ERUA Clean-ups 2025

Twice a year, the universities of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) step outside and take action for the environment.

Around World Environment Day in June and World Clean-Up Day in September, partner universities organise clean-up events on their campuses, in nearby parks, along riversides, and across their cities — simple, hands-on gestures that add up to something meaningful.

In 2025, the autumn round of clean-ups unfolded across  universities over several weeks. From Mykolas Romeris University's campus, to the island of Ziegenwerder with European University Viadrina, through to Paris 8, New Bulgarian University, SWPS, Universidad de Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, University of Aegean  and the University of Macerata — each location brought its own setting and community to a shared purpose.

Students, staff, and local residents came together to care for the spaces around them: collecting waste, clearing green areas, and reclaiming public spaces. But beyond the practical action, these events created room for conversation — about consumption, responsibility, and the role universities play in fostering more sustainable societies. They also connect directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

What holds these initiatives together is not just a shared calendar, but a shared direction. Each local action contributes to a broader alliance-wide commitment — one that will soon be made visible through an interactive map showcasing all ERUA clean-ups across Europe.

Simple enough to join. Meaningful enough to matter

Thank you for being part of it.