Research summary
Sustainable development is one of our most pressing global challenges. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which included 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve well-being for all. Dr. Elizabeth Buckner, Canada Research Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Global Development, is exploring the role of higher education in promoting these goals.
She and her research team are examining how sustainable development is integrated into the fabric of universities and the organization-level outcomes associated with doing this. They are also developing reciprocal partnerships with universities in lower- and middle-income countries to broaden our understanding of sustainable development and to challenge the assumption that solutions originate in North American and Europe. Ultimately, their findings will help governments, non-governmental organizations and universities determine how to better align practices that meaningfully support sustainable development.