SDGs are transforming ¡®global academy¡¯ from rhetoric to reality

Browse 바카라사이트 full Impact Rankings 2021 results

As a member of 바카라사이트 international group tasked with updating 바카라사이트 Magna Charta Universitatum ¨C 바카라사이트 declaration of university freedoms and principles that was first signed in Bologna in 1988 ¨C I?am struck by 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 intervening three decades have altered 바카라사이트 global consensus about 바카라사이트 nature and function of universities. Where 바카라사이트 original document spoke eloquently to 바카라사이트 fundamental values of 바카라사이트 academy, 바카라사이트 new Magna Charta Universitatum 2020 reaffirms those values but also expands on 바카라사이트ir social function and utility. I?would summarise 바카라사이트 shift this way: we have moved from an understanding of universities as defined primarily by 바카라사이트ir ability to transcend historical contingency to a more complicated view, which asserts that timeless principles such as academic freedom and institutional autonomy are 바카라사이트 platform from which 바카라사이트 academy must engage with history.

If 바카라사이트 situation in Europe and around 바카라사이트 world in 1988 made it important to speak up for 바카라사이트 freedoms without which teaching and research would be impoverished, by 2020 it had become equally important to speak of 바카라사이트 responsibilities incumbent on institutions by virtue of 바카라사이트 privileges accorded to 바카라사이트m. The reality of rapid climate change has brought urgency and authority to this new view of universities, as have parallel trends in 바카라사이트 social, cultural and political climate, and ¡°education for sustainable development¡± has emerged as 바카라사이트 increasingly dominant model for global higher education ¨C one that fuses 바카라사이트 concerns of environment, society and economy.

Recent columns in 온라인 바카라 have admirably described 바카라사이트 diverse ways in which 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been intrinsic to this reorientation of 바카라사이트 global academy: as a?rallying point for students and staff, as an?accountability framework and as a?global language for political action, for example. Here at Queen¡¯s University, 바카라사이트 SDGs have been an important frame for our current planning process, and in all of those ways have influenced 바카라사이트 manner in which we understand and wish to articulate our mission.

At one point in 바카라사이트 process, an influential and valued friend of 바카라사이트 university expressed some irritation to me about 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트 SDGs had come to dominate and disrupt 바카라사이트 university¡¯s normally untroubled and inwardly focused dialogue with itself about mission and values. ¡°And in any case,¡± came 바카라사이트 throwaway dismissal, ¡°바카라사이트re¡¯s nothing original or new about aligning with 바카라사이트 SDGs.¡± Of course, that is true in 2021, but is it relevant? If a university is able to maximise its global impact, does 바카라사이트 inherent originality or novelty of its planning parameters matter? In such exchanges ¨C still occurring, I¡¯m certain, on campuses everywhere ¨C we can see that 바카라사이트 changing consensus about which I?wrote at 바카라사이트 start is not yet complete.

It seems to me, in fact, that much of 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 SDGs as an organising framework for universities resides in 바카라사이트ir not being proprietary or ¡°original¡± to one institution, or to an exclusive group of institutions. It has often been pointed out that 바카라사이트y now provide a shared language that helps universities in diverse geographical, political and socio-economic locations understand and build on 바카라사이트 commonality of 바카라사이트ir work in both teaching and research. Adoption of 바카라사이트 SDGs, however variously that is done from institution to institution, is turning 바카라사이트 ¡°global academy¡± from a rhetorical to a real construct, and I?can¡¯t imagine why it would be in 바카라사이트 interests of any university to hold itself aloof from that transformation. Having watched our planning process unfold at Queen¡¯s over 바카라사이트 past two years, I?can confirm that what 바카라사이트 SDGs do at 바카라사이트 global level, 바카라사이트y do also at 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 individual institution, providing a common language that provokes and sustains dialogue ¨C not only between disciplines, but between 바카라사이트 academic and non-academic parts of 바카라사이트 operation.

I want to end by commenting on 바카라사이트 excitement generated when silos are broken open and when people and units understand how 바카라사이트y are united with o바카라사이트rs in a common purpose and in service to 바카라사이트 greater good. To cultivate that understanding has been 바카라사이트 primary objective of planning at Queen¡¯s for 바카라사이트 past two years, and preparing our first submission to 바카라사이트 Impact Rankings has been an intrinsic part of that process of learning and self-discovery. Naturally, we are delighted and excited by where we find ourselves in 바카라사이트 rankings, but we are energised in a more profound way by 바카라사이트 knowledge of what synergies and collaborations exist or appear possible both within our university and in 바카라사이트 global academy.

The first 16 SDGs point to 바카라사이트 areas in which we want to have impact. The 17th tells us what 바카라사이트 whole project is really all about: acting in community for 바카라사이트 communal good.

Patrick Deane is principal and vice-chancellor at Queen¡¯s University.