Higher Education Paving the Way to Sustainable Development

The IAU launched its first Global Survey on the Role of Higher Education in Fostering Sustainable Development in 2016. The aim was to contribute to the UNESCO Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), by researching and analyzing IAU Members’ approaches to sustainable development.

120 higher education institutions from all continents took part in the survey. The results underline that sustainable development is of strong interest for universities and that it is being integrated at all levels.

Based on the survey, 78% of the respondents are familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 74% are familiar with Education for Sustainable Development. In terms of understanding sustainable development, environmental issues are still the common ground (84%), but respondents also underline the importance of societal (68%) and cultural (60%) dimensions.