Getting started with the Sustainable Development Goals in universities
In June 2022 Benadir University in Somalia, partner in the project Building capacity for sustainable development in fragile states (SDGCap) organized the one day workshop Getting started with the Sustainable Development Goals in universities. The main objective of the workshop was to build a basic understanding of the SDGs and bring key university staff on board to identify strengths, gaps, priorities, and opportunities for university engagement with the SDGs, and develop a plan for putting them into action to create links and a shared purpose for people working in different areas of the university.
A workshop with the title, Getting Started Sustainable Development Goals at Universities and the role of universities in implementing SDGs, was organized at Benadir University with 40 participants from the rectorate, external relations and executive committee, with deans of the faculties and head of departments, representatives from each faculty, administration and finance offices, university student and alumni unions of Benadir University.
The vice rector of Benadir University Dr. Abdirahaman Omar officially opened the workshop followed by the opening remarks of the SDGCap Project Lead Team members Prof. Hassan Nor and Eng. Rage Adem and Governing Board member of SDGCap Prof. Mohamed Ali Fuje. There were two sessions of presentations, group work and deliberations.
Prof Hassan Nor, Project Lead Team member for Building Capacity for Sustainable Development in Fragile States project (SDGCap).
Topics and conclusions
The following was discussed: What the SDGs are and how the world is the responding to them as well as how ambitions of the SDGs can be translated into action. The Benadir University´s progress in the SDGCap project was presented. Also examples on how the SDGs have been used were presented and short reflections from a variety of stakeholders was shared on the opportunities of SDG engagement for the university.
The workshop concluded with participants sharing their opinion and recommendations for future actions including:
- Translate SDGs into Somali language and contextualize them
- Every sector of the university should get involved with SDGs
- Exchange best practice of implementing the SDGs within the university to involve and motivate youth
- Pin out the SDGs icons with university management entrance building to raise awareness of SDGs within the university environment
- Benadir University to relate research, education, operations and governance, and external leadership to the SDGs contributions