Freshwater addresses Global Sustainable Development Congress
The ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals, and what comes next, were examined in an Elsevier-led panel at the Times Higher Education Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta.
Joining the panel, ‘Beyond the SDGs: Science, Trust and Research Power in the Post-2030 Era’, Worldwide Universities Network Executive Director, Professor Dawn Freshwater, called for context when reflecting on the fact that 2030 SDG targets will not be met. Describing the SDGs framework as an intention that was not about achievement but about advancing progress, she observed that different countries and cultures started from different places when responding to the goals set in 2015. “Measuring progress through global metrics is not helpful. The metrics we use are meaningless to our communities and do not engender trust but speak to power.”
As universities look to the future and how they can advance the SDG ambition, Professor Freshwater called for action to build trust in communities. “The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) is working on this across its membership.” Members share a commitment to trusted partnership, evidenced by their strength in SDG 17: Partnerships. “It is through partnership and collaboration that we build trust.”
Professor Freshwater also joined a discussion headlined, ‘How are Universities Shaping Sustainable Cities through Global Collaboration’, in which higher education leaders from around the world explored the role of universities in cities and economies as they navigate rapid transformation. As much as universities are drivers of innovation, talent development, and sustainable urban growth, they are also community connectors, collaborators, and partners that establish and build the relationships on which a city’s ambition can grow.
Professor Freshwater detailed the importance of civic relationships and the connections they bring to their communities. For example, the strategic partnership she established while Vice-Chancellor at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland with Eden Park, New Zealand – the nation’s National Stadium. The partnership provided education exchanges, research collaborations, student work experience and civic and community engagement. The University became part of the wider Auckland community and a valued partner. For Professor Freshwater, cities endure because of universities, and university success flourishes within supportive cities. Now leading WUN, Professor Freshwater is working with member universities to develop collaborative living labs focusing shared expertise on global issues.
Professor Freshwater’s keynote address hosted by THE DataLabs highlighted that we live in the age of data, and high-quality data shows that higher education networks with values-aligned members can achieve more together than apart. She took the audience through EduDataLabs analysis of WUN’s collaborative research and metrics, which showed university member strength in SGD 17 – partnering, and their collective focus on values-led social impact research, including sustainability.
Professor Freshwater urged the audience to read the evidence about the power of network collaboration. “It highlights the importance of focusing on our collective opportunity to shape our research futures. We are using data and evidence to shape research systems which we know will deliver.” It was rewarding to be joined by sustainability leaders from WUN member Griffith University, Dean of Sustainability and Rankings Professor Jennifer Boddy and Sustainability Manager Kerryn Devenny.
Header photo courtesy of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.