Setting National Pace for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030: The Critical Role of Universities
Abstract
On 29 September 2015, at its seventieth session, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution themed "Transforming our World: the 2030 agenda for Sustainable development. "l The World council on Environment and Development in its report titled "Our Common Future" had earlier defined the concept of Sustainable Development as "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The UN General Assembly had also earlier, at its 68ül Session, received a proposal of 17 specific Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs) developed by the UN's Open Working Group (OWG) an intergovernmental process established to develop the SDGs. These 17SDGs (See Figure 1) cover a wide range of interrelated goals and are hatched on three developmental pillar themes namely economic, social equity, and environmental protection, sustainable development. They are Global goals that member states have committed to achieve by 2030 and emanates from major earlier commitments of member states, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN Convention on Biodiversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Now the scope and nature of these 17 SDGs necessitate concerted and coordinated efforts across all sectors and players in order to ensure their success and achievement by 2030 by all committed member countries.References
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3. United Nations 2014. Prototype Global Sustainable Development Report. Online unedited Edition. New York: United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development. Details available at
4. Sustainable Development Goals — Discussion Brief. TERI Energy and Environment Data Diary and Yearbook 2014/15; pages 1-6.
5. Fadi El-Jardali, Nour Ataya2 and Racha Fadlallah. Changing roles ofuniversities in the era of SDGs: rising up to the global challenge through institutionalising partnerships with governments and communities. Health Research Policy and Systems (2018) 16:38. https://doi.org/10.11861s 12961-018-0318-9
6. Joy Bhowmik, Samiya A Selim, Saleemu Hug. The Role of Universities in Achieveing the Sustainable Development Goals. ICCCAD-Independent University, Bangladesh, In partnership with BCAS and IIED Febriary 2018 Policy Brief.
7. Turner T, El-Jardali F. Building a bright, evidenceinformed future: a conversationstarter from the incoming editors. Health Res Policy Syst. 2017; 15 :88
8. SDSN Australia/Pacific. Getting Started with the SDGs in Universities. A Guide for Universities, Higher Education Institutions, and the Academic Sector. Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Edition. Melbourne: Sustainable Development Solutions Network Australia/Pacific; 2017.
9. Howitt R. Governance in local government - university partnerships: smart, local and connected? In: Ruming K, Randolph B, Gurran N, editors. SOAC 2013: State of Australian Cities National Conference: Conference. Proceedings and PowerPoint Presentations (pp. 1—11). Sydney: SOAC; 2013
10. Driscoll A. Camegie's new community engagement classification: affirming higher education's role in community. N Dir High Educ. 2009; 147: 5—12.
l l . Schendel R, McCowan T. Expanding higher education systems in low- and middle-income countries: the challenges of equity and quality. High
12. El-Jardali F, Jamal D, Ataya N, Jaafar M, Raouf S, Matta C, et al. Health policy and systems research in twelve Eastern Mediterranean Countries: a stocktaking of production and gaps (2000-2008). Health Res Policy syst. 2011
13. The University of Zambia (UNZA) 2018 -2()22 strategic plan. UNZA Press 2018.
Published
2025-09-23
How to Cite
1.
Chipeta J. Setting National Pace for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030: The Critical Role of Universities. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 23Sep.2025 [cited 14Oct.2025];2(2):47-0. Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1560
Section
General
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