike to get involved as an intermediary within your entity? Contact the sustainability officer at: sophie.blain@uliege.be.
Structures/associations dedicated to transition and sustainability have also spontaneously sprung up in various faculties and campuses
This new report highlights not only the remarkable dynamism of the academic community, but also the significant progress made during the 2024-2025 academic year.
Aware of its responsibility to transmit knowledge and produce high-quality research for the benefit of society, ULiège thus reaffirms the key ethical principles to which it adheres.
The 3rd Climate Fortnight will take place from November 10 to 21, 2025, echoing COP 30 in Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon!
In the face of climate and societal challenges, ULiège is taking a major step forward by inaugurating its Transitions Laboratory: a place for ideas, collaboration and action to imagine and build a fairer, more sustainable future.
ULiège supports eco-responsible and/or social projects that have an impact on our campuses. Are you a ULiège member with a project in the back of your mind ? Answer the call and try to receive up to 1000 EUR for your project !
En janvier dernier, Sébastien Brunet est devenu président du comité scientifique du nouveau Laboratoire des transitions à l’ULiège. Objectif : soutenir la recherche et l’enseignement dans une adaptation nécessaire face aux bouleversements du monde.
