On 16 June 2022, UNU-IAS organised the 17th workshop of the SDG–Universities Platform (SDG–UP). The online event engaged 45 participants from 24 universities across Japan, convening four working groups for the first time in 2022.
Working Group on SDGs Curriculum
The group discussed establishing an SDG–UP academic consortium to administer the online course "Introduction to the UN SDGs," which was developed in 2021 as a certificate programme.
Working Group on University Evaluation and Accountability
Group members agreed to promote behavioral change in universities through external evaluation schemes such as the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. Hokkaido University, which ranked 10th in the world in the Impact Rankings 2022, reported their initiatives.
Working Group on University Collaboration
This group discussed ways to explore collaboration between universities and local communities with an emphasis on working with students and disseminating information about SDG–UP.
Working Group on Management
Views were exchanged on issues and solutions for making sustainability a fundamental part of university management. The group identified each university's strengths and considered the possibility of leveraging corporate ESG investments.
In closing, Shunichi Murata (SDG–UP Advisor; Professor, School of Policy Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University) remarked that Japanese universities had increased their participation and performed well in the Impact Rankings 2022. He noted that faculty and students hoped to learn from various SDG-related practices to promote change at the management level.
A detailed report on the event is available in Japanese.
Participating Universities
This workshop engaged 24 participating universities, which are listed below in alphabetical order.
Ehime University
Hiroshima University
Hokkaido University
International Christian University
International University of Japan
Kanazawa University
Keio Gijuku University
Kwanseigakuin University
Notre Dame Seishin University
Ochanomizu University
Okayama University
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Osaka Metropolitan University
Osaka University
Ryukoku University
Soka University
Sophia University
Tokyo City University
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Toyo University
The University of Kitakyushu
The University of Tokyo
University of Tsukuba
