None of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be achieved without the contribution of higher education – through research, teaching, and community engagement.
That is the key message of a statement launched by the ACU, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and the International Association of Universities (IAU) at the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) today.
During an event organised by the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), the three organisations are using their collective voice – representing over 2,000 universities across the world – to champion the importance of higher education for the SDGs, and to call for partnerships within and beyond the sector to achieve the Global Goals.
The ACU is working in partnership with the AUF and IAU to promote the role of higher education in sustainable development at the UN HLPF. Follow us on Twitter for live updates from the event.
Full text of the statement
None of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be achieved without the contribution of higher education and research.
Through research, universities play a unique role in producing new knowledge and innovation to address global challenges and providing evidence for informed public policy.
Through teaching, universities develop generations of new leaders and skilled professionals who will drive social and economic development.
Through community engagement, universities work with a rich variety of stakeholders including governments, the private sector and civil society, to contribute towards local, national and global impact.
Higher education has a direct impact on the development of every country. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will not be achieved without partnerships that include universities.
Considering SDG 4 (Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all) specifically:
As three global university networks together representing over 2,000 institutions, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), and the International Association of Universities (IAU) call on:
The higher education sector to:
The United Nations and its agencies to:
National governments to:
More information
The UN High-level Political Forum is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development. It has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level. Find out more
HESI is a partnership between United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNESCO, United Nations Environment, UN Global Compact's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative, United Nations University (UNU), UN-HABITAT, UNCTAD and UNITAR. It provides a unique interface between higher education, science, and policymaking across the UN. Find out more
The ACU's strategy – 'The road to 2030' – reinforces our fundamental belief that global challenges can only be solved through international collaboration, and our commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through higher education.
For further information, please email [email protected]