On 21 July 2025, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Global Forum 2025 was held online, gathering higher education stakeholders from around the world. With the theme “Breaking Barriers in Sustainable Development Through Scientific, Inclusive, and Equitable Solutions”, the forum highlighted the critical role of higher education in accelerating progress on the SDGs, particularly in the face of growing inequality and persistent gaps in access, representation and knowledge systems.
Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) emphasized in her opening statement the urgent need to accelerate progress on the SDGs amidst growing inequalities. Prof. Yamaguchi invited forum participants to explore how to make sustainability education more inclusive, integrate traditional and Indigenous knowledge into scientific discourse and enhance sustainability research through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In a multi-stakeholder panel discussion, Jonghwi Park (Academic Programme Officer and Head of Innovation and Education, UNU-IAS), moderated a session exploring the multi-faceted issue of inclusivity as well as barriers, opportunities and strategies for leveraging the full potential of the higher education sector in advancing the SDGs.
The forum also featured breakout sessions that dove deeper into the role of higher education in driving inclusive sustainable development. Jerome Silla (Research Associate, UNU-IAS) moderated a session on teaching and learning, which focused on transforming education through inclusive pedagogy, culturally responsive curricula and responsible technology integration. The HESI Partnership Framework was introduced as a new mechanism that will coordinate efforts across three key areas: teaching and learning, research and innovation, and partnerships and engagement. The framework will serve as platform for gathering insights, highlighting innovations, fostering collaboraition and informing policy to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The HESI 2025 Global Forum was a special event of the 2025 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). It was organized by the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, currently chaired by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), UNU, the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC) and the Sulitest Association.
