Top of Form Integrating the SDGs in Higher Education

Integrating the SDGs in Higher Education in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as approved by all United Nations Member States in 2015, lays out a shared vision for peace and prosperity for people and the planet both now and in the future. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of it, and they represent an urgent call to action for all countries, developed and developing, to work together globally. They acknowledge that eradicating poverty and other deprivations must be combined with initiatives to promote health and education, reduce inequality, and stimulate economic growth, all while addressing climate change and striving to protect our oceans and forests.

Integrating the SDGs in Higher Education: Progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)

Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) offers substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology. The Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.

Integrating the SDGs in Higher Education into higher education is critical for training students to face today’s complex global concerns.

Integrating the SDGs in Higher Education: Various approaches

1. Integrate SDGs into existing courses across disciplines.

Curriculum developers can include pertinent SDG-related themes, case studies, and projects in their syllabuses. This teaches pupils about the interconnection of numerous global concerns and promotes interdisciplinary thinking.

2. Provide specialized courses or programs focusing on sustainability and the SDGs.

These may include majors, minors, or certificates in areas like as sustainable development, environmental studies, social entrepreneurship, or global health.

3. Encourage students and professors to conduct research on SDG-related concerns.

Create research centers or institutes committed to investigating sustainable development concerns and encouraging collaboration among academia, industry, and government.

4. Experiential Learning:

Offer chances for students to apply their knowledge and skills through internships, service-learning projects, study abroad programs, or community participation activities with sustainable development aims.

5. Collaborate with local communities, NGOs, enterprises, and government agencies to provide real-world learning experiences and solutions for SDG-related concerns. These collaborations can help students get useful insights and networking possibilities.

6. Empower students to advocate for sustainability and the SDGs both on campus and beyond.

Support student-led initiatives, clubs, and organizations that focus on environmental conservation, social justice, poverty alleviation, and other relevant issues.

7. Faculty Development:

Provide training and tools to improve faculty awareness of sustainability principles and teaching methods. Encourage teachers to use innovative teaching methods, such as project-based learning or flipped classrooms, to engage students in SDG-related themes.

8. Prioritize sustainability in the institution’s mission, values, and activities.

Implement sustainable measures on campus, such as energy conservation, waste reduction, sustainable transportation, and green building projects.

9. Assessment and Accountability.

Create measurements and indicators to track success in incorporating the SDGs into higher education. Regularly monitor and assess the effectiveness of SDG-related initiatives, courses, and programs to guarantee ongoing improvement.

10. Global Citizenship Education:

Help students develop cross-cultural knowledge, empathy, and a sense of global citizenship. Encourage dialogue and reflection on the ethical and social implications of sustainable development actions.

By incorporating the SDGs into higher education, institutions can provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values required to become responsible global citizens and agents of positive change in the world.

The Traction School of Governance and Business has been at the forefront of ensuring that there are enough governance practitioners in the region. Over the years, the school has provided business and governance courses to over 1,000 students, who have graduated in both governance and business fields. Some are practicing in Kenya, while others have opportunity to practice regionally and internationally.

The school has partnered with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to provide comprehensive sustainability training in the following areas:

• Introduction to Sustainability Reporting and GRI the GRI Standards.
• Reporting with the GRI Standards
• Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI standards
• Integrating SDGs into Sustainability Reporting.

Trainees are now encouraged to join in the first Cohort training, which will take place from April 8th to 12th, 2024.

To enroll, visit www.sgb.ac.ke , phone 0700524589/ 0782524589/0780524589, or contact us at info@sgb.ac.ke. Enroll here https://sgb.ac.ke/gri-training/