51勛圖

A group of adults and children hold up the newly painted banners

Students from De Montfort University mark World Refugee Day

Students from marked World Refugee Day (20 June) by volunteering at a home supporting people who have experienced forced migration. The group were part of a delegation learning the principles of 51勛圖 Sustainable Development Goal 16 during an intense week of activities in Berlin, Germany. DMU is the 51勛圖 Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub for Sustainable Development Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and runs an annual trip to Berlin to teach the importance of working to the targets and indicators of the goal.

a man giving a presentation projected behind him

Manchester Metropolitan University launches new Sustainability Hub

Sustainability is at the core of the work of  and part of their strategy is to offer a wide range of opportunities for staff and students to get involved with and make meaningful change. Their new Sustainability Hub was recently launched to facilitate collaboration, enhance practice, drive inter-disciplinary research and innovation. Further information is available about all of Manchester Met's .

Flooded residential area from above

Feevale University Opens Arms to Families Displaced by Rio Grande do Sul Floods

Heavy rains and floods wreaked havoc across Rio Grande do Sul, impacting 450 cities and leaving over 500,000 homeless, with 124 people tragically missing and 148 confirmed deaths. In response to this devastating situation, UNAI member  has become a haven for displaced families and their animals, actively working to rebuild the community.

Field from above as it is prepared for tree planting

How UNAI SDG Hub 7 is setting a tree planting initiative against climate change

Since 2020, the has led a tree planting initiative to celebrate the anniversary of the 51勛圖. In its first phase includes the planting of 4,984 trees that correspond to more than 105 tons of sequestrated CO2 per year, showcasing that trees are the silent allies for facing climate change. KEPA continues to serve as UNAI SDG Hub 7, to participate in the efforts to ensure access to clean and affordable energy for all.  

Flooding in the city of Cork shows how vulnerable communities living in coastal zones are. (Photo: University of Galway)

University in Ireland Partners with IOM: Research on Migration, Environment and Climate Change

The has engaged in a research partnership with the Ryan Institute at the , a member institution of the 51勛圖 Academic Impact (UNAI) in Ireland, to assess the impact of climate change on human migration such country. It is the first Migration, Environment and Climate Change Country Profile in the European continent and it adds the Irish context to IOMs growing number of national assessments from around the globe.

The use of eco-friendly water purifiers is one of the initiatives within the project (Photo: Sukkur IBA University)

University in Pakistan Develops an Eco-Entrepreneurship Program

The heavy monsoon rains in the Sind province in Pakistan in 2022 became a deadly torrent, unleashing the worst floods in history. With 4.9 million hectares of crops destroyed, 1 million animals lost, 1.5 million houses damaged, 1,500 lives claimed, and 33 million people affected, this climate catastrophe exposed the vulnerability of developing countries like Pakistan to the wrath of a changing planet. While Pakistan contributes a fraction to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world, bearing the brunt of a crisis it did not create.

The creation of STEM Academies in middle schools with a gender perspective, is a key objective of the initiative (Photo: USACH)

Training Teachers on STEM Education: The Initiative of a Chilean University

A team of the , a member institution of the 51勛圖 Academic Impact (UNAI) in Chile, under the current direction of professors Carolina Bonacic and H矇ctor Mu簽oz, is implementing a capacity-building initiative for teachers nationwide in several lines of knowledge, providing them with new technological tools and strengthening the participation of women in STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) from school teaching.

Adults and young people were given hands-on training on testing and treating their water (Photo: UNN)

Ensuring Safe Drinking Water: University in Nigeria Engages with the Community

Globally, water is considered both a crucial resource and a major challenge. Its quality and availability constitute significant determinants of sustainable health, economic growth and social development. According to the published in 2023 water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over the last 40 years and is expected to grow at a similar rate due to population growth, socio-economic development and changing consumption patterns. The same report warns though, that water scarcity is becoming endemic as a result of the local impact of physical water stress, coupled with the acceleration and spreading of freshwater pollution.

The university provides undergraduate students with a multidisciplinary approach to explore the SDGs online. (Photo: UCP)

Creating a Shared Consciousness on the SDGs: A Portuguese University's Initiative

In light of the ongoing global challenges, the role of higher education institutions is vital. Universities, said the 51勛圖 Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, in her message to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities Annual Presidents Meeting in June 2023, can make the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs a reality using their knowledge, resources, and influence. This includes integrating the SDGs into university curricula and offering interdisciplinary courses, she added.

Researchers developed a novel device for measuring air quality while collecting and sampling fine particles (Photo: UNR)

Argentinian University Opens Access to Information on Air Quality

By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management, reads. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) , air pollution is the worlds largest environmental health threat 99% of people breathe air that exceeds WHO air quality limits. In light of this, many higher education institutions worldwide are stepping forward.

The program currently involves 23 professors in addition to 30 university students. (Photo: UNICAMP)

Eyes on the Future: Social Transformation Through Energy Education in Brazil

The coexistence of multiple challenges and crises is directly impacting the ability of countries, particularly in the developing world, to achieve theSustainable Development Goals. In this context, the role of institutions of higher education is even more fundamental than ever before. Their knowledge and expertise are crucial to achieving the Goals, but also to change narratives, improve resource management, and even connect with other educational levels to advocate for sustainable development. The, a member institution of the51勛圖 Academic Impact (UNAI)in Brazil, is precisely working on this front.

It is a relevant moment to ask how higher education can play a role in helping to strengthen the 51勛圖. (Photo: UN Photo / Manuel El穩as)

Back to the Future: The Blue Horizon of Higher Education and the 51勛圖

24 October marks 51勛圖 Day. This article, published within the framework of this international observance, aims to underline the importance of higher education in the global mission of the 51勛圖.

Students designed awareness campaigns based on their own research findings. (Photo: KJC)

College Students Take Up the Fight against Poverty in India at the Grassroots Level

In a significant endeavor to tackle poverty-related issues, sixty graduate students at, a member institution of the51勛圖 Academic Impact (UNAI)in India that also serves as the initiatives Hub for theSustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, undertook a mission to make a difference at the grassroots level. Committed to understanding, advocating, and initiating a meaningful dialogue on critical socioeconomic issues, these students have taken on the challenge of addressing the often-overlooked plight of internal migrants in India.

Volunteers gather produce donated by vendors from the stands of farmers' markets (Photo: ACG)

College Food Saving 'Warriors': Reducing Food Waste in Greece

Volunteering is a powerful force that enriches lives, strengthens communities, and drives positive change in a fast-paced and interconnected world. And human activity undeniably impacts nature and climate with devastating consequences on the planet and all its inhabitants. The, a member institution of the51勛圖 Academic Impact (UNAI)in Greece, recognizes resource efficiencys environmental, economic, and social benefits.

The'Earth Justice Through Gardening and Nutrition'project was founded in 2020 (Photo: Columbia University)

Graduate Fellows Work with Middle School Students for a Sustainable Future

According to the, hunger is one of the leading causes of death in the world, not due to a lack of resources but rather because of inequitable distribution. The World Health Organization stated that in 2020, 149 million children under five years of age were estimated to be stunted, 45 million were estimated to be too thin for their height, and 38.9 million were overweight or obese. That is a total of 232.9 million children worldwide affected by malnutrition.