IUS Signs International Initiative on Sustainable Development
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord is a high-profile international initiative for higher education institutions, implemented by the EAUC - The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education. This initiative is supported by the United Nations (UN), as well as many other global partners, and was launched in 2017.
In early 2023, the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) filled out the application for membership in this initiative, met the required international standards, and became the only signatory of this international accord in the field of sustainable development from the countries of the Western Balkans.
The IUS name was officially listed in the Annual Report on the SDG Acord 2023, dated July 17, 2023.
The signatories of the SDG Accord are: 331 institutions, 62 student unions, 222 organizations, and 1,895 individuals from around the world. The signatories of the Accord undertake to incorporate the goals of sustainable development into their activities: education, research, leadership, operational activities, administration and social engagement. Also, the SDG Accord is a public declaration of the commitment of those institutions to share and report on their progress in the field of the SDGs.
Institutions that are signatories to the SDG Accord are obliged to report annually on their activities and results, as a way of contributing to the collective data, which are published publicly. The group's report is widely distributed and used by the UN, governments, and public and private sector bodies around the world. Each year, new data is used to find out where progress is being made and where progress is lacking, enabling the SDG Accord initiative to take next steps and offer recommendations to signatory institutions. The report on the progress of the SDG Accord has been published annually since 2018.
The report will be presented for the first time this year at a high-level UN political forum in July 2023, and will then be widely distributed, using a variety of formats that are current and available. The full report is accompanied by a summary of activities, copies of charts and infographics with key insights and additional multimedia resources featuring case studies by signatories.
What is the aim of this SDG reporting?
Reporting on the SDG Accord aims to show how much progress has been made towards achieving and implementing the SDGs in higher education worldwide, and to identify specific gaps and obstacles that educational institutions face. The report presents a realistic assessment of the impact of the UN Sustainable Development Goals on society and institutions around the world, based on the latest data and case studies from the signatories of the SDG Accord. Special focus is placed on the following SDG goals: SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), 4 (Quality education), 13 (Climate action) and 17 (Partnership to achieve the goals).
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are designed as an urgent "call to action" and the transformation of our planet into a safer, fairer place, where all people have the guaranteed right to health, justice and prosperity. The sustainability path of each institution is reflected through its unique context, geographic location, connectivity on a global level, and its influence and engagement in society. Changing society is only possible when we reach beyond the borders and "comfort lines", and higher education is in a unique position to be a leader in mobilizing society and future generations.
The IUS Quality Assurance Office (QAO) initiated and coordinated the signing of the SDG Accord.
You can find more information about activities in the field of sustainable development at IUS HERE.
