ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL5.SDGS/2025/Brief.1
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Information material
Cluster: 2030 Agenda and SDG Coordination
Focus Area: 2030 Agenda
Initiatives: Reducing inequalities, Monitoring Sustainable Development Goal Data, Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, Partnerships for Agenda 2030
SDGs: Agenda 2030
Keywords: Activity learning, Arab countries, Education for sustainable development, Educational development, Educational surveys, Private sector, Recommendations, Research and development, Skills development, Statistical data, Universities and colleges
Educating for change: universities and sustainable development in the Arab region
August 2025
This document examines the role of universities in the Arab region in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through education. It analyses both existing literature and primary data collected from a survey conducted among students and faculty members across several universities in the Arab region. The survey explores various dimensions, including the overall awareness and perceived importance of sustainable development within the university context, perceptions regarding the integration of sustainable development themes and competencies into university courses, and views on the relevance of different fields of study to sustainable development. It also investigates the level of engagement in promoting sustainable development and the interest in further enhancing knowledge and skills related to this area.
Based on the analysis, the document concludes with recommendations for scaling up the impact of universities on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Arab region.
Related content
2030 Agenda
This document examines the role of universities in the Arab region in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through education. It analyses both existing literature and primary data collected from a survey conducted among students and faculty members across several universities in the Arab region. The survey explores various dimensions, including the overall awareness and perceived importance of sustainable development within the university context, perceptions regarding the integration of sustainable development themes and competencies into university courses, and views on the relevance of different fields of study to sustainable development. It also investigates the level of engagement in promoting sustainable development and the interest in further enhancing knowledge and skills related to this area.
Based on the analysis, the document concludes with recommendations for scaling up the impact of universities on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Arab region.
