On 8 and 9 May 2026, the University of Messina hosted the first international conference of the ESG BEYOND project, an Erasmus+ initiative funded by the European Union. The project brings together the Universities of Pisa, Messina, Madrid and NĂĽrtingen with the aim of strengthening awareness and education on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) values among younger generations.
The conference represented an important opportunity to present the interdisciplinary legal and economic research carried out within the project by Prof. Dario Latella, coordinator of the University of Messina unit, together with Dr. Benedetta Bottari, Dr. Santina Munafò and Dr. Mehdi Janbaz. The study focused on how ESG principles are understood, taught and integrated into academic programmes and institutional practices across European universities. Â
The results highlighted both encouraging progress and persistent challenges in ESG education. In particular, the survey revealed significant gaps in ESG literacy, especially regarding the practical implementation of the “Do No Significant Harm” principle, which has become increasingly relevant within European recovery and sustainability policies. The research also showed that ESG integration still varies considerably between institutions and disciplines, underlining the need for more standardised educational frameworks capable of connecting academic training with evolving European policy requirements.
During the conference, several international scholars and professionals discussed topics related to sustainability, public policy and ESG regulation. Among the speakers were representatives from the University of Pisa, Universidad CEU San Pablo, the Parliamentary Budget Office and various associated partners involved in the project. The event also included roundtables dedicated to the future of ESG education and the development of innovative teaching tools for students and stakeholders.