Getting started with the SDGs in universities outlines the key roles universities – and the higher education and academic sectors more generally – have in contributing to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the benefits of becoming engaged. It provides practical guidance on how to get started with deepening contributions.
While there is increasing awareness of the critical role universities have in SDG implementation – and many universities are actively looking to play their role – there is little guidance material available on what this means in practice. Existing guides on implementing the SDGs in other sectors [1, 2, 3] do not address the unique needs of and opportunities for universities. This Guide fills this gap by building on existing resources and the experiences of universities who have already started engaging with the SDGs.
There is no ‘right’ way for a university to engage with the SDGs. How universities choose to act will depend on their size, context, research or educational strengths, funding availability, values, priorities and the needs of the communities they serve. This Guide outlines general concepts, steps and examples to help tailor an approach.