Sustainability encompasses the economic dimension, whose balance with environmental and social components completes the challenge of sustainable development. Even the University, a public organization that provides services, must, for example, pay attention to the management of human and financial resources with principles of social equity and minimal environmental impact. In this section, we present some of the initiatives promoted by the Friulian University related to economic sustainability.

Social Accountability

To demonstrate sustainability, organizations, whether public or private, must indicate the impacts of their decisions and activities on the surrounding society and the environment through transparent and ethical behaviors. For over a decade, the University of Udine has been publishing various financial documents on its website, as required by regulations. With the academic year 2017/18, the University voluntarily initiated a project to draft its own social accountability, the culmination of a long journey that began in 2015 with the definition of a University Strategic Plan and Departmental Strategic Plans. The publication of the second Social Report aims to account for the impact resulting from actions taken during the academic year 2018-2019 on the University's assets (financial, technological, environmental, intellectual, human, social, and reputational).

Employment

The University of Udine places great emphasis on the goal of ensuring full and productive employment and decent work for all. There are multiple ways in which this goal can be pursued. For example, the application of the CCNL envisages that Administrations, within their availability, can activate initiatives in favor of workers, including through their contribution, to be defined in supplementary bargaining, such as agreements on transport, health care, the establishment of nurseries, and economic subsidies. Specific calls are made for subsidies (based on a ranking drawn up based on the less favorable ISEE situation) and benefits (without the formation of a ranking and independently of the ISEE situation). The University also supports students and recent graduates in finding employment through the Career Center and the internship office.

Economic Benefits

The reduction of fees managed directly by the University is recognized to all enrolled students who meet the requirements and have submitted the application on time. From the academic year 2017/18, based on new regulations, reduced contributions are granted to students who have an ISEE indicator (Income and Property Indicator for the right to university study) lower than 30,000 euros, together with certain merit requirements (credits and years of university career). Another case is that of the "part-time profile" (recommended for those who, for work or other personal reasons, plan their university career expecting not to support more than 30 credits per academic year): it allows the redistribution of credits provided by the study plan over a number of years of registration equal to twice the normal duration of the course of study, paying lower fees overall and without being placed in the out-of-course category for the entire duration of enrollment as a part-time student.

Friuli Worksite

In its task of contributing to the sustainable economic development of the territory it was created for and for which it is a strong reference point, the University of Udine has launched the "Cantiere Friuli" project, which falls within the University Strategic Plan, taking up its macro objectives and presenting itself to the territory as an agency for development and an example of best practices. The main objective is to produce ideas, reasoning, and projects for Friuli, in a perspective of reconstructing development paths that embrace some strong guidelines, similar to those that marked the reconstruction season, to be made available to decision-makers and policymakers, and ultimately, to the entire population.

Businesses

The University of Udine aims to contribute to strengthening synergies between the business world and the academic world, acting as a connection element between the demand and supply of research, teaching, and placement. The Business Point, born within the Cantiere Friuli project, works to promote the strengthening of the network among different entities and the construction of collaboration paths, catalyzing opportunities, skills, and needs and acting as a facilitator in the business-university dialogue.