2024 Volume 46 Issue 2 Pages 74-79
The United Nations expects universities to play a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Universities can drive innovation through research, cultivate future leaders, and take initiatives in the development of local communities. The Science Council of Japan (2017) has emphasized the necessity for universities to further promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Therefore, in this roundtable, we discussed the significance of the involvement of universities in the SDGs based on the experiences of university students with ESD and their expectations for higher education. Furthermore, we examined the current state of SDG-related efforts in student recruitment and the SDG award system for high school and university students from the perspective of high school-university collaboration.
Our survey of university freshmen revealed significant issues related to high school-university collaboration in SDG education. Notably, the data provided a crucial benchmark for measuring the progress in this area. High school surveys indicated that diverse and creative efforts are being implemented at the grassroots level. A notable discovery was the existence of programs that take a critical perspective on the 17 SDGs. Moreover, award systems for high school students have highlighted various active initiatives, and the findings imply that these initiatives have provided valuable learning opportunities through collaborations with governments, universities, and businesses. Similarly, award programs for university students have driven regional and global activities. The expansion of SDG education is steadily progressing, indicating the beginning of a new phase in ESD.
