教育促进变革：阿拉伯地区的大学和可持续发展

Universities and sustainable developmentin the Arab region Shared ProsperityDignified Life Shared ProsperityDignified Life VISIONESCWA, an innovative catalyst for a stable, just and flourishing Arab region MISSIONCommitted to the 2030 Agenda, ESCWA’s passionate team produces innovative knowledge, fosters regional consensus and delivers transformational policy advice.Together, we work for a sustainable future for all. Educating for change: universities andsustainable development in the Arab region Photocopies and reproductions of excerpts are allowed with proper credits. All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the United Nations Economic and SocialCommission for Western Asia (ESCWA),email:publications-escwa@un.org. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect theviews of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. This report was prepared based on data sent to ESCWA by the participating agencies. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoeveron the part of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning thedelimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Links contained in this publication are provided for the convenience of the reader and are correct at the time of issue. The UnitedNations takes no responsibility for the continued accuracy of that information or for the content of any external website. References have, wherever possible, been verified. Mention of commercial names and products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. References to dollars ($) are to United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates areference to a United Nations document. United Nations publication issued by ESCWA, United Nations House, Riad El Solh Square,P.O. Box: 11–8575, Beirut, Lebanon. Website:www.unescwa.org. Acknowledgements The present document was produced by the Economicand Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), underthe direction of the Leader of the 2030 Agenda and SDGCoordination Cluster, Maisaa Youssef. Special thanks to partner universities that carried out thesurvey informing this document: •Al Quds University, State of Palestine•American University of Kuwait, Kuwait•Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco•The Canadian International College Cairo, Egypt•Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Egypt•University of Balamand, Lebanon Authors: Tanner Boisjolie and Jana El Baba Survey design and administration: Tanner Boisjolie, Lara Geadah and Nadera El Bizri Data analysis: Appreciation also goes to all the students and facultymembers at the above universities who completed the survey,and to the authors of testimonials. Tanner Boisjolie Key messages The Arab region has a unique opportunity to integrate sustainable development into tertiary education systems,leveraging the commitment of Governments and universities. A preliminary exploration of student and faculty member perspectives on education for sustainable developmentconducted in selected universities in the Arab region suggests the following, subject to further study: A.Understanding sustainable development: Students and faculty members have a narrow understanding ofsustainable development, focusing primarily on environmental aspects. Increasing awareness of its broaderdimensions – economic, social and environmental – can inspire research and career paths aligned with real-worldsustainable development challenges. B.Role of universities: Universities can play a key role in promoting sustainable development, but this is notnecessarily prioritized. Achieving campus-wide support for sustainability requires clear communication, sharedunderstanding and harmonized expectations among university leadership, faculty and students. C.Integration in courses: University courses do not fully address sustainable development topics and competencies,such as gender equality, interdisciplinary learning and future-oriented thinking. There is an opportunity to enhancecurricula with experiential learning, cross-disciplinary projects and real-world applications to build studentcompetencies in sustainability. D.Employer demand: Employers, especially in technology sectors, often overlook the importance of sustainabledevelopment skills. Strengthening partnerships between universities and the private sector can bridge this gap,ensuring that graduates possess the required emerging competencies. E.Student participation: Although many students express a strong interest in sustainable development, opportunitiesto engage in sustainability projects are limited. Universities should actively promote and facilitate stu