Tackling the Sustainable Development Goals: how innovative international collaboration in higher education can contribute (UNGA 77)

The session, taking place at the United Nations General Assembly 77, aims to demonstrate how universities working together in an international network can contribute to achieving SDG goals.

Published:
2022-09-26
Target group:
For academics, For society, For staff, For students
Pilot domain:
Sustainability & Climate Change
Category:
Event

On September 27th,  Aurora will be giving a session on How international collaboration in higher education can contribute to tackling the SDGs at the Science Summit at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77). At the summit, the role and contribution of science to attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be the central theme. The objective is to develop and launch science collaborations to demonstrate global science mechanisms and activities to support the attainment of the UN SDGs, Agenda 2030 and Local2030.

The “Tackling the SDGs” session aims to demonstrate Aurora’s approach to how universities working together in an international network can contribute to achieving SDG goals. This is done by demonstrating how the joint vision of matching academic excellence with societal relevance translates into programmes of work that are shared by and pushed forward jointly by our universities. These programmes of work not only address specific societal challenges but also work towards making sure that our graduates have the mindset and skills to tackle these challenges. The session will present the following examples: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation skilling, Engaging Society in Environmental Sustainability, Digital Society, and the SDG Dashboards for Education and Research monitoring impact.

The aim is to demonstrate how universities from different countries have reached out regionally and across borders and can work together on tackling the SDGs. This requires international approaches and solutions, and we have developed scientific approaches to do so. The session will be structured like a funnel. The session starts at the level of the network, its strategy, its vision, and how these have been translated into specific work programmes. Then it will be explained how all Aurora universities work together, which agreements and commitments are in place, the hurdles encountered managing the work across such an international network, and the lessons learned so far.

Please find more information on registration (free), the zoom link, and a detailed overview of the programme here.