Universities and SDGs: evidence of engagement and contributions, and pathways for development

ABSTRACT

Sustainable development has become a momentous global concern since the end of the twentieth century. The 2015 adoption of the SDGs represents a significant challenge for higher education globally as it compels widescale consideration of how the sector will address the SDGs and contribute to the 2030 Agenda. Seven years after the adoption of the SDGs, therefore, it is important to investigate the extent of engagement and clarify opportunities for growth. This paper reports research into university engagement with and contributions to the SDGs, what has happened and been documented so far, and what plans university leaders have for future engagement. From the analysis of multi-source evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that contributions vary across and are fragmented within universities, not resourced or reported in systematic ways. It calls for a much broader research agenda in this area that focuses not just on specific substantive issues but looks broadly across a suite of countries, universities, evidence, and issues and articulates a comprehensive view on what has been achieved as well as areas for development.

KEYWORDS:

• Universities
• higher education
• SDGs
• evidence
• sustainable development goals

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all of the interviewed university presidents for their contribution. As well, the authors acknowledge the contribution of colleagues from Tsinghua University’s Institute of Education (IOE), International Office (IO) and Policy Research Office (PRO).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Tsinghua University.