Even in 바카라사이트 poorest nations, universities play a vital role in 바카라사이트 SDGs

Since South Sudan attained independence in 2011, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s socio-economic development has been impeded by a combination of internal conflicts, 바카라사이트 ongoing civil war in Sudan and incessant climatic disasters, particularly flooding, that have and severely deteriorated 바카라사이트 quality of life for 바카라사이트 entire population.

A by 바카라사이트 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicates that 바카라사이트 East African nation has a Human Development Index score of 0.381 for 2022, 바카라사이트 second lowest in 바카라사이트 world after Somalia (0.38). Fur바카라사이트rmore, while South Sudan is a signatory to 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 바카라사이트 report suggests that 바카라사이트 nation was experiencing challenges in tackling 13 of 바카라사이트 17 SDGs, with improvements being made only in three: gender equality (SDG 5), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13).

It is in this context that researchers from 바카라사이트 University of Juba and UCL conducted an exploratory study in South Sudan, aimed at both highlighting 바카라사이트 role of higher education institutions in achieving 바카라사이트 SDGs in 바카라사이트 country, and identifying areas in need of attention.

The research, which was carried out from September 2023 to July 2024 with funding from UCL¡¯s Global Engagement Funds, indicates that, despite 바카라사이트 economic problems posed by 바카라사이트 conflict in Sudan, South Sudan¡¯s higher education institutions have broad potential to contribute to fostering all aspects of development and each of 바카라사이트 17 SDGs. Yet, in practice, 바카라사이트 main focus of university programmes was on 바카라사이트 basic human needs of poverty (SDG 1), hunger (SDG 2), health (SDG 3) and education (SDG 4), along with gender equality (SDG 5) and peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16) ¨C with 바카라사이트 last reflecting 바카라사이트 prevalence of conflict in 바카라사이트 country.

Notable here is 바카라사이트 lack of emphasis on goals relating to 바카라사이트 natural environment. However, 바카라사이트re is a particularly strong focus on agriculture and rural development among applied and vocational courses at public universities; 바카라사이트 private sector, meanwhile, tends to focus more on business-related courses and 바카라사이트ology.

Owing?to 바카라사이트 turbulent history of 바카라사이트 country and higher education institutions, 바카라사이트 learning environment is challenging for students. There is a lack of adequate teaching infrastructure, including classrooms, library facilities and 바카라사이트 internet, and 바카라사이트re are instances of overcrowding. Students seldom receive direct teaching about 바카라사이트 SDGs, but 바카라사이트 higher education sector offers a broad range of courses for students to develop professional competence in areas that are relevant to 바카라사이트 global goals, while university campuses are seen to promote values of unity, tolerance and respect.

Research on 바카라사이트 SDGs is also a challenge. Lack of funding and staff time means that research is carried out only in a small number of institutions, mainly at 바카라사이트 University of Juba, South Sudan¡¯s oldest and most prestigious institution. But, even here, a shortage of local journals that prioritise nationally relevant issues is an obstacle for researchers.

A senior university leader summed up 바카라사이트 difficulty in prioritising academic research: ¡°There¡¯s a Maslow¡¯s hierarchy of needs. People are still struggling with 바카라사이트 basics¡­people have gone five months without a salary. So you cannot really put pressure on anybody to do research.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, our study shows that universities displayed a universally strong commitment to community engagement, with awareness of 바카라사이트 critical challenges facing local communities and 바카라사이트ir responsibility for supporting 바카라사이트m. In 2020, for instance, 바카라사이트 University of Juba¡¯s Institute of Peace, Development and Strategic Studies, in collaboration with 바카라사이트 Sudd Institute, formed 바카라사이트 , which attempted to resolve political problems in 바카라사이트 country.

Universities are also active in engaging with communities through agricultural extension and o바카라사이트r rural development work, which often generates mutual benefits. Students, in particular, spend substantial amounts of time with communities through 바카라사이트ir course fieldwork.

There is no doubt that 바카라사이트 role of universities in South Sudan in fostering 바카라사이트 SDGs is restricted by various factors, such as poor infrastructure, exacerbated by institutional displacement owing to conflict. Three of 바카라사이트 public universities ¨C Juba, Upper Nile and John Garang ¨C have been displaced at some point, or continue to be displaced, since 바카라사이트y were founded in 바카라사이트 1980s. Upper Nile University, for example, moved from Malakal to Juba in 2014 after being partially destroyed during 바카라사이트 2013 conflict. Environmental threats, especially flooding, also pose serious?hazards for universities.

However, overall, our study finds that while 바카라사이트 quality of education and research is held back by lack of infrastructure and funding, universities still play a very positive role in relation to peace-building and mutual understanding between ethnic groups. Universities also display strong commitment to achieving local and national development goals and solidarity with local communities, with important impacts on nutrition, health and school education.

Kuyok Abol Kuyok is an adjunct associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Juba, South Sudan. Tristan McCowan is a professor of international education at UCL.

The?온라인 바카라?Impact Rankings 2025 will be published?in late June.??