Higher Education and the SDGs Network

The Higher Education and the SDGs Network is a forum for all university staff and students at ACU member universities who are directly engaging in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, including:

• integrating sustainable development into their operations
• sharing SDG learning content and materials
• developing SDG-focused research strategies
• co-creating research for impact, community engagement, and partnerships for the goals

The network aims to facilitate peer learning, through sharing knowledge and good practice, discovering potential avenues for collaboration and partnerships, and sharing different approaches to how universities are engaging with the SDGs within each of the following thematic areas:

• Teaching and learning
• Research
• Estates and stewardship
• Engagement and impact
• Partnerships

Benefits

Our networks are spaces where knowledge, capacity and resources can be shared. Crucially, they are practical, with activities that have a direct impact on university practice and the wider world. Benefits include:

1. Collaboration with network members, resulting in outputs that can be shared with the wider network and beyond. These collaborations may be supported by ACU grants
2. Brokerage activities to create introductions between members, potentially resulting in new research connections, international guest lecturers, co-supervisors, virtual-mobility relationships, COIL relationships, or mentoring matches
3. Attending or presenting at ACU events. Networks host at least three webinars per year and one major event every 18 months
4. Advocacy to raise the profile of strategic or campaign issues. Through the accredited status that the ACU holds at the Commonwealth and United Nations, the networks can help amplify impact on high-level policy platforms.
5. Quarterly newsletter – a round-up of international news, opportunities, and the latest reports and publications
6. LinkedIn group – a private space for members to connect, share information, ask for advice and learn about opportunities
7. Speaking opportunities at international events on behalf of the network

Join the network

There are two main ways to be part of the network:

Network member

Networks are open to all staff members and students at ACU member universities - with over 500 member universities in 50 countries, that’s a potential group of 10 million students and more than 1 million academic and professional staff.

Whether you are a student, vice-chancellor, academic or professional at an ACU member university, by joining a network you will instantly become part of a global collaboration with a diverse set of potential partners. You can join as many ACU networks and communities as you like, at any time. 

Join the network

Steering committee

The steering committee sets the vision, strategic direction and delivery plans for the network. Some committee members also lead a thematic group that focuses on a mission-oriented or subject based theme for the network.

Co-Chairs

• Prof Philip McGowan, Chair, SDG Committee, Newcastle University 
• Dr Pamela Dube, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Development and Support, University of the Western Cape 

Impact and engagement leads

• Prof Andrew Church, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), University of Brighton

• Dr Vincent Ankamah-Lomotey, Registrar, C K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS)

Research lead

• Prof Nelago Indongo, Director, Multidisciplinary Research Centre, University of Namibia

Partnerships lead

• Prof Richard Follett, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (International), University of Sussex

Europe representative

• Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility, University of Manchester

West Africa representative 

• Dr Samaila Suleiman, Deputy Director, Bayero University

Southern & East Africa representative

• Dr Farai Kapfudzaruwa, Researcher, University of Pretoria

Pacific representative

• Catherine Moran, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Academic, University of Canterbury

South Asia representative

• Mr Joy Bhowmik, Lecturer and Research Associate, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh

East Asia representative

• Prof Madhushree Sekher, Professor of Public Policy/Public Administration, Chair, Office of International Affairs/Dean, Vocational Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Caribbean and Americas

• Dr Meghna Ramaswamy, Director, International Research, University of Saskatchewan

ACU Council Sponsor

• Prof Dhanjay Jhurry, Vice Chancellor, University of Mauritius

Advisors

• Prof Budd Hall, Joint UNESCO chair for in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education  and Professor of Community Development, University of Victoria
• Dr Rajesh Tandon, Joint UNESCO chair for in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education and Co-founder and President, PRIA

More information

To find out more, email SDGs@acu.ac.uk