Vice-Chancellor’s Report
University Office of Global Partnerships and Sustainable Futures The current global development agenda is anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—17 ambitious and inter-connected goals that seek to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Universities play a critical role in the advancement of the SDGs through research that stimulates new knowledge, innovation and development solutions; teaching and student engagement; as well as advocacy, public outreach and leadership. In 2019, the Office of Development was retitled the University Office of Global Partnerships and Sustainable Futures . This reflects the University’s increased focus on the delivery of the SDGs by re- calibrating and aligning its teaching, research, advisory services and advocacy to facilitate greater application of transdisciplinary research and innovation. The Office is committed to bolstering UWI’s contribution to advancing the implementation of the 2030 development agenda in the Caribbean by strengthening linkages between the University and multilateral development partners and deepening the University’s engagement with regional and national development processes. Leadership of SDG 13 (Climate Action) within the International Association of Universities’ (IAU) Global Cluster on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD) Launched in November 2018, the IAU’s Global Cluster on HESD promotes the role of higher education institutions in building more sustainable societies. Within this Cluster, the IAU leads efforts on SDG 17 (Partnerships
for the Global Goals) while universities lead each of the other 16 SDGs. The Office coordinates UWI’s leadership on SDG 13 and facilitates participation in the Cluster by working on multiple levels. In January 2019, the IAU held the first workshop of the Global Cluster at UNESCO in Paris. The UWI was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles; Professor John Agard, Director, St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Director, University Office of Global Partnerships and Sustainable Futures. The Global University Consortium (GUC) on SDG 13 led by The UWI was officially established in March 2019 and includes ten satellite universities across five continents: • University of Witwatersrand • University of Ghana • University of Waterloo • State University of New York • University of Bergen • University of Bristol • TERI School of Advanced Studies • University of the South Pacific • University of Aruba • Universidad de Los Andes
GUC members meet monthly to share information, coordinate work programmes, identify opportunities for collaboration and better understand institutional approaches to sustainability. A knowledge management platform to strengthen the work of the GUC on SDG 13 has also been developed in collaboration with The UWI Open Campus and is accessible at: https://www. universities4climateaction.org/. On July 12, 2019, the GUC on SDG 13 in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs, hosted a symposium entitled “Research & Innovation 4 Climate Action” at the UN Secretariat, New York. This symposium was convened as one of the side events associated with the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF). In keeping with the HLPF’s 2019 focus on reviewing SDGs including Goals 4 – Quality Education, 13 – Climate Action and 17 – Partnerships for the Global Goals, The UWI organised the participation of Consortium members to feature the cutting-edge research being undertaken by universities in different regions to combat climate change. A few days earlier, on July 10, Dr. Richards-Kennedy served as a lead discussant on a HLPF SIDS panel entitled “Perspectives of Small Island Developing States”, which provided the opportunity to highlight the work of the regional university in contributing to advancing SDG 4 (Quality Education) in the Caribbean.
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