Integrating the United Nations’ sustainable development goals into a teaching–research nexus: examples from the University of the Sunshine Coast

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 constitute a ‘universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity’. The 17 SDGs are integrated and target the development of ‘balance social, economic and environmental sustainability’ and recognise that ‘action in one area will affect outcomes in others’. ‘The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources’ from every sector of the society are required for timely delivery of the SDGs. The major contributor into the generation of such ‘creativity, knowhow and technology’ are the higher education institutions (HEIs). This article will emphasise the roles of HEIs for the timely delivery of the SDGs with examples from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).